Champions League expert predictions: Inter Milan to go one better? Manchester United to exit in group stage?

Inter Milan could be set to storm to a second UEFA Champions League final in a row – and this time the result could be very different – according to the TNT Sports Goals Show experts.

The Nerazzurri made a surprise run to the final last season but fell just short of lifting the trophy in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

However, TNT Sports experts James Horncastle, James Richardson and Julien Laurens have predicted that the Italians could go one better this time around ahead of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage kicking off this week.

“Bayern Munich are going to be in the mix again for honours, but I think the team that’s actually going to win isn’t Man City and isn’t Bayern Munich – it’s going to be Inter,” said Richardson.

“I think that Inter have got an incredible cup specialist at the helm in the shape of Simone Inzaghi and surprised themselves with what they could do in the final last year against Man City.

“Can they get the same rub of the green which led them to the final again this season? I’m not sure.

“But if they do, I think this time, with the awareness of their capabilities and the fact that honestly right now this team looks even better than it did last June against City, I think they could do it.”

Horncastle concurred that the Serie A side, who were last crowned European champions under Jose Mourinho in 2010, will make waves once again.

It has been another summer of change at San Siro, with the likes of Andre Onana, Milan Skriniar and Marcelo Brozovic departing and Yann Sommer, Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram coming in.

But the experience Inzaghi and his side drew from their charge through the knockout stages could make the difference this time around.

“I think Inter came away from losing last year’s Champions League final believing they could win it,” said Horncastle.

“I think they go back to the final this year.”

For Laurens, he is letting his heart run away with his predictions for this season’s competition.

“The winner, I say every year, but surely at some point, please, it will happen – PSG will end up winning the Champions League.

“We’ve come close before and maybe this season could be the good one because no more [Lionel] Messi, Neymar, [Marco] Verratti. There’s less bling-bling, less superstars, and instead a more united team, solidarity, Kylian Mbappe on top of his game.

“Luis Enrique’s obviously won it before with Barcelona. Maybe anything is possible and maybe we can dream that PSG will win.

“That’s only the heart talking. If the head was talking, it would be Manchester City but let’s go with PSG.”

There were split opinions about which side will spring a surprise, with plenty of intriguing options to choose from among the 32 teams that make up the group stage.

For Richardson, he expects an outcome that will mean bad news for one of the four Premier League representatives.

“What it feels like right now is that the surprise package is going to be Galatasaray, with their extraordinary array of signings and talents, and equally Manchester United in a bit of surprise to not make it out of that group with Copenhagen and Bayern Munich,” he said.

Laurens is also excited by the team being put together by Okan Buruk in Istanbul.

“Galatasary somehow have put together a quite fascinating squad of players. Think [Mauro] Icardi, [Dries] Mertens, [Hakim] Ziyech, [Wilfried] Zaha and others all together in Turkey.

“If that clicks and they find their feet quickly in Europe then I think that could do some damage.”

Horncastle looked to a balanced Group E featuring Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord, Lazio and Celtic.

“Surprise package – Feyenoord, why not? They reached the final of the Conference League, quarter-finals of the Europa League,” he said.

“They’ve still got the slot machine, Arne Slot, and Santiago Gimenez is scoring lots of goals.”

After being named UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year for 2022/23, Laurens is expecting Erling Haaland to dominate in Europe once again this season as City attempt to defend the trophy.

“Considering City’s group and what could come later down the road in this competition, I think he could get close to Cristiano Ronaldo’s record from 2013/14 when he scored 17 goals that season in the Champions League.

“I really fancy Haaland to maybe test a bit of that record.”

The question of who this year’s breakthrough player will be was also put to the pundits.

“I think that the breakout star of this tournament is going to be one of Inter’s new signings, Davide Frattesi or maybe Marcus Thuram, or perhaps both,” said Richardson.

Horncastle said: “Kubo at Real Sociedad, the Japanese Mo Salah, I think he’s going to light up this group stage.

“We’ve already seen him nutmeg Toni Kroos and that Real Madrid to Real Sociedad thing worked out for Martin Odegaard – I think Kubo is one to watch.”

Laurens is liking the look of midfielder Xavi Simons, who has scored three goals in his first four league games after joining RB Leipzig on loan from PSG.

“He’s already starting the Bundesliga season on fire and I really fancy him to do something great in City’s group with Young Boys, with Red Star Belgrade, so there’s room there for him to be amazing. He’s got so much talent.”

The Champions League group stage kicks off on Tuesday live on TNT Sports, with Manchester City’s clash with Crvena Zvezda, Newcastle’s trip to AC Milan and Celtic’s clash with Feyenoord among the fixtures.