Gary Lineker names the five ‘strongest’ teams in the Champions League
The tournament is really starting to heat up.
Gary Lineker has named the five ‘strongest’ teams in the Champions League and overlooked injury-hit Arsenal.
Arsenal were one of the most impressive teams during the revamped Champions League group phase, finishing third with 19 points out of a possible 24.
The Gunners are attempting to win their first ever Champions League trophy but have been hit with an injury crisis over the past month, with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all sidelined.
Lineker does not view Arsenal as one of the standout contenders to win the Champions League but does think the trophy could be heading to England.
The Match of the Day host says Liverpool are ‘obviously’ one of the favourites and believes Manchester City could also put their poor league form to one side and conquer Europe if they get past Real Madrid this week.
Elsewhere, Lineker has been impressed by La Liga side Atletico Madrid and Serie A outfit Inter Milan, who both avoided the play-offs to progress straight into the knockout stages.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: ‘Who are the strongest sides left in the Champions League?
‘Obviously Liverpool, probably Real Madrid if they go through but Man City would be up there as well.
‘Then I would go Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. PSG are much-improved, if you said they could win it at the start of the season I would have said, “no, I can’t see it”.’
Paris Saint-Germain beat Manchester City in the group phase but still missed out on an automatic place in the knockout rounds.
PSG are almost certain to join the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the hat, however, after beating Brest 3-0 in the first leg of their play-off game.
Rating PSG’s Champions League chances, Alan Shearer said: ‘They are more of a team than we’ve seen for a long time.
‘Whether they’ve got enough to go all the way I’m not so sure but they could be dark horses.’
Meanwhile, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards talked up Bayern Munich’s frightening attack as Vincent Kompany eyes European glory in his first season at the club.
Bayern, currently eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table, also look set for a place in the knockout stages, leading Scottish champions Celtic 2-1 ahead of the return leg in Germany.
Richards said: ‘We talk about Real Madrid’s front three but Bayern Munich’s is right up there with Kane, Musiala, Sane, Olise.
‘I think they’re finding it tricky to find the balance with that high line. Attacking-wise, they can score against anybody.
‘But defensively, unless they sharpen up and sharpen up quickly, I think other teams will destroy them at the back.’
Real Madrid are the Champions League holders having beaten Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in last year’s final.
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