Champions League Power Rankings (2025-26)

Fans are eager to guess who will win the UEFA Champions League at the end of the season whenever it comes around. Last time around, Paris Saint-Germain emerged victorious, thrashing almost every opponent they played, notably Inter Milan, whom they mercilessly beat 5-0 in the championship game.

Even though Luis Enrique’s team is only one of 36 teams competing for the European crown, PSG is unavoidably one of the favourites to win the trophy in Budapest, Hungary. The competition has received a much-needed update thanks to the new league system, which also produced a number of unexpected results from the previous season, including Manchester City’s elimination from the knockout stages.

Ahead of the Champions League season in 2025–2026, fans can anticipate more surprises. It would be shocking if none of the five Premier League teams still remaining made it to the quarterfinals or semifinals.

Ahead of matchweek one of Europe’s premier division, this is GIVEMESPORT’s assessment of the 36-team field. These include a top ten whose experience should lead to long runs and outside calls to win the tournament.

Ranking Elements:

European History: The biggest clubs with the know-how to win major trophies tend to have a stronger pedigree in the biggest continental competition.
Performances in the 2024–2025 Season: The performance levels over the previous 12 months are one of the most important predictors of who will advance to the competition’s business end.
League Form as of right now (2025/26) – Some teams have put themselves in the frame with a few domestic games under their belts, while others have experienced a decline in their potential standing.
Quality of Manager and Players: In any competition, the top teams with the most creative managers tend to advance the farthest.
36–31 (Long Shots)

A Champions League victory by any of Kairat Almaty, AEP Paphos, or Qarabag would be an even greater miracle than Leicester City’s Premier League fairy tale. Regarding Kairat’s qualifications, Celtic would like to tell you otherwise, but the defending Kazakhstan champions are making their debut appearance in the actual competition after defeating Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys in the playoffs.

Paphos, the victors of the Cypriot First Division, are in the same predicament following their triumph over Dynamo Kyiv in the third round of the playoffs. Azerbaijani champions Qarabag, who have advanced past qualifying for the fifth time, will be recognisable to Chelsea supporters. They have a little advantage over the other two due to their recent European experience.

During the 2019–20 season, Slavia Prague had Champions League evenings, but the Czech team did not make it past the group rounds. Despite losing their main player, El Hadji Malick Diouf, to West Ham United, they are still the best team in Czechia and currently lead their country’s domestic top division.

FC Copenhagen completes the list of teams that require a miracle to win the championship, despite their recent surprises. The Danes advanced to the Round of 16 the previous season and defeated Manchester United 4-3 in the 2023–24 season.

Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, who advanced to the Europa League semifinals last season before losing to Tottenham Hotspur, are a European team that has proven to be difficult competition throughout the years. Their reputation has increased over the years, but this will be their first time playing in the actual Champions League.

2024–2025 Champions League Power Rankings

Rank

Club

The country

Glimt/Bodo

Denmark

Prague Slavia

The Czech Republic

The Qarabag

The country of Azerbaijan

AEP Paphos

The Cyrpus

Almaty Kairat

Kazakhstan

Dark Horses, 30–21

Given that Belgium will have two clubs competing in the 36-team league phase, this might be a season where Belgian football makes a statement. With two Round of 16 results in their last two tournament participation, Club Brugge has been establishing themselves. Despite their inconsistent domestic play, Nicky Hayen’s team humiliated Rangers with a 6-0 aggregate win in the playoffs.

Union Saint-Gilloise, the Belgian champions going into the season, had won five of their last seven games to start the league undefeated. Their form gives them an advantage over their domestic rivals, but remember that this is their first time qualifying, so experience is vital.

Evangelos Marinakis laments Nottingham Forest’s failure to place in the top five the previous season, whereas Olympiacos, his Greek powerhouse, easily secured their Champions League berth. However, their opponents—they were drawn against Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Arsenal—have put them far down the rankings.

If Benfica decides to fire Bruno Lage, they are reportedly interested in hiring under-pressure Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim as their new manager. Benfica is a two-time European winner. However, their limited chances of pulling off a stunner are unaffected, and their most recent quarter-final finishes show they are not the dominant force of the past.

The same is true of Ajax, who were a formidable European powerhouse in the past but are currently having difficulty controlling the Eredivisie. The last time the Dutch powerhouses advanced past the group stages was in 2021, and they are now behind Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch top division.

