Home of football statistics and historyThe 2025/26 Champions League season is around the corner, with Paris Saint-Germain looking to become the only team, alongside Real Madrid, to defend their title.
Les Parisiens won the most prestigious European trophy last season, demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in the Munich final.
In doing so, they achieved their long-standing dream, finally lifting the trophy that had eluded them despite years of heavy investment.
However, retaining the trophy has proved virtually impossible throughout the rich history of this competition, as we look at the leading candidates to dethrone PSG.
Top Favourites
Despite defending the crown, Luis Enrique’s men enter the tournament as the third-favourites to ascend the throne in 2025/26.
Barcelona and Liverpool are the most heavily fancied sides in online sports betting in the UK to beat them to the punch, with both sides given 7.00 to take him the famous ‘Big Ears.’
Lagging slightly behind are the perennial Ligue 1 champions at 7.5.
Perhaps surprisingly, Arsenal boast better chances of going all the way than the record-time champions, Madrid.
After signing Viktor Gyokeres and several other top players in the summer, the Gunners have moved high in the hierarchy, with the bookies giving them 8.00 to win the title for the first time.
Los Blancos are only the fifth-favourites at 9.00. But they’re still ahead of Manchester City (10.00), Chelsea (13.00) and Bayern Munich (13.00).
Last season’s finalists, Inter, carry odds of 26.00, largely thanks to their uneventful summer dealings.
Nationality
Barcelona and Madrid have dominated the scene in the last decade.
The Spanish heavyweights have won seven of the last 12 Champions League editions, establishing themselves as the continent’s most consistent clubs.
With that in mind, it’s hardly surprising that La Liga sides remain among the top picks in this season’s Champions League betting markets.
However, clubs from the Premier League have shattered their formidable status three times in the past seven years.
With Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea vying for the trophy, English teams feature prominently among the favourites in this season’s Champions League odds.
League Phase
With Thiago Alcantara back at Camp Nou in a different capacity (via News18), Hansi Flick’s backroom staff has gained a valuable addition and a deep understanding of Barcelona’s identity.
At 1.44, Los Blaugranas are among the safest bets to progress from the league phase of the Champions League, followed by Liverpool (1.5) and PSG (1.5).
Mikel Arteta’s new-look Arsenal are up there at 1.53, with Madrid (1.66), Man City (1.72) and Bayern (1.83) trailing close behind in the odds to advance.
Despite winning the Serie A title, Napoli, strengthened by a raft of summer signings, are among the dark horses at 3.00, just like Atletico Madrid (3.00) and last season’s Europa League winners, Tottenham Hotspur (3.00).
The bookies believe more in reigning Conference League holders Chelsea, giving the Blues 2.00 chances of reaching the knockout phase.
Top Goalscorers
Borussia Dortmund centre-forward Serhou Guirassy and Barcelona captain Raphinha were the joint-top goalscorers last season, having netted 13 goals each.
Despite their sterling exploits in 2024/25, they are not among the front-runners to repeat that feat this time around, with the spotlight instead falling on the usual suspects.
Man City talisman Erling Braut Haaland, who stopped at eight last term, is the bookies’ favourite to claim the Golden Boot this season (7.00).
After hitting a 30-goal landmark in his first La Liga campaign on his way to winning the top-scorer award, Kylian Mbappe is the second favourite to scoop the prize.
Though in the autumn of his career, Robert Lewandowski remains one of the three most likely contenders to challenge for the Golden Boot.
Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Lewandowski is the only player to surpass a 100-goal threshold in the Champions League.
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