It looks like 2023 could finally be the year for Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
That's at least according to Sporting News staffers from around the world, who filled out their brackets and put their quarterfinal, semifinal and final predictions down in writing.
Six of our nine predicted brackets have Manchester City advancing to the final, with the Citizens hoisting the trophy in five of them.
Those picks are line with the betting market, which has Pep Guardiola's side as the favourites, although they'll have to get through Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals, and one of Chelsea or Real Madrid in the semifinals.
The Sporting News' predicted Champions League winner:
- Manchester City (5 of 9 brackets)
- Real Madrid (2 of 9 brackets)
- Bayern Munich (1 of 9 brackets)
- Napoli (1 of 9 brackets)
Napoli is the overwhelming pick to reach the Champions League final on June 10 from one side of the bracket, but only one person sees the Italian champions-elect winning it all. If they did reach the title match, it would be their first-ever Champions League final.
The one unanimous conclusion by the Sporting News crew: Chelsea have no shot at advancing past Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. It'd be the ultimate bracket buster if the Blues do the unthinkable and knock off the reigning European and Spanish champions.
Check out all the brackets below.
MORE: Where is the UEFA Champions League final in 2023?
Kyle Bonn (Content Producer)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Man City / Napoli vs. Benfica
- Final: Napoli 2-1 Man City
It’s impossible to trust either Milan club this season, so their European campaigns end in the quarters, while Chelsea can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Man City and Bayern is a heavyweight quarterfinal bout, but the recent upheaval at the German club will be their undoing.
As long as Napoli get Victor Osimhen back for the semifinals, they will be the best team left in the field, and their push for a title will be thrilling and enjoyable for neutral fans. Man City fall just short again, as Pep Guardiola’s Champions League frustration continues.
Simon Borg (Senior Editor)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Man City / AC Milan vs. Benfica
- Final: Man City 2-1 AC Milan
In case you haven’t noticed, Man City have ratcheted up their urgency and aggression in recent weeks, peaking at just the right time to finally fulfil their Champions League quest.
They need to go through Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to reach the final, where surprise finalists AC Milan give them a run for their money.
Mike DeCourcy (Senior Writer)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Man City / Napoli vs. Inter
- Final: Man City 3-1 Napoli
What this bracket needs is an NCAA-style selection committee, so as not to wind up with three of the four best teams in one half of the draw. Whichever team gets through from that section is likely to dominate the final, so all the action really is in who survives City-Bayern for the right to play Madrid.
I don’t love where City are at this point, but none of the others on that side of the bracket are in the grandest condition, either. They’ll still blow out Napoli.
MORE: Who has won the most Champions League titles?
Nathan Evans (Data Editor)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Man City / Napoli vs. Inter
- Final: Man City 2-1 Napoli
After years of building towards it, 2023 is the year that Pep Guardiola finally delivers the Champions League win that Man City have been desperately craving. There’s a small matter of Bayern Munich and then likely Real Madrid to deal with first, but over recent weeks City have played some of their best football of the campaign.
On the other side of the draw, it feels like it's Napoli’s final berth to lose, though their recent 4-0 league loss to AC Milan was an eye opener. Over two legs, however, they should get the better of their opponents. But a meeting with City in the final will prove one step too far for Europe’s great entertainers this season.
Dom Farrell (Senior Writer)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Man City / Napoli vs. Inter
- Final: Man City 3-1 AC Napoli
If Pep Guardiola wants to win his first Champions League in charge of Man City, he’ll have to overcome the coach who outwitted him in the 2021 final (Thomas Tuchel) and the team who stunned his players with an implausible semifinal comeback in 2022 (Real Madrid). But City have hit irresistible form at the right time and should get the better of both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Napoli are swaggering to a historic Serie A triumph, but might have come off the top of their curve a little, as evidenced by their 4-0 league defeat to AC Milan. Don’t expect that to be repeated in the quarterfinal tie between the clubs and Luciano Spalletti’s men should proceed to reach the showpiece before finding City and Erling Haaland too big a hurdle to scale.
Dan Gibbs (Sub-Editor)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Man City / Napoli vs. Inter
- Final: Man City 2-1 Napoli
If Pep Guardiola is to finally deliver Man City a maiden Champions League trophy, then beating Bayern Munich and Real Madrid over two legs will be one heck of a way to do it. City look back to playing their best right now, and it's almost written in the stars that Erling Haaland will be the man to end the club's European struggles.
Napoli are almost there in the Serie A title race and if they wrap that up soon, that will put them in a strong position to focus on reaching the Champions League final.
Joshua Mayne (Content Producer)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich / AC Milan vs. Benfica
- Final: Real Madrid 4-0 AC Milan
AC Milan's recent league thrashing of Napoli could give the Rossoneri a key psychological edge in their quarter-final, while Benfica have all the signs of enjoying a run to the semis à la Ajax in 2018/19. However, AC Milan have the experienced personnel required to make the final.
On the other side of the draw, Manchester City are in irresistible form, but a reinvigorated Bayern Munich may snatch the win following the appointment of Thomas Tuchel. Real Madrid should roll over Chelsea in their quarter-final before pushing past Bayern.
From there, the final may be ugly viewing, as Madrid show us again why they are the kings of the Champions League.
Ben Miller (Content Producer)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich / Napoli vs. Benfica
- Final: Bayern Munich 1-0 Napoli
Thomas Tuchel can plot a path past a steamrolling City and vengefulness will inspire Napoli against Milan, while Inter's funk bodes well for Benfica, and Frank Lampard could endure a fresh Champions League drubbing.
The weaknesses shown by inconsistent Madrid in losing to Villarreal in the league risk becoming fatal in the semifinals, when the Partenopei will benefit from resting players domestically to set up an unpredictable final. Bayern's superior experience might shade it for the six-time champions.
Joe Wright (Sub-Editor)
- Semis: Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich / Napoli vs. Benfica
- Final: Real Madrid 3-1 Napoli
Thomas Tuchel’s appointment at Bayern Munich might be enough to give the Bundesliga side the edge over Man City, while Napoli will make light work of AC Milan and Benfica if they are firing on all cylinders.
But when it comes to the Champions League, Real Madrid are a different animal. You can’t help but feel like they’ve won it already.
