UEFA Champions League 2018-19: Analysis of the clubs by domestic leagues

Dutch Eredivisie, Portugal Liga NOS and Russian Premier League

Ajax Amsterdam v PSV Eindhoven - Dutch Eredivisie

Teams:

Eredivisie - Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven

Liga NOS - Porto, Benfica

Russian Premier League - Lokomotiv Moscow, CKSA Moscow

Predictions for 2018-19

The Portuguese Liga offers the teams of 2004 champions Porto and Benfica. Porto are the current Liga NOS Champions having ended the run of Benfica at the top. Both of them have quality teams, but the question this season still remains, do they have it in them to challenge in Europe?

Porto seem to have been handed an easier draw out of the two with Schalke, Lokomotiv Moscow and Galatasaray and they should make it to the round of 16. Benfica, meanwhile have to contend with Ajax in addition to the Champions League mainstays in Bayern Munich; but should qualify for the knockout stages at least.

From the Eredivisie, we have 2 past champions in Ajax and PSV. Both teams have good quality youth players. Ajax, have the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Hakeem Ziyech while Eredivisie champions PSV have World Cup starlet Hirving Lozano.

Ajax are in the group with Bayern and Benfica and should look to make it to the round of 16, with direct competition coming from Benfica. PSV are in a group of death with Barca, Spurs and Inter which should prove too much for them. Should either Benfica/ Spurs or Inter slip, Ajax and PSV will be looking to make their mark further in the competition at least in the Europa league.

The current Russian champions Lokomotiv Moscow saw some stiff competition from CSKA and Spartak and came out on top in the domestic competition. Russian clubs have always been tough competitors in European competitions, and Lokomotiv would be looking to go ahead to the round of 16 in an evenly-contested group with Schalke and Porto. CSKA Moscow have a tough draw with Real Madrid and Roma in their group and look likely contenders for Europa League football.