The 72 nd edition of Europe’s elite club competition promises to be another thrilling affair and we’re examining the top 10 contenders in our Champions League 2026/27 outright winner predictions.
Plenty of perennial powerhouses figure prominently on this list, but there is also one notable team looking to put a new name on the trophy.
In reverse order, here’s how we rank the leading challengers:
Aston Villa
10. ASTON VILLA @ 33/1
It was a close call between the Villans and Atletico Madrid but the Midlands outfit just make it into our top 10. Last season’s Europa League winners have lost two key players in Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans , but it is all about the team ethos with Unai Emery and Villa can recover.
Inter Milan
9. INTER MILAN @ 28/1
Going out in the knockout phase play-offs was just about the only blip in Cristian Chivu’s first season in charge, which ended with a runaway Serie A title triumph and Coppa Italia success. John Stones has been added to an already experienced squad and the one fear is that Inter may just lack athleticism.
Manchester United
8. MANCHESTER UNITED @ 16/1
Michael Carrick picked up 12 wins in 17 Premier League matches to guide the Red Devils up to third spot in the table and must now seek to maintain that momentum. United’s summer signings have been solid, rather than spectacular, but it is the rekindled team spirit at Old Trafford that appeals.
Liverpool
7. LIVERPOOL @ 10/1
Arne Slot is out and Andoni Iraola makes a huge step up in class after impressing as Bournemouth boss. The Spaniard has inherited a talented squad, though, especially if Alexander Isak can return to top form, and the legendary Anfield atmosphere on big European nights is always a major boost.
Manchester City
6. MANCHESTER CITY @ 7/1
No club is expected to be more affected by a change of leadership than City , with Pep Guardiola ending his incredible reign at Etihad Stadium and Enzo Maresca stepping in. All the player pieces are in place for the Blues to stay successful, but will the transition be just too significant this season?
Barcelona
5. BARCELONA @ 7/1
Hansi Flick has led the Catalan giants to back-to-back LaLiga titles and claiming a first European crown since 2015 may now take priority. Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have been brought in to add attacking options, but a lot will still rest on the young shoulders of Lamine Yamal .
Real Madrid
4. REAL MADRID @ 7/1
Jose Mourinho heading back to the Bernabeu has polarised opinions and the Special One didn’t exactly set the world alight during his first stint there. However, he is a two-time Champions League winner and Real are the kings of this competition with 15 outright victories.
Kylian Mbappe , Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham will provide the firepower going forward, the big question is whether Mourinho can improve the work ethic and mastermind a more resilient defence.
Arsenal
3. ARSENAL @ 13/2
The Gunners rattled off eight straight wins during the league phase last season and then efficiently made their way through to the final before only being beaten on penalties by PSG .
Buoyed by a Premier League title triumph and more significant squad strengthening, Arsenal are perfectly placed to again challenge for a first Champions League success, but Mikel Arteta may just have to be a bit more ambitious with his tactics in the latter stages to get over the line.
Bayern Munich
2. BAYERN MUNICH @ 13/2
The German giants have been favourites to lift this trophy for a seventh time at some stage of the last three seasons but each time suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the business end of the competition.
Big names like Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich aren’t getting any younger, but Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala have fresher legs to help keep the tempo up. Conversely to Arteta , Vincent Kompany could do with being a little less gung-ho in big games.
Paris Saint-Germain
1. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN @ 5/1
Since the mega-rich French outfit abandoned their pursuit of acquiring expensive aristocrats, they have fully backed up the old adage that a champion team will always fare better than a team of individual champions.
Of course, there is still room for some Gallic flair, but current stars such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi and even Ousmane Dembele embody the ethos that you also have to work for success, a belief instilled in them by head coach Luis Enrique.
Real Madrid are the only club to have claimed a hat-trick of wins in the Champions League era, but it will take a strong team to stop PSG from emulating them this term.
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