30/08/2022【Feature】Hierro: Barca and Bayern to advance from group C

Fernando Hierro - UCL
Fernando Hierro is the best defender in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football. He played for Real Madrid in 14 years and won 17 titles which included 3 UCL and 5 La Liga. In addition to those club triumphs, he also appeared in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2018 World Cup, and 1996 and 2000 Euro Championship for Spain.

Barca and Bayern to advance from group C
With six games in the group stage, the big teams can afford a bad result as they have time to recover. However, there are plenty of interesting groups and several where I can see three teams fighting for two places in the next round.

Starting with my former side, naturally I think Real Madrid will top Group F. RB Leipzig will join them in the knockout rounds, but Celtic have a lot of history and are a difficult opponent when playing at home.

Real Madrid will not be the only side from the Spanish capital in the Round of 16 as I’m tipping Atletico Madrid to win Group B. Porto, who always have good players despite having to sell their best ones each year, will also advance.

With Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan drawn together, Group C is very difficult to call. I do think it will be the Spanish and German teams that qualify as first and second, but if they’re not at their best, that could change, and I’d say watch out for Inter Milan!

I’m going to go for Seville to make it a perfect four from four for the Spanish sides reaching the next round as they will advance with group winners Manchester City from Group G, while Dortmund will exit from what I consider a tricky group.

Having reached three finals in five years, Liverpool have the pedigree to do well again. With their new-look forward line, I fully expect them to win Group A, with Napoli also reaching the last 16.

Tottenham look strong after starting the season well and they have a great coach in Antonio Conte. They will book their ticket to the knockout phase in first place and Frankfurt, who impressed me in winning the Europa League last year, will join them in qualifying from Group D.

As with Spain, I can see all the English teams making the next stage. The fourth Premier League side, Chelsea, won the Champions League two years ago, regularly do well in Europe, and have an excellent coach in Thomas Tuchel. They, along with AC Milan, are the clear favourites in Group E and will take the top two positions.

Finally, Paris Saint Germain will certainly qualify from Group H, while I expect Juventus and Benfica to fight for second place, with the Italian team reaching the next round.