Who Will Win the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League?

The UEFA Champions League is back, Juventus is back, and Bayern Munich is back. It is the most prestigious club competition in European football with millions impatiently waiting to follow the 2008 first phase kick-off.

With eight groups of 32 teams from European leagues all aiming at one trophy, there is little doubts that the competition will deliver entertainment and excitement to many fans all over the world.

But there will be only one winner at the end of all the surprises and disappointments that are custom in football. 

Although the competition was last year well dominated by the English teams from the wealthiest league in the world, with Man Utd eventually winning the cup on penalties defeating Roman Abramovich and Avram Grant's Chelsea, this year the story will be different.

Man Utd only made one acquisition in Dimitar Berbatov and have so far not done much to convince without last year's top goalscorer and best player Cristiano Ronaldo, while the undefeated Chelsea are yet to tick all the boxes.

Hopes are high at Anfield, bolstered by last Saturday's victory against the current champion Manchester United. Rafa Benitez's boys are undefeated in the league and look well to strike gold this season, if rotations are not to de-rail the team's fortunes.

With the Reds up against the likes of Spanish side Atletico Madrid FC, and inform Marseilles of France, it is just a matter of wait and see who makes it through. The giants are up against it, and they will certainly be tested.

In the 2007-08 competition La Liga managed to present one team in the last four, Barcelona—one of the giant and best entertainers of the past years under the guidance of Frank Rijkaard. This year they are back under new management with new players and new ideas, but the objective is still the same—to win everything they contest for.

The ever-present Champions League record holders Real Madrid are once again in the running and are ready to break their own records, but they will have to do it the hard way after being grouped with current UEFA Cup and Super Cup holders Zenit St. Petersburg.

The Russian team looks to be a threat in a group that also boasts Italy's "Old Lady" Juventus, who are looking to make up for lost time in what looks to be a very thrilling group of this very stage.

Destination is Rome, Italy, and there will be no greater achievement if Roma are to reach the final scheduled for their own Olympic Stadium.