Who Will Win Champions League? Bbc Sport Experts Make Predictions

The Champions League is back, but who will get their hands connected nan celebrated aged trophy this season?

Holders Paris St-Germain are 1 of 36 teams who statesman nan convention shape this week, including six English sides - a grounds number for immoderate state successful nan competition.

Starting connected Tuesday, location are a full of 189 games to beryllium played, including nan last astatine Budapest's Puskas Arena adjacent May.

We person asked immoderate of BBC Sport's master pundits, commentators and journalists who they deliberation will assistance nan trophy successful Hungary, arsenic good arsenic who will spell furthest retired of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

They person besides picked their astonishment package, and nan subordinate they are astir looking guardant to watching.

And you tin ballot for who you deliberation will beryllium nan winners below.

Don't hide nan BBC will again show highlights of nan Champions League this season.

From 22:00 BST connected nan Wednesday of Champions League weeks, location will beryllium match-by-match highlights disposable connected BBC iPlayer and nan BBC Sport website and app, positive a typical Champions League Match of nan Day connected BBC One astatine 22:40.

This week location will besides beryllium be a highlights show connected Thursday connected BBC Two astatine 23:00.

BBC's main shot writer Phil McNulty: My prime to triumph it are Liverpool, purely connected nan ground of nan immense strengthening they person carried retired this summer. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are 2 high-class players who are Champions League-ready.

The vagaries of nan caller convention strategy past play saw Liverpool meet eventual winners PSG successful nan past 16, wherever they mislaid connected penalties astatine Anfield.

If Liverpool scope nan knockout phase, which they surely will, past nan Anfield facet grows pinch each game.

PSG will beryllium nan large threat erstwhile again, a superb broadside who merit nan position arsenic nan champion squad successful Europe, while Real Madrid travel into each Champions League speech arsenic imaginable winners.

BBC's elder shot analogous Sami Mokbel: I'm going for Liverpool. Four wins from 4 successful nan Premier League and they haven't moreover astir deed apical cogwheel yet. Oh, and Isak is waiting successful nan wings. Arne Slot's broadside are nan squad to beat.

Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger: Real are usually nan nine pinch nan strongest mentality successful this competition, but PSG person to beryllium 1 of nan favourites and Liverpool are too, fixed that they had specified a bully Premier League play past invested truthful overmuch successful their squad.

Those 2 teams travel instantly to mind erstwhile I deliberation astir who will play successful nan final, and if I person to prime 1 to triumph it past I will spell pinch Liverpool. Their squad extent is excellent, nan value was already location and now they person sewage Isak up beforehand arsenic well.

BBC Radio 5 Live shot analogous John Murray: When a squad wins Europe's richest convention astatine a comparative canter past spends nan champion portion of half a cardinal pounds connected caller players, while astatine nan aforesaid clip securing nan services of 2 of nan club's top servants, it's difficult to extremity anyone different than Liverpool.

Last play they mislaid retired only narrowly to nan eventual winners successful a punishment shootout. It would beryllium a tremendous imaginable if this play Liverpool and PSG were to make it each nan measurement to nan last successful Budapest.

Match of nan Day commentator Steve Wilson: Tipping Real Madrid to triumph nan Champions League is hardly nan activity of a soothsayer, but you are not apt to beryllium acold wrong. I thought Xabi Alonso did immoderate absorbing things pinch his squad successful nan Club World Cup - and getting Arda Guler much progressive tin only beryllium a bully thing.

His advancement was held backmost by nan affection everyone astatine nan Bernabeu had for Luka Modric, now he has licence to really dispersed his wings.

The Observer shot analogous Rory Smith: It's been a frankly unacceptable 1 play since Real Madrid won nan trophy nan nine sees arsenic its birthright, and Xabi Alonso's main task arsenic head is to put that right. Real are ne'er nan astir coherent squad successful Europe, but they person much individual talent than anyone, and often that is what matters.

Former England skipper Steph Houghton: I americium backing PSG to triumph it again. They are a young squad that has knowledgeable winning already, positive they are diversion and guardant thinking.

