Champions League Group verdicts

As the Champions League returns, Paul Higham runs through all eight groups and selects his predictions for who will make it through into the tips free soccer page.

Table

1. Paris Saint-German P3 W3 D0 L0 F9 A0 Pts9

2. Real Madrid P3 W1 D1 L1 F3 A5 Pts4

3. Club Brugge P3 W0 D2 L1 F2 A7 Pts2

4. Galatasaray P3 W0 D1 L2 F0 A2 Pts1

Fixtures:

• Wednesday 18 September: Club Brugge v Galatasaray (18:55 CET), Paris v Real Madrid

• Tuesday 1 October: Real Madrid v Club Brugge (18:55 CET), Galatasaray v Paris

• Tuesday 22 October: Club Brugge v Paris, Galatasaray v Real Madrid

• Wednesday 6 November: Paris v Club Brugge, Real Madrid v Galatasaray

• Tuesday 26 November: Galatasaray v Club Brugge (18:55 CET), Real Madrid v Paris

• Wednesday 11 December: Paris v Galatasaray, Club Brugge v Real Madrid

Verdict:

A mouth-watering clash between PSG and Real Madrid kicks off the group stages and they meet again in the penultimate round in what should be the decider of who finishes top of the group. Real haven't had the best start to the season and the French champions have injury problems, but they also have Neymar looking lớn prove a point after his failed bid to return lớn Barcelona over the summer - he does, however, have a three-game ban lớn sit through at the start of the proceedings and that, coupled with some injury problems means that Real may just have enough to pinch top spot. You can prefer the good soccer tip page!

Fixtures

• Wednesday 18 September: Olympiacos v Tottenham (18:55 CET), Bayern v Crvena zvezda

• Tuesday 1 October: Tottenham v Bayern, Crvena zvezda v Olympiacos

• Tuesday 22 October: Tottenham v Crvena zvezda, Olympiacos v Bayern

• Wednesday 6 November: Bayern v Olympiacos (18:55 CET), Crvena zvezda v Tottenham

• Tuesday 26 November: Tottenham v Olympiacos, Crvena zvezda v Bayern

• Wednesday 11 December: Bayern v Tottenham, Olympiacos v Crvena zvezda

Verdict:

Two traditionally tough and hostile away days await the two big group favourites here in Athens and Belgrade - where Liverpool came unstuck last season against an inspired Red Star side that can shock anyone on their day. Bayern are still a team in transition despite bringing in Coutinho and Perisic, both of whom are on loan, and Spurs have the better squad and hold a great chance of topping the group if they can start strongly - they're 11/8 to get the better of Bayern. That final game in Munich looks tasty if top spot is still up for grabs.

Fixtures

• Wednesday 18 September: Shakhtar v Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb v Atalanta

• Tuesday 1 October: Atalanta v Shakhtar (18:55 CET), Manchester City v Dinamo Zagreb

• Tuesday 22 October: Shakhtar v Dinamo Zagreb (18:55 CET), Manchester City v Atalanta

• Wednesday 6 November: Dinamo Zagreb v Shakhtar, Atalanta v Manchester City

• Tuesday 26 November: Group C: Manchester City v Shakhtar, Atalanta v Dinamo Zagreb

• Wednesday 11 December Group C: Shakhtar v Atalanta (18:55 CET), Dinamo Zagreb v Manchester City (18:55 CET)

Verdict:

A familiar foe for City in the form of Shakhtar, but nothing really to worry Pep Guardiola and 9/2 on them winning all six games would only be vulnerable if they've got the group sewn up before the last couple of matches. That could well be the case with the rest evenly matched, and don't be surprised if Shakhtar upset Italian debutants Atalanta lớn qualify - the Ukrainian title winners have alternated between qualifying and failing in their last nine attempts - and they failed lớn make it through last year.