Champions League 2026-27: Favorites, Key Players, and Predictions
The Champions League kicks off again with Paris St-Germain chasing a historic third consecutive title as the group stage begins. Five English teams aim to challenge their dominance, with Arsenal tipped as strong contenders to improve on last year's runner-up finish.
Expert Opinions on the Title Race
Julien Laurens believes PSG making it three titles in a row would be remarkable but unlikely without a superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo. He expects PSG to at least reach the semi-finals but doubts the three-peat. Laurens predicts Arsenal and Bayern Munich will contest the final, favoring Arsenal for the win due to their strong defense. He sees PSG in the last four and Bayern as close runners-up.
Guillem Balague notes PSG's uneven start to the season as a sign of the challenge in maintaining top form. He highlights that coach Luis Enrique uses the group stage partly to experiment before ramping up intensity from January. Balague also praises Barcelona, who are performing well despite still seeking reinforcements. He expects Arsenal, PSG, and Barcelona to reach the semifinals, with Bayern, Real Madrid, or Manchester City possibly joining them.
Players to Watch This Season
- Jude Bellingham is poised for a big year in Real Madrid's number 10 role, following a strong World Cup performance.
- Nico Paz, Como's number 10, is central to their play and has bright prospects under manager Cesc Fabregas.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been outstanding for PSG, with impressive skill and goal-scoring ability; he's considered a Ballon d'Or contender.
- Ismaelo Ganiou, Lens' quick and physical center-back, is expected to attract Premier League interest.
- Donyell Malen shines at Roma, scoring nearly a goal per game as their main striker.
Balague adds that Harry Kane fits Bayern Munich’s style perfectly and is a leading Ballon d’Or candidate. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal aims to impress under Hansi Flick’s high-press system. Brazilian talent Kaua Elias of Shakhtar might emerge as a future star. After injury struggles, Martin Odegaard is showing strong leadership and form at Arsenal.
What Do The Numbers Say?
- Arsenal hold a 20.4% chance to win the Champions League, leading the betting odds.
- Bayern Munich follow closely with a 20% chance after losing to PSG in last season’s semifinals.
- Manchester City, reigning champions, have a 12.7% chance, ranked third.
- PSG's odds for a third straight title stand at 7.3%, fourth overall.
- All five Premier League clubs rank within the top 10 for winning probability, each with over a 50% chance to reach the round of 16.
- Liverpool face the easiest group stage draw, while Stuttgart have the easiest overall path.
- Arsenal have a balanced draw despite facing giants like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
- Manchester City endure one of the toughest draws, matched against Barcelona, PSG, and Napoli.
Debutants' Prospects
Guillem Balague admires Cesc Fabregas’ work with Como and expects them to reach the knockout phase. Austrian side LASK showed quality beating Celtic but likely won’t progress further. Azerbaijan’s Sabah impress with organization but face tough fixtures against Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Dortmund—unlikely to advance but could cause surprises. Norwegian club Viking, despite a challenging group, could make the knockout rounds thanks to their tactical strength.
Broadcast Information
The BBC will air highlights of every Champions League game starting at 22:00 BST on Wednesdays via BBC iPlayer, website, and app. A special Champions League Match of the Day runs on BBC One at 22:40. Thursday matches also get a highlights show on BBC Two at 22:30, with clips dropping at 22:00.
