Racing Post's expert jury: Our tipsters' best bets for the Champions League

We asked our top team of writers for a number of predictions ahead of the 2021-22 Champions League and this is how they answered...

Who wins the Champions League?

Aaron Ashley: Chelsea make the most appeal. The Blues defended resolutely to win the Champions League last season and have greater firepower in their ranks now following the addition of Romelu Lukaku. The arrival of Saul Niguez also raises competition in midfield.

Thomas Tuchel has the squad depth to balance Europe with their domestic duties and the group stage draw couldn’t have been much kinder. The Blues also look well suited to a two-legged tie under Tuchel’s tactics.

Joe Casey: Bayern Munich lost out on the now discarded away goals rule to Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s quarter-final despite racking up 45 shots across the two legs. They were missing Robert Lewandowski for those ties and with him back, they look a formidable force.

Young stars such as Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Dayot Upamecano have had another year to develop and they will complement a star-studded core.

Liam Flin: Following the arrival of £97.5 million man Romelu Lukaku, last season's winners Chelsea are even stronger prospects for the Champions League this season and should go well again under Thomas Tuchel.

They are in a fairly weak section with Zenit, Malmo and a Juventus team lacking an identity and there is plenty of depth in their squad to help them juggle domestic and continental duties.

Mark Langdon: The Premier League is by a fair way the best in Europe these days and Liverpool, third last season despite a stack of injuries, could overcome a difficult draw to lift the European Cup for a second time under Jurgen Klopp. Their small squad doesn't help them over a season, but if everyone is fit they are a match for anyone - particularly at a hostile Anfield.

Ian Wilkerson: The hysteria surrounding Paris Saint-Germain means there is a bit of value further down the list and I'm convinced Chelsea can make a successful title defence.

The signing of Romelu Lukaku can prove the difference and they have scope for even more improvement with a further year under the tutelage of excellent Thomas Tuchel.

Which team could go well as dark horses?

Aaron Ashley: Surprises have been hard to come by of late in the Champions League, but Bundesliga stalwarts Borussia Dortmund could be overpriced.

Dortmund were not disgraced when losing to Manchester City 4-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals last season and a section featuring Ajax, Besiktas and Sporting could see them rewarded with a favourable tie in the round of 16.

When you have a world-class striker such as Erling Haaland, anything is possible.

Joe Casey: Atalanta have been one of the most progressive sides in Europe over the last five years and it has taken Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to oust them in the last two editions of the Champions League.

If they win Group F they should get a kinder draw and look primed to go well at a big price.

Liam Flin: Atletico Madrid's price has likely been inflated by the fact they have such a tricky group, but they have the talent and unity under experienced manager Diego Simeone to make the knockout stages at the very least.

Loanee Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez are excellent options in the final third, new addition Rodrigo de Paul adds more attacking impetus to their midfield and they should be full of confidence after last season's La Liga triumph.

Mark Langdon: At the odds you could do a lot worse than Atletico, who are in a tough group but can at least finish second to progress with Liverpool ahead of Porto and Milan.

A great coach, strong defence, balanced midfield and the addition of star forward quality in the returning Antoine Griezmann gives them everything you need to go well in a knockout competition.

Ian Wilkerson: Spanish champions Atletico Madrid look to have been underrated, mainly because they are such a difficult team to beat.

There is an element of them being an image of their no-nonsense manager Diego Simeone, but they have plenty of ability at the top of the pitch as well and, as a collective unit, they can be a match for anyone and don't deserve to be 25-1.

Who will be top goalscorer?

Aaron Ashley: Bayern’s goal machine Robert Lewandowski is the rightful favourite. The prolific Pole won the Champions League golden boot with 15 goals when the Bavarians were crowned champions in 2019-20 and last season’s European campaign was cut short due to injury.

The 33-year-old seems to get better with age, has hit the ground running this season and could rack up plenty of early goals in a section featuring Benfica, Barcelona and Dynamo Kiev.

Joe Casey: Erling Haaland is the most likely winner given his record in this competition and Dortmund’s relatively easy group. However, he is priced accordingly and is too short.

At a much bigger price, Man City's Ferran Torres could prove a runner. The Spaniard scored four times in six games in the Champions League last season and looks likely to play his fair share of games up front for the Citizens.

