With the dust barely settled on the Champions League final, where Paris Saint-Germain secured their first-ever title by defeating Inter 5-0, it`s already time to look ahead to the next season. While all spots in the league phase aren`t confirmed yet, historically, the champions tend to emerge from teams that qualify automatically via their league position rather than those who navigate the playoff rounds.
Despite the unexpected 2024-25 final matchup, the odds still favor English and Spanish clubs reaching the final next season. The summer transfer window is buzzing with activity: Trent Alexander-Arnold is moving from Real Madrid to Liverpool, Rayan Cherki is reportedly heading to Manchester City, Florian Wirtz is rumored to join Liverpool, and Xabi Alonso`s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu raises many questions. The upcoming Club World Cup will provide an early look at some potential Champions League contenders, but let`s analyze who should be considered favorites for the next edition and why.
Still Finding Their Form: Real Madrid
While Alexander-Arnold`s arrival addresses one of Madrid`s key issues – chance creation – it doesn`t solve their overall balance problems. Xabi Alonso faces a significant task in figuring out how to prevent Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior from occupying the same attacking spaces. There`s also the midfield to sort out and likely more new players joining the squad. Given all this uncertainty, it`s difficult to place Real Madrid among the top contenders for the UCL crown *just yet*. They certainly have the talent to become world-beaters, but they need to demonstrate they are still the dominant force before being listed in the top five favorites.
5. Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold`s departure leaves Liverpool with defensive questions, but these seem more manageable after Mohamed Salah`s excellent past season. With Florian Wirtz reportedly close to signing and Jeremie Frimpong having already arrived, the Reds could bring in enough talent to not only maintain their current level but also improve. After winning the Premier League in Arne Slot`s first year, expectations will be high for his second season. With the squad understanding his playing style, Liverpool will be right in the mix of contenders. Their depth across multiple competitions and strong academy pipeline also suggest potential progress from young players.
4. Arsenal
Defensively, Arsenal possesses one of the highest floors among global teams, but they need to take a significant step forward offensively to truly match other top sides. This past season, the Gunners clearly needed a striker to reach the next level, and this summer might be when they address that issue. However, even without a top-tier center forward, as long as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka remain fit, Arsenal always has a chance.
3. Barcelona
Lamine Yamal is still only 17 years old, and his continued development alone could push Barcelona back into contention for a final berth next season. What`s truly exciting is that Yamal is still expected to improve significantly with age. Add to this Pedri in midfield and Raphinha performing at a level reminiscent of Ballon d`Or contenders, and Barcelona`s attack is in capable hands. Even if Robert Lewandowski`s age starts to show, Ferran Torres demonstrated he can also lead the line effectively. Marc-Andre Ter-Stegen will return in goal after missing most of the season with injury, which will improve the defense. While Hansi Flick`s defense will likely need more additions, considering Barcelona`s performance this past season, even a minor defensive improvement in the next campaign could make them serious challengers.
2. Paris Saint-Germain
Having just claimed their historic first Champions League title, there`s no reason why PSG shouldn`t be among the favorites to lift the trophy again next season. This squad is remarkably young and built to be a force for years to come. Players like Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are all 25 or younger and have gained invaluable experience in crucial matches under Luis Enrique. While other teams will improve, even if PSG don`t add another superstar this summer, their current squad remains incredibly strong and intimidating.
1. Manchester City
Even what`s considered Manchester City`s “worst” season under Pep Guardiola saw them finish in the Premier League`s top four, securing Champions League qualification. With Rodri back and reinforcements expected, a return to their dominant form seems highly probable. This is a daunting prospect for their European rivals; Manchester City is not expected to be “down” for long.
