I am playing in a same lvl champions league,again(only once I was in a +1 lvl in 28 seasons) and I have 3 teams 1 lvl below
What i have noticed is that none of those 3 teams are league winners last season but 2 of them have reached the semifinals of the previous champions league,so I believe it doesn't have to do so much if you are a league winner,but what u have done in previous champions league,i might be wrong,but this is what i think