Champions League is back and our experts pick their winners, but it’s not good news for Arsenal, Manchester City and Leicester
SunSport's team of experts try and predict which European giant will be victorious in Cardiff this summer
SUNSPORT'S experts pick their Champions League winners and losers - and predict another season with no silverware for Premier League clubs.
ALAN SHEARER
Winners: Juventus
SERIE A winners for the last five years and on their way to six in a row. It would be easy to go for Bayern or one of the Spanish giants but I have a sneaky suspicion the Italians can win it.
How far will our sides go . . .
ARSENAL have the ability to beat anyone on their day but you just can’t trust them to turn up. Faced with a challenge like Bayern Munich they could just disappear into their shells.
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Leicester have the stress of a relegation fight and are in no state to face Sevilla — currently the third best team in Spain.
Manchester City will edge it against Monaco but frailty at the back will be their undoing in the quarter-finals.
IAN WRIGHT
Winners: Barcelona
NOT the most original choice, I know, but when Barca are fit and firing they are the best team around.
How far will our sides go . . .
LEICESTER’S fairy-tale ends against Sevilla in the last 16. The way the Foxes are going, you really couldn’t back them with confidence.
But Bayern Munich are in a bad state — off the pitch, at least — and I think Arsenal can finally beat them, and maybe go as far as the last four.
Manchester City are by far England’s best hope. They are starting to look a real decent side, should be too strong for Monaco and could maybe reach the final.
DAVE KIDD
Winners: Barcelona
THE Catalans and Real Madrid are comfortably the best two teams in the competiton — and nobody ever retains the trophy in the Champions League era.
How far will our sides go . . .
ALL three English sides will be out in the last 16.
Arsenal are not in the same class as Bayern Munich and Sevilla will be much too strong and savvy for Leicester.
Manchester City have a chance but Monaco showed against Spurs in the group stages that they have the measure of England's leading clubs. I fancy them to nick a win on away goals.
THIERRY HENRY
Winners: Er, not sure
IT is too difficult to predict. I could go for the usual suspects but it depends on a million things — who is injured, who is in form. Put a gun to my head and I’d say . . . shoot me!
How far will our sides go . . .
THEY are all in for a ride. Manchester City must be careful of Monaco who have good history against English clubs. In 1998 when I was there we knocked out Manchester United and they also beat Chelsea on their way to the final in 2004.
For Arsenal, we know the first knockout round is where they tend to stumble yet Bayern are not having a great season so they could spring a surprise.
And while I would love for Leicester to go through, Sevilla are so strong.
DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM
Winners: Real Madrid
GOING forward they are so dangerous. Zinedine Zidane’s got them playing very well and on their day you would fancy them against anyone in Europe.
How far will our sides go . . .
I CAN see Manchester City and Leicester both getting to the quarter-finals.
Bayern’s players have more know-how than Arsenal and over the two legs they will be the better team.
But I fancy City to beat free-scoring Monaco. Pep Guardiola’s European experience will be key plus their front three — especially with Gabriel Jesus in there.
As for Leicester, I’ve got a funny feeling about them. I just think the Champions League could suit them.
Sevilla will come at them and if Leicester can come away from the away leg with a one-goal deficit they could go through. They are unknown in Europe and could just spring a surprise.
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NEIL ASHTON
Winners: Bayern Munich
THEY will overcome recent difficulties to power on in the final stages.
How far will our sides go . . .
ARSENAL will go out exactly where you would expect them to go out — in the first knockout round — while Sevilla will destroy Leicester with their slick passing.
Manchester City are finally getting their act together under Guardiola. They’ll be too strong for Monaco and can reach the last four again.