Just two months after the 2019/20 campaign came to a conclusion with Bayern Munich lifting the trophy in Portugal, the Champions League group stages get under way with Europe's elite battling to become the kings of the continent.

Bayern, Sporting Life's 14/1 tip for success last season, take favouritism and a much shorter 4/1 price across the board this time around. They are joined by Manchester City, who once again go in at a short price with 9/2 the best available with a couple of bookmakers.

We may as well copy the section across from last season on City's fortunes in this competition because it followed a similar path. Pep Guardiola, the great manager, but also the great over-thinker and that came to the forefront of discussion as they were dumped out by Lyon at the quarter-finals stage.

We are left with the dilemma of just how much value City actually represent but, based on recent years, 4/1 just isn't enough to tempt us into backing them over the coming months. They, as always, have a favourable group which they should win comfortably but it's the knockout stages where it usually all comes undone.

If it was a straight shootout between deciding if Bayern will retain their crown or if City will finally get their hands on the trophy, given how they are both the same price, you're siding with the Bundesliga giants every time.