Who will win the Champions League this season? (2013 - 2014)

Another Champions League season starting today and can't wait. This is easily my favourite competition.

Predictions? Thoughts? Who do you think will win it?

Obviously, Bayern are top favourites this year according to the bookies. They played incredible football last year and have added quality to their squad with the signings of Goetze and Thiago Alcantara. With Pep Guardiola, they have also signed the biggest name there is on the coaching market. Yet no team has ever defended the Champions League crown so it will be tough. The start of the season wasn't spectacular in the Bundesliga. They haven't lost but it wasn't convincing either. And then the European SuperCup was just crazy.

Borussia Dortmund last year's finalist has lost Mario Goetze but signed three top players and if anything, they look a lot faster and more dangerous than last year. In my book, they are currently the best team in Europe and they have proven that with a 4-2 trashing of Bayern in the German SuperCup. Whether they can maintain this superb form for the whole year is questionable. If they do, they will win both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season.

Of course, there's Barcelona and Real Madrid, both with new coaches and new top players such as Neymar and Bale. Somehow I don't believe it though. I see both German clubs ahead, once again. But once again, if they don't meet beforehand, I think there are big chances these 4 teams play the semi-finals.

I can't see any English team making the final. Chelski might have some chances but even with Mourinho, I don't think the squad is quite strong enough. Schuerrle and Eto'o just don't have the fire power to score against top sides I don't think. The midfield looks strong on paper but again, there's other teams including all the 4 above with better midfield.

Arsenal have signed Oezil and might just be together long enough now to have a say. Will end in the quarters though. The games against Dortmund will be a real test.

The only other two teams I see having a shot at it are Juventus and PSG. Because they come from what are perceived to be weaker leagues, they might just about have an underdog advantage. Juventus was solid last year already and so was PSG.

City and Napoli and United are the next level below.
And then Schalke and Donetsk are the last contenders for the quarters depending on the draws.

And that's my preliminary analysis. I will place £20 on Dortmund to win it this year and will hope Bayern becomes the first ever team to defend it. Either way, it will be a damn exciting season.

Bayern won it last year, Chelsea won it the year before.

I ain't predicting anything this year lol

and that's how it goes...what a start
First goal of the competition - David Alaba, Bayern Muenchen!

Ahh...Juergen Klopp! Such a legend!!!

Ozil......

with a little help from Rambo!

Is it karma, is it luck? Me I just don't give a B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayeeeern

Man City were truly schooled last night. It wasn't like this was a mismatch either. Man City have a ludicrously talented squad but they just aren't working for one another. They should be thoroughly embarrassed.

I can't see past Bayern winning it again this time around. Real Madrid might have a sniff but they have a knack of crumbling late on.

How awesome was this baby from Leverkusen yesterday...kid is on the pitch 3 minutes and then has the balls to go and score it that way when the skipper and the main striker were shouting cross cross cross. Football needs more kiddos like this. What a goal...Edit: forgot to mention it was 92nd minute and Leverkusen was drawing at home...

I'm hoping ManU and Chelsea lose this week

Had you won against Napoli, none of this would have happened. Tough luck for Arsenal to meet Bayern again really. We are unstoppable at the moment and it will be very difficult to prevent us from becoming the first ever team to defend the Champions League [and probably achieve two consecutive trebles!]