16 September 2025
The Champions League is back, but who will win the prolific trophy this season? Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are one of 36 teams starting the league season this week, including six English clubs, a record for any country in the competition.
Starting Tuesday, a total of 189 matches will be played, leading up to the final at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary, next May.
A number of sports analysts, experts, commentators, and journalists were asked: Which club do they think will lift the trophy in Hungary? Which English club—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur—will go the furthest? They also chose their "dark horses" and the player they are most looking forward to watching.
This is the 71st edition of the continent's elite competition, and the 34th since the name was changed to the Champions League in 1992. Paris Saint-Germain won last season's edition, the first under the expanded 36-team round-robin format.
BBC Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty says: "My pick for the winner is Liverpool, simply based on the massive reinforcements this summer. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are top-class players and Champions League-ready. The vicissitudes of the new format last season saw Liverpool face eventual champions Paris in the last 16, losing on penalties at Anfield. If Liverpool reach the knockout stages—which they are likely to do—the Anfield factor will increase game by game. Paris will again be the biggest threat, a fantastic team who deserve their place as the best team in Europe, while Real Madrid will always be in the conversation about the favorites."
BBC Senior Football Correspondent Sami Mokbel says: "I'm picking Liverpool." Four wins from four in the Premier League and they're not even close to hitting their stride yet. Oh, and Isaac is waiting in the wings. Arne Slot's team is the team to beat."
Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger says: "Real usually have the strongest mentality in this competition, but Paris must be among the favorites, as well as Liverpool after a stellar Premier League season and huge investment. Both teams immediately come to mind as finalists, and if I had to choose, I'd go with Liverpool. The depth is excellent, the quality is already there, and now they have Isaac up front."
Radio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray says: "When a team wins Europe's richest league with relative ease and then spends nearly half a billion pounds on new players, while also securing the services of two of the club's greatest servants, it's hard to pick anyone other than Liverpool. Last season, they narrowly lost to the champions on penalties. It would be fantastic if Liverpool and Paris reached the final this season in Budapest."
Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson says: "Toppling Real Madrid to win the Champions League isn't a slam dunk, and you wouldn't be far off the mark if you did. I think Xabi Alonso has been impressive with his squad at the Club World Cup, and giving Arda Güler more space can only be a good thing. His development has been stifled by the Bernabéu's love affair with Luka Modric, and now he has the license to truly spread his wings."
The Observer's football correspondent Rory Smith observes: "It's only been one season since Real Madrid won the title, which is frankly unacceptable for a club that views the trophy as a given, and Alonso's main task is to rectify that. Real aren't always the most cohesive, but they have more individual talent than any other team, and that often decides things."
Former England captain Steve Houghton declares: "I'm rooting for Paris to win again. It's a young squad, but they've already won, and they're athletic and attack-minded."
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin says: "Unusually, I went with my head, not my heart. I love Paris and their style, and how they've changed the way football is played now with their attacking approach. I also love their love of the wingers!"
Spanish pundit Guillem Balague says: "I feel Paris has begun a new era of success based on the intelligent use of the prevailing model - positional football - combined with quality, clear leadership, and top players in every position. Barcelona will be close, but I'm not sure their defensive shortcomings will be addressed."
BBC Champions League pundit Stephen Warnock says: "I think Barcelona will win, and I'd tip Lamine Yamal to be the star of the tournament."
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson says: "I chose Barcelona, a young team that has grown from the experience of reaching the semi-finals last season. They were unlucky not to reach the final and played brilliantly against Inter, but they were exposed by a very tough team. They will learn from that." The club seems a bit turbulent off the pitch, but inside there's a nice balance between special young talent and experience, with names like Robert Lewandowski making an impact as a substitute.
Italian expert Niki Bandini says: "I'd go for Liverpool. Predictions are a bit of guesswork now. Winning depends on readiness and rhythm in decisive moments. Paris took just four points from their first five games last season and then turned into a roller coaster. But Liverpool were good enough to win—Paris needed penalties to overcome them—and then spent nearly half a billion more this summer. Ekitike, Wirtz, Isak—they're all capable of deciding matches. They also didn't take part in the Club World Cup this summer. We're already seeing fatigue and injuries among some of the players, and that could have an impact this season."
Former Arsenal striker Theo Walcott says: "I'm not saying this because I'm Arsenal, but I feel if they had a player like Victor Gjokeres in the semi-final against Paris last season, they would have won. When you create danger and send a ball
