The UEFA Champions League is back, and the new 36-team league phase promises a season of high drama. Every club is chasing a top-24 finish to reach the knockout rounds, with the final set for Madrid on 5 June next year. ESPN‘s first power ranking of the campaign has Paris Saint-Germain as the clear team to beat, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona close behind.
The defending champions, PSG, received nine of 19 first-place votes from ESPN’s global panel, and no team was ranked below fourth on any ballot. That’s the definition of a title favourite. The Paris side is aiming to become the first club since Real Madrid, from 2016 to 2018, to win three straight European crowns. Their summer wasn’t without setbacks, missing top target Yan Diomande to Real Madrid and seeing Bradley Barcola move to Liverpool. Still, they added Ferran Torres from Barcelona and Lucas Digne from Aston Villa, along with young talents Mika Godts and Maghnes Akliouche. With Luis Enrique at the helm and stars like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé in attack, their credentials are obvious. A home defeat to Monaco at the weekend raised a few eyebrows, but tougher tests await in Matchday 2 at Manchester City and Matchday 3 versus Barcelona.
Arsenal sit second after picking up five first-place votes, and for good reason. Mikel Arteta’s side ended a 20-year Premier League title drought last season, and they’ve spent the summer beefing up a formidable squad. Out went Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard, but in came Ezri Konsa, Bruno Guimarães, and Christos Tzolis. Their defence remains among the best in Europe, and set-piece prowess could carry them a long way. Yet their draw includes Real Madrid and Bayern Munich from the top pot, and that has dampened some enthusiasm among voters. Still, Arsenal’s consistency and Arteta’s ‘win-now’ approach make them genuine contenders.
Bayern Munich are third. Led by Vinny Kompany, the Bavarians boast an array of attacking talent, including Michael Olise, Harry Kane, and Luis Díaz. Olise, who some have tipped as a future Ballon d’Or winner, plays just behind Kane, who scored 64 goals last season. Their draw looks manageable, and a first European title since 2020 is a real possibility. A scoreless Bundesliga draw with Schalke at the weekend was their first in over 18 months, but that should only sharpen their focus for Matchday 1.
Barcelona, fourth, romped to LaLiga last season on the strength of Lamine Yamal. But they’ve lost Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford, among others, in a squad overhaul. The arrival of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in midfield gives them a metronomic presence, but at 30, his fitness in a high-pressing system is a question. Hansi Flick’s side have opened the season with four straight wins, scoring five goals in three of them, and Raphinha and new arrival Anthony Gordon are creating chaos around goal. Defence remains a worry, with only João Cancelo added at the back and Pau Cubarsí still young, but early returns are promising.
Real Madrid round out the top five under new manager José Mourinho. The Portuguese has won the Champions League twice before, with Porto and Inter Milan, and he’s back to restore stability at the Santiago Bernabéu. With Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham, this team’s ceiling is sky-high, but Mourinho’s temperament and ability to motivate superstars is under scrutiny. A Matchday 1 home clash with Inter Milan, one of his former clubs, offers a stage to silence critics.
Manchester City sit sixth after a summer of significant turnover. Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola, and players like Enzo Fernández, Elliot Anderson, and Ayyoub Bouaddi have arrived to fill the void left by Rodri’s surprise move to Barcelona. Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki still form a formidable attacking duo, but a tough schedule, including Napoli and RB Leipzig, has voters feeling cautious.
Inter Milan, the Serie A champions, come in at seventh. Christian Chivu’s side are unbeaten and show remarkable resilience, coming back from two goals down to beat Napoli 3-2 at the weekend. Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram, who combined for 40 goals last season, remain the focal points. Adding John Stones and Curtis Jones brings experience, and with Denzel Dumfries the only major departure, this is a settled group.
Liverpool are eighth under new manager Andoni Iraola. They’ve undergone a rebuild but still have talent to make a deep run. Barcola and Víctor Muñoz join Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in attack, and if the quartet clicks, Liverpool could surprise. Yet their defensive issues are unresolved, and their ranking reflects that uncertainty. Atlético Madrid, ninth, and Manchester United, tenth, round out the list. Diego Simeone’s side have added Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-In, but they’re still learning his system. United, led by Michael Carrick, have a trio of new midfielders and a brutal schedule that could stretch a thin squad.
Over on BBC, football experts Julien Laurens and Guillem Balague offered their picks. Laurens believes Arsenal’s defence will win them the title, while Balague thinks PSG will be close but Barcelona are flying. Opta’s supercomputer, meanwhile, gives Arsenal a 20.4% chance of lifting the trophy, with Bayern Munich just behind at 20% and Manchester City third at 12.7%. PSG, surprisingly, sit fourth at 7.3%. All five Premier League teams are given more than a 50% chance of reaching the last 16.
Key players to watch this season include Jude Bellingham, who looks to make his mark under Mourinho; Nico Paz of Como, one of the tournament’s rising stars; and Kvaratskhelia, who could push for the Ballon d’Or. Harry Kane is also in the conversation for that award, while teenage sensation Yamal has his sights set on Champions League glory. With so many storylines and a format that rewards consistency, the road to Madrid promises to be anything but predictable.