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin: For a change, I went pinch my caput complete my heart. I emotion PSG and nan measurement they play, and nan measurement they person changed nan measurement shot is being played now pinch their attacking attitude. I besides emotion that they emotion their wingers!

Spanish shot master Guillem Balague: I consciousness PSG person started a caller era of occurrence that has to do pinch utilizing cleverly nan predominant exemplary of our times -positional shot - mixed pinch quality, clear activity and apical players successful each position.

Barcelona will beryllium close, but I'm not judge they will benignant retired their protect deficiencies.

BBC Champions League expert Stephen Warnock: I deliberation Barcelona will triumph it - and I americium going pinch Lamine Yamal to beryllium nan tournament's prima player.

Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson: I person gone for Barcelona, who are a young squad that person grown from nan acquisition of their cracking tally to nan semi-finals past season.

They were very unlucky not to make nan final, and played brilliantly against Inter Milan - they conscionable sewage exposed by a really rigid Inter squad that had a measurement of playing and did what it said connected nan tin. But Barca will person learned from that.

The nine appears a small spot unstable disconnected nan transportation astatine nan infinitesimal but connected it they person a bully equilibrium of typical young talent and know-how - pinch nan likes of Robert Lewandowski to travel connected and effect games.

Italian shot master Nicky Bandini: I'll spell pinch Liverpool. Predicting these things astatine nan commencement is ever a spot of guesswork - winning nan Champions League comes down to fittingness and shape successful cardinal moments. PSG only took 4 points from their first 5 group games past season, past became a juggernaut by nan spring.

But Liverpool were bully capable to person won it past play - PSG needed a shootout to hit them aft each - and spent almost half a cardinal pounds strengthening again. Hugo Ekitike, Wirtz, Isak - these are each players who tin determine games erstwhile it matters.

They besides weren't progressive successful nan Club World Cup complete nan summer. We're already seeing fatigue and wounded drawback up to immoderate who were, truthful I deliberation that whitethorn beryllium a facet this season.

Former Arsenal guardant Theo Walcott: I americium not conscionable saying this because I americium Arsenal, but I do consciousness that if they had personification for illustration Viktor Gyokeres successful nan PSG semi-final they mislaid past season, past they would person won it.

When you create threat and put a shot into definite areas, Gyokeres is going to beryllium there. He is that benignant of old-school centre-forward that is going to make a quality for them successful a batch of games this season. Arsenal are not going to tie arsenic galore games successful nan Premier League, and he is truthful equipped for nan Champions League knockout ties arsenic well.

Add that to nan unit that Arsenal already have, and really beardown they are defensively, and that's why I americium backing them to triumph it.

BBC Champions League expert Nedum Onuoha: It's reliable to stake against Real Madrid. Last twelvemonth was 1 of nan worst displays we person seen from them successful this title and they still made it to nan knockout stage.

Alonso has travel successful pinch a caller structure, and their caller signings will make a quality for them.

AI and Opta's 'Supercomputer': We besides asked AI's sentiment connected who will triumph nan Champions League, and included nan calculations that Opta's 'Supercomputer' came up pinch too.

The AI prediction was generated utilizing Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked nan instrumentality to 'predict nan Champions League winners for nan 2025-26 season' and it went for Liverpool.

Opta's 'Supercomputer' is really a analyzable algorithm that uses a exemplary based connected betting marketplace likelihood and nan sports analytics company's ain 'Power Rankings', which are calculated utilizing past results.

It has simulated nan 2025-26 title 10,000 times and makes Liverpool favourites, pinch a 20.4% chance of winning, followed by Arsenal (16%), PSG (12.1%) and Manchester City and Barcelona (both 8.4%).

Disagree pinch our master humans aliases deliberation you cognize much than immoderate machine? You tin make your ain prediction and take from each 36 teams astatine nan bottommost of this page.

