Now that the draws have all been made, each team knows their path to the final. I’ve decided that I’m going to try and predict what will happen in each of the three competitions and at the end, I’m going to reveal who I think will win this year’s UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Quarter Finals
UEFA Champions League:
Real Madrid VS Chelsea
Real Madrid take on Chelsea in a repeat of last year’s Quarter Final. Real Madrid currently find themselves in second place in LA Liga whilst Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League. It’s also worth mentioning that these two teams are the last two winners of this competition, but I’m pretty confident that the current holders are going to win this game.
My Prediction: Real Madrid win 5-3 on aggregate
Manchester City VS Bayern Munich
Manchester City VS Bayern Munich is a tale of two huge clubs who aren’t having their greatest season. Both City and Bayern Munich are currently sitting second in their respective leagues and neither team can really afford to lose this tie. If City play to their best, they’ll win this game.
My Prediction: Man City win 3-2 on aggregate
Benfica VS Inter Milan
Both Benfica and Inter Milan have won multiple Champions League trophies yet both sides feel like outsiders to win the competition this year. Benfica are currently top of Liga Portugal (with only one loss) whilst Inter Milan currently sit third in Serie A. Inter beat SL Benfica in the 1964/65 European Cup Final, but I think Benfica will come out on top and advance to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League.
My Prediction: Benfica win 3-1 on aggregate
A.C. Milan VS Napoli
AC Milan take on Napoli in an all-Italian Champions League Quarter Final. A.C. Milan are currently fourth in Serie A whilst Napoli are top of the league by a massive 19 points. Milan are one of the most successful European clubs in history whilst Napoli are just entering their first-ever CL Quarter Final. However, I don’t think that matters and I expect Napoli to get the win.
My Prediction: Napoli win 4-1 on aggregate
UEFA Europa League:
Manchester United VS Sevilla
Manchester United VS Sevilla feels like a match between two teams that would be the favourites to win the competition if they get through this round. Man U are currently third in the Premier League whilst Sevilla are currently 14th in La Liga, just two points above the relegation zone! Despite this, Sevilla are the masters of the Europa League and I think they’ll win this tie.
My Prediction: Sevilla win on penalties
Juventus VS Sporting CP
Juventus definitely won’t be happy to be in this competition, but they still need to try and get the victory against a Sporting side looking for their first-ever “proper” European trophy. Juventus are currently down in 7th in Serie A whilst Sporting are currently 4th in Liga Portugal so both sides need to win this competition if they are to play in the Champions League next season. I think Juventus should have enough to advance to the semis.
My Prediction: Juventus win 3-1 on aggregate
Feyenoord VS AS Roma
Funnily enough, Feyenoord VS Roma is a repeat of the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League final. Feyenoord are currently having a great season which sees them sit top of the Eredivisie whilst AS Roma are currently placed 5th in the Serie A table. Even though the Dutch side are having a fantastic season, I think Jose Mourinho’s side will once again topple them.
My Prediction: Roma win 4-3 on aggregate (after extra time)
Bayer Leverkusen VS Union Saint-Gilloise
Bayer Leverkusen take on Union Saint-Gilloise in what feels like a huge tie for both sides. Bayer Leverkusen are currently struggling and they sit 8th in the Bundesliga table whilst Union are currently second in the Belgian Pro League. Bayer Leverkusen last won this competition in 1988 and they’re looking to do that again whilst Union are just enjoying their first-ever “proper” season in Europe. Unfortunately for them, I think Leverkusen will just be too much for them.
My Prediction: Leverkusen win 5-1 aggregate
UEFA Europa Conference League:
Lech Poznan VS Fiorentina
Lech Poznan are hoping to keep their brilliant run alive whilst Fiorentina are looking for their first major European silverware. Lech are currently third in the Polish First Division whilst Fiorentina are only 9th in Serie A. This is by far Lech’s greatest European run and that’s exactly why the Conference League was made in the first place. However, they’re coming up against a pretty well-known name in Fiorentina and I just don’t think they’ll be a match for the Italian outfit.
My Prediction: Fiorentina win 6-2 on aggregate
Basel VS OGC Nice
Both Basel and OGC Nice are looking to win their first pieces of European silverware. Both teams are struggling a bit in the league with Basel currently sitting sixth in the Swiss Super League whilst Nice are 7th in Ligue 1. Basel have only ever made the Semi Final of a European competition once before (Europa League 2012/13) whilst Nice haven’t made the Quarter Final of a European competition since the European Cup back in 1960. I fully expect them to make it to their first-ever European Semi-Final.
My Prediction: OGC Nice win 4-2 on aggregate
KAA Gent VS West Ham
KAA Gent are looking to make their first-ever European Semi Final whilst West Ham United are looking to win their way into next season’s UEFA Europa League. KAA Gent are currently only 4th in the Belgian Pro League, but that’s not nearly as bad as West Ham as the Hammers currently find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone. On paper, Gent are having a much stronger season than West Ham, but I expect the Hammers will be too strong for their opponents, particularly given the fact that WHU have won all 10 of their matches in the tournament this season.