Because of this, even though PSV has had less success, they are somewhat more likely to win this year’s championship. After defeating Ajax to win the championship the previous season, Peter Bosz’s team will believe they have the best opportunity of representing the Netherlands with honour.

Despite having a strong start to their league campaign, AS Monaco might surprise everyone, and Adi Hutter’s team could turn the Stade Louis II into a stronghold. As the French youngster’s career takes off, Maghnes Akliouche is expected to be the mainstay of his team.

Given that they have one of Europe’s top frontmen in Victor Osimhen, who joined the Turkish powerhouses permanently from Napoli in the summer, many are sleeping on Galatasaray. Last season, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce lost to Okan Buruk’s defending champions, who increased their grasp on the Super Lig to three years.

The first German team to be included on the list is Eintracht Frankfurt, whose lacklustre Bundesliga debut cannot be disregarded. In addition, they have minimal experience playing in the Champions League, but they can brag on winning the Europa League in 2022 under Oliver Glasner.

You may argue that Sporting CP should be lower on this ranking since they don’t have Viktor Gyokeres or Ruben Amorim, but they are still the best in Portugal. Gyokeres was replaced by Colombian international Luis Suarez for Rui Borges’ green and white team, which is competing with FC Porto for first place in the domestic standings.

2024–2025 Champions League Power Rankings

Rank

Club

The country

Playing CP

Portugal

Frankfurt Eintracht

Germany

Galatasaray

Turkiye

Monaco AS

France

PSV Eindhoven

The Netherlands

Ajax

The Netherlands

Benfica

Portugal

Olympiakos

Greece

St. Gilloise Union

Belgium

Brugge Club

Belgium

(Sleeper Contenders) 20–11

This is when things start to get interesting, and if anyone wants to replicate FC Porto’s unexpected Champions League victory in 2004, this is the group to watch. To win the European championship would be an even greater accomplishment for Villarreal. Nevertheless, they have a track record of pulling off upsets, like the Yellow Submarine’s triumph over Manchester United in the Europa League final four years ago.

Despite losing to a weak United team in the Europa League semi-finals last season, Athletic Bilbao is another Spanish team that shouldn’t be taken lightly. At the beginning of the La Liga season, they have drawn attention, and holding onto Nico Williams was a huge win.

Ademola Lookman may help Atalanta win in Europe, but without the Nigerian, they were not very dangerous under Southampton’s fired manager Ivan Juric. The wantaway forward was exiled at the beginning of the season after failing to secure a transfer to Inter Milan.

Bayer Leverkusen might have finished just outside the top 10 if we were evaluating this season last year, but their terrible start under Xabi Alonso raises serious questions. They have already fired Erik ten Hag and lost the majority of their important personnel, including as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka.

In the wake of recent player unrest behind the scenes, Marseille’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, hasn’t hesitated to show who’s boss. The team is equally unpredictable. Even if the Ligue 1 season hasn’t started off well, he has a team that can surprise everyone, including England’s young player Angel Gomes, veteran Benjamin Pavard, and former United forward Mason Greenwood.

Serhou Guirrasy, who has been playing well in the Bundesliga, shared the Golden Boot with Raphinha last season after scoring 13 goals. His prodigious goal scoring could help Borussia Dortmund advance to the final stages of a competition in which they placed second the previous year.

Juventus, one of the sleeping giants of European football, hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals since 2017. The Old Lady was consistently favoured to win the award prior to that, as they were in 1996. Igor Tudor’s team is now in second place in Serie A after three games, which is a respectable start.

If they can put together performances like the one they had against the reigning champions PSG in the UEFA Super Cup last month, Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur would be worth watching. Although the Lilywhites feel they don’t deserve to be the Europa League champions going into the competition, their addition of Xavi Simons may help draw attention.

Even though Luis Enrique’s Parisians defeated Spurs in the end, Newcastle United destroyed them during the 2023–24 season. Every Toon Army member will recall their location when Eddie Howe’s Magpies won 4-1 that evening, but they were unable to advance from the group, and losing Alexander Isak will be a devastating blow.

If you look up the word “nosedive” in the football dictionary, the first image you’ll get is of Inter Milan’s team lined up for the Champions League final last season. Following the crushing loss to PSG, the Nerazzurri dismissed Simone Inzaghi, and Cristian Chivu’s lacklustre appointment coincides with a dismal start to the Serie A season.

2024–2025 Champions League Power Rankings

Rank

Club

The country

11.

Milan Inter

Italy

Twelve

Newcastle United

England

13.