Phil McNulty: See my first answer, though I do deliberation Arsenal and Manchester City person nan capacity to spell heavy into nan title arsenic good arsenic Liverpool.

The Gunners reached nan semi-final past play and person made superior moves this summer, truthful they will person precocious hopes.

Nicky Bandini: I've picked them to triumph it, truthful it has to beryllium Liverpool! But galore of nan things I said astir them could besides beryllium based on for Arsenal - a immense finance successful an already top-class squad that wasn't truthful acold disconnected past clip around.

Really, each nan English clubs ought to beryllium tin of a heavy run, fixed their resources. Premier League clubs spent much connected transfers this summertime than those from La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and nan Bundesliga combined.

Rory Smith: I'll spell for Manchester City connected nan grounds that I deliberation Arsenal will, travel April, get distracted by their (eventually successful) pursuit of nan Premier League title.

I'd expect each six English teams will make nan knockout rounds - and 2 aliases 3 to make nan semi-finals - but Pep Guardiola will push peculiarly hard: Europe whitethorn good beryllium his champion chance of a awesome trophy.

Theo Walcott: I deliberation each six English teams will do well, not conscionable Arsenal. I only possibly look astatine Newcastle and deliberation they whitethorn not person nan spot successful extent for this competition, but they should still make nan knockout stages.

Nedum Onuoha: Having six of them successful there, who are tin of beating anyone, is going to beryllium interesting. In position of who will spell furthest, I consciousness for illustration Liverpool, City and Arsenal's chances are beautiful similar. So, apologies to my City people but I went backmost to past play and which squad went nan furthest.

That was Arsenal - and that semi-final conclusion to PSG they felt truthful disappointed about. With nan players they person brought successful this summer, they are tin of going 1 measurement further and reaching nan last this time.

Sami Mokbel: Liverpool for each nan reasons I've already mentioned. But, distant from nan Merseysiders, Arsenal look well-equipped to spell heavy into nan competition. Their squad is among nan strongest successful European football.

Steve Wilson: I for illustration nan look of Chelsea, but evidently Liverpool will powerfully fancy their chances.

Stephen Warnock: Chelsea are my astonishment package, but Liverpool will spell nan furthest of nan Premier League sides.

Steph Houghton: I spot Liverpool arsenic having nan squad extent to beryllium capable to compete successful each competitions. Their signings person added existent value to an already beardown squad.

Matt Upson: For akin reasons to why I deliberation Barca will triumph it, I deliberation Arsenal will do nan champion of nan English teams. The halfway of their squad is still together, they person strengthened their squad and they are besides different large European run further along. They tin usage a tally for illustration nan 1 they had past play successful bid to beryllium moreover much successful.

Pat Nevin: I americium definite Arsenal person sewage that extent you request to spell acold successful this competition.

Chelsea person sewage a bully chance of improving again but Arsenal, pinch their squad and particularly erstwhile they get everyone backmost fit, will perfectly beryllium capable to manage.

Guillem Balague: I deliberation Chelsea are creating thing special. Remember erstwhile their fans were moaning astir nan team?

The hardest point is to spot nan bigger image erstwhile you are a fan, but Chelsea person sewage youth, direction, a awesome manager, ambition and bid - successful nan aforesaid positional shot PSG are truthful bully at. Love their travel to nan top.

Thomas Hitzlsperger: I've sewage 2 teams I'd for illustration to mention here.

The first is Athletic Bilbao, who are a squad I've been watching a batch and a unsocial nine that I really admire. They are backmost successful nan Champions League for nan first clip since 2015 and their head Ernesto Valverde has done a phenomenal job. They are a coagulated side, who person made a very bully commencement to nan caller season.

The different team, Bodo/Glimt, person been 1 of my favourites for years and they person now yet qualified for nan Champions League. People astir apt don't admit capable what they person achieved, moreover though they saw them scope nan Europa League semi-finals erstwhile they played Tottenham past season. It's 1 of nan champion stories successful modern football.

Juventus and Manchester City some person to spell to Norway to play them, successful November and January, and they will decidedly not beryllium looking guardant to those games.

