Uefa Champions League tips: Bayern Munich can keep good Kompany at Europe's top table

AMIDST ongoing wrangles to oust Gianni Infantino as Fifa chief , you get the feeling the start of the Champions League has crept up on Uefa, just as it has with the rest of us. Europe's premier competition gets going a week earlier than usual with three nights of high-class action, and we have glamour ties from the off with Real Madrid taking on Inter tonight before Liverpool renew rivalries with Atletico Madrid and Arsenal make the trip to face Napoli tomorrow. The Gunners went agonisingly close to being crowned European kingpins for the first time last term, losing the final in Budapest to Paris Saint-Germain after a penalty shoot-out. Arsenal topped the League Phase before making the most of a kind draw to grind their way to the final, thanks mainly to a resolute defence. PSG, meanwhile, took the other approach, sleepwalking through the expanded group stage before building a head of steam in the knock-out rounds, becoming the first side to successfully defend the title since Real Madrid completed three on the bounce between 2016 and 2028. That is the task now facing Luis Enrique's champions, and they begin their defence at home to Slovan Bratislava as favourites again, albeit narrowly. PSG are no bigger than 11/2, while Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are all 6/1 in places, with Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid 13/2 chances and Manchester City next up at a best price of 10/1. The Frenchmen have shown that the League Phase is all about surviving and little else, although a top-eight finish does mean skipping a two-legged play-off round as the business end of the campaign approaches. Enrique has proved the master of timing a run, and the core of his side that delivered back-to-back titles remains, although a little attacking depth has been lost with Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos moving on, and the law of averages has to be against them this time. Arsenal, meanwhile, should go deep but I would still wonder if they lack the guile required to get over the line, while Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres don't cry goals at the very top level. Real have been busy bolstering their defence over the off-season and with the talents of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius jr and Kylian Mbappe still in harness they will be a test for everyone, although the recent record of their manager in this competition is a worry. Gone is the swaggering Mourinho of Porto in 2004 and Inter six years later, and 'The Special One' has lost his last 10 two-legged knock-out ties in this competition, albeit with clubs who weren't genuine contenders. The English trio of City, Liverpool and Manchester United all go to post with managers who are new to this level, while Aston Villa have an old hand in Unai Emery, but he has a virtually new team after winning the Europa League last term. Bayern and Barca both have to be considered live contenders, and both clubs have kept tinkering to a minimum in the summer after domestic league titles last term. Barca haven't been to a final since their 2015 success, but are getting closer under Hansi Flick and it would be a surprise if they don't go very deep, but slight preference is for Vincent Kompany's Bavarians. Bayern lost a thrilling semi-final to PSG last season and go again with largely the same squad, one that contains a very experienced backline and an electrifying front three of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luiz Diaz, backed up by Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry. They will score goals for fun, and with Kompany having his feet under the table in his third year at the helm they can go all the way with a bit of luck on their side. The other team who might be worth a punt at a big price are Inter, who were beaten finalists in two of the last four seasons and have a very settled squad under Christian Chivu. A trio of Englishmen in John Stones, Djed Spence and Curtis Jones have been added to give more depth, and with talisman Lautaro Martinez resisting the overtures of Barca, the Italian champions are worth a small each-way play at 33 (Ladbrokes). Meanwhile, English teams have topped the League Phase in both seasons of its existence, and Liverpool might be worth a bet at 10/1 to emulate their feat of 2024/'25. Iraola lacks experience but the Reds have been handed a very decent set of fixtures, while Barcola has a winning mentality and Alexander Isak is showing signs of finally finding his Newcastle form. Liverpool lack the depth and steel to go all the way but they could go well in the first stage, although PSG have shown that doesn't matter too much by the time the European Cup is handed out. MICK'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PICKS Bayern Munich , 6/1 (General); Inter Milan , e/w, 33/1 (Ladbrokes); top 8 finish in League Phase , 13/8 (Ladbrokes); Liverpool to win League Phase , 10/1 (Bet Victor) KYLIAN Mbappe filled his boots with 15 goals in last season's Champions League to make off with the Golden Boot and come good on a 7/1 selection in this column. His Real Madrid side bowed out in the quarter-finals and anyone with designs on being top scorer this season probably needs to be getting to that stage at the very least. Mbappe is now a 7/2 shot to defend his title, but Harry Kane has been marked up at twice that price and is crying out to be backed. The England captain shared top scorer honours with Mbappe in 2023/'24, the last season under the old format, and has plundered 11 and then 14 strikes in the two campaigns since the expanded group phase of eight games was introduced. He can be relied on to hit double figures which would get him right in the mix, and Kane will already be eyeing up clashes with Viking and Slovan Bratislava as chances to put down a marker for the rest of the competition. At 7/1 he is an each-way banker at least, but with Bayern fancied to go all the way, Kane could end the season looking down on the rest of Europe's top marksmen. Raphinha, meanwhile, has been handed the armband and a central striking role by Barcelona manager Hansi Flick this season and he has started like a house on fire, scoring five already in LaLiga. The Brazilian notched up 13 champions League goals two seasons ago and will have plenty of chances to go close to that tally in an attacking, free-flowing team, so he makes each-way appeal at 20/1 generally. At double those odds, his former Barca team-mate Ferran Torres may also be worth an interest with his confidence sky-high after scoring the winner in the World Cup final. Torres found the net 21 times with the Catalans before making the move to PSG in the summer, where he netted twice on his debut. Torres will get plenty of game-time under compatriot Luis Enrique and he could easily take some place money at 40/1. TOP SCORER PICKS Harry Kane , 7/1 (BOYLE Sports); Raphinha , e/w, 20/1 (General); Ferran Torres , e/w, 40/1 (General)