Liam Flin: Given that Chelsea are in a softer section and showed last season that they can progress far, Lukaku has to be considered.

The Belgian struck four times in last term's competition even though Inter were knocked out in the group phase and he netted 47 goals in 72 appearances during his two campaigns in Serie A.

Karim Benzema is another worth chancing - he netted six times in the 2020-21 Champions League.

Mark Langdon: Ferran Torres has been described by Pep Guardiola as a striker and with no other obvious player to play as the main forward expect the lively Spaniard to get plenty of opportunities as the main leader of the line for free-scoring Manchester City.

It's not an easy group but Leipzig conceded seven to Manchester United last season and have since lost both centre-backs.

Ian Wilkerson: Romelu Lukaku will surely spearhead Chelsea's challenge and he should be able to fill his boots in a group that includes a regressing Juventus and not much else.

Elsewhere, Ronaldo would be interesting if he remains at a double-figure price and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema represents some each-way value too.

Will the four English teams qualify for the last 16?

Aaron Ashley: Yes, it would be a big surprise were any to falter early. Two of the last three finals have been all-English affairs and on the whole it has been an excellent transfer window for the Premier League clubs.

Manchester City and Liverpool have been dealt the toughest hands but neither should be too concerned given the quality they possess, while odds-on quotes to top the section look completely justified for both Manchester United and Chelsea.

Joe Casey: After years of struggle, English teams have come to dominate the latter stages of the Champions League recently with two of the last three winners and four of the last six finalists hailing from the Premier League.

As a result I think all four teams should make the last 16. Manchester United’s recent poor record in this competition and manager makes them the most vulnerable to an early departure.

Liam Flin: No. Chelsea and Manchester United have the best chances of making the knockout stage but Manchester City will face a new-look PSG and Leipzig in Group A and Liverpool are in a 'Group of Death' of their own along with Atletico Madrid, Porto and Milan.

It is hard to see both teams making it out of those sections given the intense nature of the Premier League alongside it.

Mark Langdon: Yes, it should be a clean sweep. Leipzig aren't as good as last season so City can come through with PSG and United are superior to Villarreal despite losing the Europa League final to them. Anfield can help Liverpool progress and Chelsea should stroll into the knockouts.

Ian Wilkerson: Liverpool are the most vulnerable in a tough-looking group but I think they can fight their way through.

The other three should be OK. There may be concerns about Manchester City being paired with PSG and Leipzig but they look likely to progress as the Germans have yet to show they are as strong now that Julian Nagelsmann has left for Bayern Munich.

Do you agree with the decision to ditch the away-goal rule for this season?

Aaron Ashley: I do agree that it may be time for a change. The weight of the away goal has become too heavy and it would often predetermine tactics of the home team.

The EFL playoffs have shown there is no less drama or entertainment without the away-goal rule and it seemed unfair that whenever a tie headed into extra-time, the visiting team then gained the advantage.

Joe Casey: The away-goal rule added an extra dimension of jeopardy to the Champions League that will be missed this season. However it did sometimes unfairly punish teams who fell foul of it, such as Ajax in the 2018-19 semi-final against Tottenham.

Overall though, I think the competition will be poorer without it and less dramatic as a result.

Liam Flin: No. I can understand people being critical of how the away-goal rule encouraged teams to play defensively and hold onto advantages but for me that did not hinder the overall spectacle of the Champions League and, in fact, provided some of its best moments.

It feels like its removal was unnecessary and I will be sad to see it go.

Mark Langdon: Yes. It was totally unfair that a team would be eliminated after, say, a 1-1 and 2-2 draw when they are ultimately the same result. The EFL playoffs don't have the away-goal rule and that is thrill-a-minute but there is an issue that more games will now go to extra-time which gives the home team an advantage in the second leg because they will get an extra 30 minutes in front of their fans without the visitors getting the away-goal boost.

Ian Wilkerson: The reasons for its introduction, namely travel issues crossing the continent, no longer exist so I suppose it was always on borrowed time.

It did used to put the emphasis on the home side to attack though and it will now be easier for teams to shut up shop and play for penalties, so it could lead to more boring football in the knockout stages, which would be a shame.

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