Steve Wilson: I'm not judge a nine pinch their pedigree tin beryllium labelled a 'surprise package' exactly, but I person a existent soft spot for Juventus, truthful I want them to do really well.

Nicky Bandini: Maybe Galatasaray. They person put together an astonishingly talented squad these past mates of years. I proceed to deliberation Victor Osimhen is 1 of nan champion number nines connected nan planet, truthful upgrading his indebtedness into a imperishable move was a coup, past connected apical of that they added Leroy Sane this summer, arsenic good arsenic Ilkay Gundogan and Wilfried Singo, who has had a coagulated mates of seasons astatine Monaco.

You could moreover propulsion Mauro Icardi into nan operation arsenic nan cliched 'like a caller signing' if he ever gets backmost to his champion aft nan cruciate ligament wounded he suffered past season. There's a batch for head Okan Buruk to activity with.

John Murray: How astir nan Italian champions Napoli arsenic nan astonishment package? Always difficult to hit successful Naples, now pinch nan added nous of Kevin de Bruyne to adhd to nan wily ways of coach Antonio Conte.

Steph Houghton: De Bruyne brings class, acquisition and thing typical to Napoli. Not galore different players person what he has. He has a chance to triumph it pinch his caller team.

Theo Walcott: Bayern Munich will do good but I cognize I can't people them arsenic a astonishment package because they are expecting to triumph it. I'm going for Napoli, because of what De Bruyne brings to nan table.

Phil McNulty: The accustomed suspects will beryllium involved, but immoderate broadside coached by Conte will beryllium good organised and a formidable opponent, truthful I will spell pinch Napoli.

Sami Mokbel: Under Conte, Napoli person thrived. They won nan Serie A title successful his first play successful complaint and person 3 from 3 this season. And pinch De Bruyne successful tow...

Rory Smith: There are nary surprises successful European shot immoderate much - nan large clubs person spent nan amended portion of 30 years sidesplitting them off. I deliberation Qarabag will beryllium amended than galore expect, based connected their Europa League shape past year, and Galatasaray and Athletic Bilbao mightiness connection a spot of assortment successful nan past 16.

But successful position of really progressing into nan second stages, it has to beryllium Napoli, fixed nan extent of squad Conte has built. Yep, that's right: this year's acheronian horses are... nan champions of Italy.

Pat Nevin: They are a cookware 3 squad and they person ne'er been to nan Champions League semi-final, and I deliberation they tin get there... truthful that makes Napoli a astonishment package moreover 'though I admit it's a spot of a cheat.

Matt Upson: I suppose Napoli are a astonishment connected this shape - while they are flying successful Serie A, if they did good successful nan Champions League it would astir apt travel arsenic much of daze than if Inter aliases Juve did, moreover though Napoli are astir apt nan amended team.

Nedum Onuoha: This is simply a spot of a paradox successful immoderate ways because they are successful cookware one, but I deliberation Chelsea are very tin of beating perfectly anyone.

They are Club World Cup champions - I cognize immoderate group want to disregard that title but astir group thought that PSG broadside were unbeatable, truthful I'll springiness Chelsea immoderate in installments there.

Guillem Balague: Watch retired for Villarreal. They are solid, person signed players that will person to show their worth, but they person spent much than ever.

Marcelino Garcia Toral is 1 of nan apical managers successful Europe - person a look astatine his profession - and offers physicality, bid and value upfront - nan type of qualities that tin return them far.

Rory Smith: The truth nan younger Williams brother, Nico, is still astatine Athletic Bilbao is down, much than anything, to Barcelona's ongoing financial malaise, but it is nan benignant of point that should beryllium celebrated.

He signed a 10-year woody this summer, and he will want to beryllium he tin trim it connected nan biggest nine stage. I'd mention Edon Zhegrova astatine Juventus, too, different edge-of-your-seat winger, but having 2 is cheating.

Guillem Balague: Desire Doue (PSG), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe (both Real Madrid)... do I person to chose conscionable nan one?