Tottenham Hotspur

England

Juventus

Italy

15.

Dortmund Borussia

Germany

Marseille

France

Leverkusen Bayer

Germany

Atlanta

Italy

19.

Bilbao Athletic

Spain

Villarreal

Spain

Favourites: 10-1

The Argentine’s Atletico Madrid is still one of the hardest opponents to face, and Diego Simeone’s style of play might be more appropriate for tournament play than league play. Despite their dismal start in La Liga, nobody should write off Los Colchoneros because they know how to win dirty.

Given that they haven’t played since April 2023, Chelsea may be the most exciting team to watch in Europe’s top club league this season. A youthful team has been put together during that time, and Enzo Maresca led his team to victory in the World Club Cup during the summer, proving they are prepared to face the best in Europe.

Antonio Conte has turned Napoli a formidable force in Naples, and they are just ahead of the West Londoners. Rasmus Hojlund has scored, Scott McTominay has emerged as a potential Ballon d’Or winner, and Kevin De Bruyne has been Kevin De Bruyne.

Conte’s Gli Azzurri will be sure they can compete against anyone in the Champions League after winning Serie A with ease the previous season. With a stellar record of five goals in six games for Manchester United, Hojlund is another player the Italians can count on to score goals in the competition.

Six-time champions Bayern Munich are among the best in European football, and Vincent Kompany’s Bundesliga winners will be keen to return to the picture. Last season’s quarterfinal loss was disappointing, especially considering Harry Kane’s incredible play.

This could be the England captain’s greatest chance to win a European trophy, something he has never done before. The Bavarians appear to have no trouble winning another German championship, but winning the Champions League is a completely different matter.

Despite Manchester City’s erratic start to the Premier League season—two victories and two losses—Never discount Pep Guardiola. Remember that little over two years ago, they were celebrating a triple, and Rodri is back to his best as the midfield leader while Erling Haaland, who is bound to succeed, plays up top.

Real Madrid, the fifth favourite to extend their all-time record, defeated the Cityzens, who were a huge disappointment the previous season. Kylian Mbappe and the rest of Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos team are playing at their best and will be eager to unseat their old employers, PSG.

Jude Bellingham’s prompt recovery from shoulder surgery has also helped Madrid, as he was included in their team to begin the Champions League campaign. However, earlier this year, the English midfielder was also a member of a team that was eliminated from the competition in the quarterfinals.

With a 5-1 aggregate victory after two outstanding home and away performances, many believed Mikel Arteta’s Gunners may finally win the European championship. The North Londoners were slightly awakened to the fact that you need a roster full of depth and strength when they faced a merciless PSG team.

In the summer, Arteta and Andrea Berta followed that suggestion by reorganising the team and making sure they had plenty of options in the majority of places on the pitch. Up top, Viktoy Gyokeres has shown promise, Noni Madueke has quiet his detractors, and Eberechi Eze means Martin Odegaard is no longer a need.

Following the injuries to Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue prior to their crown defence, Luis Enrique will be left scratching his head. The opening match against Atalanta and maybe a huge matchup with Barcelona will be missed by the French forward combo, who were outstanding in their victory last season.

The Catalan giants, who are ranked second in terms of power, will feel cheated about missing the final the previous time. Given that Lionel Messi didn’t depart Camp Nou until 2021, it is somewhat surprising that Hansi Flick’s team hasn’t won the competition since 2015.

Even if Barca doesn’t have Messi anymore, they are still among the best in Europe and will go into the league this year with confidence. Marcus Rashford may be a smart signing for rotating situations, and Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha are all purring.

The pressure to win the Champions League was placed on Arne Slot’s Merseysiders as soon as Alexander Isak was confirmed as a Liverpool player. This is because the Reds smashed the British transfer record twice, first by paying £116 million on Florian Wirtz and then by spending £130 million on Isak.

Last season, the Premier League champions were among the most formidable teams in European football, winning the top division. However, their Round of 16 loss to PSG raised concerns, which were allayed by one of the most ridiculous transfer windows ever.

Liverpool has also demonstrated a champion’s attitude by winning in less than convincing ways, and in tournament football, that’s all that counts. They are currently loaded with quality from top to bottom thanks to their transfer business, and they were just a penalty shootout away from an unfair victory over Luis Enrique’s eventual victors.

2024–2025 Champions League Power Rankings

Rank

Club

The country

One

Liverpool

England

Barcelona

Spain

Saint-Germain, Paris

France

The Arsenal