My Prediction: West Ham win 3-1 on aggregate
Anderlecht VS AZ Alkmaar
Anderlecht VS AZ Alkmaar feels like an opportunity for both sides to prove why they can win the UEFA Europa Conference League this season. Anderlecht are currently having a really poor season in the Belgian Pro League as they sit 8th in the table whilst AZ are currently 4th in the Eredivisie. Anderlecht have won European trophies before, but it was a long time ago and AZ Alkmaar haven’t reached a European Semi Final since 2005. Luckily for them, I think that run’s about to end.
My Prediction: AZ Alkmaar win on penalties
Semi-Finals
UEFA Champions League:
Real Madrid VS Manchester City
Real Madrid take on Manchester City in a repeat of last year’s Semi-Final. Both Madrid and City are currently second in their respective leagues and both teams have become used to winning silverware in recent years. However, Real Madrid are 14-times European Champions whilst Manchester City are still looking for their first Champions League crown. Unfortunately for Manchester City, I think they’ll suffer yet another heartbreaking defeat.
My Prediction: Real Madrid win 4-3 on aggregate (after extra time)
Benfica VS Napoli
Benfica take on Napoli in an incredible opportunity for both sides to make the UEFA Champions League final. Both teams are currently well clear at the top of their respective leagues, but it’s pretty fair to say that no one expected these teams to make it this far when the Group Stage draw was done last Summer. Benfica have won the biggest prize in Europe twice, but they haven’t made the final of this competition since 1990 whilst this will be Napoli’s first ever Champions League Semi-Final. I think the Italian team will have enough to defeat the Portuguese team.
My Prediction: Napoli win 4-2 on aggregate
UEFA Europa League:
Sevilla VS Juventus
Sevilla are looking to enter their 7th Europa League final in 17 years whilst Juventus are trying to enter their first European final since 2017. Both Sevilla and Juventus are big footballing names, but neither team are having a particularly good season. A pretty amazing stat is Sevilla have never lost in a Semi-Final in any European competition. I think they’ll keep that run going here.
My Prediction: Sevilla win 2-1 on aggregate
AS Roma VS Bayer Leverkusen
AS Roma are looking to enter their second consecutive European Final whilst Bayer Leverkusen are trying to enter their first European Final for over 20 years. As it stands, both teams need to win this competition to play in the UEFA Champions League next season so both sets of players will be up for this game even more than usual. Roma won their first major European trophy last year whilst Leverkusen’s one and only European trophy came in this competition back in 1988. One Italian team's already fallen at the Semi Final stage, but I don’t think we’re going to see both Italian sides miss out.
My Prediction: Roma win 4-2 on aggregate
UEFA Europa Conference League:
Fiorentina VS OGC Nice
Fiorentina are looking to make their first European Semi-Final since 1990 whilst OGC Nice are about to play in their first ever European Semi. This almost feels like Fiorentina’s best chance to ever win a European trophy and the same argument could probably be made for Nice. In the end, I think the French side are going to find themselves going to Prague.
My Prediction: Nice win 3-1 on aggregate
West Ham VS AZ Alkmaar
West Ham find themselves in their second consecutive European Semi Final whilst AZ Alkmaar are playing in their biggest game (in Europe) since 2005. Neither team has won a major European trophy before so this would be a huge game for either side and despite AZ having a pretty decent season in the Eredivisie, I think West Ham would have enough to advance to the final.
My Prediction: West Ham win 3-2 on aggregate
UEFA Europa League Final: Sevilla VS AS Roma
On May 31st, the first European Final of the year takes place as Sevilla battle AS Roma for the Europa League trophy in Budapest. Sevilla have won the Europa League 6 times and they so happen to be 6-0 in European Finals as well. AS Roma have never won the Europa League before, but they did secure their first major European trophy last season (UEFA Europa Conference League). In the end, I think Roma will make it back-to-back years with a European trophy as I think they’ll become the first team ever to beat Sevilla in a European Final.
My Prediction: AS Roma beat Sevilla 2-1
UEFA Europa Conference League Final: OGC Nice VS West Ham
On June 7th, the second-ever UEFA Europa Conference League Final takes place as OGC Nice battle West Ham United for the Conference League trophy in Prague. Both Nice and West Ham have never won a major European trophy before and that’s kind of because neither team has been in a major European final. Considering West Ham’s terrible league season, they’ve done well to get this far in the competition, but in the end, I think OGC Nice are going to become the second team to be called UEFA Europa Conference League Champions.
My Predictions: OGC Nice beat West Ham 3-1
UEFA Champions League Final: Real Madrid VS Napoli
On June 10th, the Champions League trophy will be on the line as the holders Real Madrid take on Italian side Napoli in Istanbul. Real Madrid are the most successful team in Champions League history with 14 wins and they’d love to make it 15 whilst also being called European Champions for back-to-back years. Napoli have won one European trophy before as they won the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) back in 1989. However, they hadn’t even ever played in a Champions League Quarter Final match till this season so it’s been a pretty remarkable year. Back in January, I made the bold claim that Napoli were going to win the Champions League this year and I’ve decided to stick by that which is why I have Napoli to become Champions of Europe for the first time ever!
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