This is simply a title afloat of liking and quality. The toughest 1 to win.

Pat Nevin: Estevao Willian has sewage each chance of being 1 of nan champion successful nan business.

Nedum Onuoha: I wanted to spell for Estevao but Pat Nevin took him first... truthful I person gone much protect minded, and I've picked Dean Huijsen.

If Real Madrid are going to triumph nan Champions League this year, it's going to travel down to that large defender doing good for them, because a Xabi Alonso squad is built connected that beardown protect foundation, and I deliberation Huijsen is going to beryllium nan star.

Theo Walcott: I americium really looking guardant to seeing Arsenal's Eberechi Eze successful nan Champions League.

It's very different to Premier League shot and location mightiness beryllium games wherever he gets a spot much clip connected nan ball. When you springiness that clip to a subordinate for illustration him, who is truthful gifted, it is breathtaking to deliberation what he could do.

If I had to prime a subordinate from extracurricular nan Premier League past it would person to beryllium Yamal, because I don't spot a batch of him. With Eze, I cognize what he tin do and I want him to show everyone connected this benignant of stage.

Phil McNulty: It's not a daze prime but I can't hold to spot Yamal play for Barcelona, hopefully starting against Newcastle connected Thursday, though nan 18-year-old is struggling pinch a backmost injury picked up connected world work pinch Spain.

PSG's Doue is different superb young talent presently struggling pinch an injury, but he is different who will ray up nan tourney erstwhile fit, arsenic he did truthful wonderfully past season.

Matt Upson: Yamal is nan subordinate I want to see. He is simply a ridiculous talent and I emotion watching him play.

John Murray: The subordinate I'm looking guardant to watching is Yamal arsenic I americium yet to commentate connected him successful a Barcelona shirt.

While disappointingly it looks for illustration he mightiness not beryllium fresh for Thursday astatine St James' Park, I fishy location will beryllium different opportunities arsenic this Champions League progresses.

Sami Mokbel: At 18, Yamal is still a kid - but already 1 of nan premier attacking talents successful European football. Destined to beryllium 1 of, if not the, champion footballers successful nan world.

Steph Houghton: Yamal is simply a world superstar. I'm excited to spot really he performs against teams that are much than apt going to double up against him.

Nicky Bandini: We're each itching to spot much of Yamal, aren't we? The 2 legs of Barcelona's semi-final against Inter past play will enactment pinch maine for a very agelong time. Maybe it's unfair to inquire an 18-year-old what he tin do for an encore, but you can't thief but beryllium excited astatine nan prospect.

There are plentifulness of others I'm excited to watch excessively though! Of people we're each funny astir Max Dowman aft he made his debut for Arsenal astatine 15, and it'll beryllium nosy to spot Scott McTominay successful nan Champions League pinch Napoli aft he fired them to a home title past play and was named Serie A's Most Valuable Player.

I wonderment if this mightiness beryllium a breakout twelvemonth for Kenan Yildiz too, still only 20 and pinch a afloat play of starting for Juventus now nether his belt.

Steve Wilson: Nick Woltemade was near retired of Stuttgart's Champions League squad past season, truthful will presumably make his debut successful nan title erstwhile Newcastle play Barca connected matchday one. Memories of Tino Asprilla, anyone?

Thomas Hitzlsperger: It's astir apt not nan astir evident choice, but I americium going for Woltemade. There has been truthful overmuch talk astir him for a while - possibly not successful England until Newcastle signed him for £69m, but decidedly successful Germany.

Bayern Munich wanted to motion him successful nan summertime but Stuttgart would not waste him for nan money they were offering. Bayern president Uli Hoeness says Woltemade is not worthy what Newcastle paid for him, but nan large value tag is not his fault.

Woltemade has conscionable helped Stuttgart triumph nan German Cup and he has sewage thing astir him. He seems a very down-to-earth feline who you want to do good and I dream his expertise will radiance done successful nan Premier League arsenic good arsenic nan Champions League.