The brand new Champions League format is up and working and there have already been loads of upsets, with many giants of European soccer exterior the highest eight spots that assure a spot within the Final-16.
For many who end between eighth and twenty fourth they are going to play in an additional knockout stage to resolve who joins the unique prime eight.
Right here, FourFourTwo appears to be like at which groups are favourites for the 2024-25 Champions League .
Arsenal
Arsenal celebrating scoring towards Sporting Lisbon within the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 (Picture credit score: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC by way of Getty Photos)
Is that this lastly the yr that Mikel Arteta delivers the foremost trophy Arsenal followers have been craving? With Liverpool storming forward within the Premier League it appears as if Europe is the best way to go for Arsenal.
Odegaard’s return has improved their kind and creativity drastically, while the consistency of Saliba and Gabriel, who ranked at no.2 and no.5 respectively in FourFourTwo’s listing of one of the best centre-backs on the planet proper now
Final season’s loss to Bayern Munich within the quarter-finals was disappointing and didn’t replicate Arsenal’s kind on the time, however can be utilized as motivation, particularly if the Premier League appears to be like unattainable by the point the knockout phases roll round in 2025.
Atalanta
Ademola Lookman after his hat-trick for Atalanta within the Europa League closing win over Bayer Leverkusen in Might 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Maybe the crew that’s least more likely to win Ol’ Huge Ears on the listing, however Atalanta have been in imperious kind this yr. They have been one in all three sides to not lose any of their opening 5 Champions League video games, having gained three away matches, and drawn to Arsenal at dwelling, a recreation by which they’d a penalty saved.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s facet impressed in Europe final yr, knocking Liverpool out of the Europa League earlier than turning into the primary facet to beat Bayer Leverkusen all season within the closing. Their entrance line of Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere, and Mateo Retegui have been firing on all cylinders and might show a risk to Europe’s elite.
Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring towards Brest within the Champions League. (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Alongside Liverpool, Barcelona are Europe’s in kind facet underneath supervisor Hansi Flick, who ranked at no.18 in FourFourTwo’s listing of one of the best managers on the planet proper now.
Raphina and Lamine Yamal’s creativity paired with Robert Lewandowski displaying the world that age is only a quantity has been a recipe for fulfillment up to now this season. This was on present when Barca demolished Bayern Munich 4-1 earlier this season to indicate the remainder of Europe they imply enterprise.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich trio Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Bayern have made the quarter-finals of the Champions League for 5 years in a row, and there’s nothing to recommend that they gained’t make it six. They’ve retaken their customary spot on the prime of the Bundesliga, and losses to Aston Villa and Barcelona aren’t any trigger for panic.
Ex-Crystal Palace star Michael Olise has impressed alongside Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane up entrance, whereas Joshua Kimmich’s midfield marshalling stays key to the German facet.
Nonetheless, conceding 4 targets to Barcelona and three to Eintracht Frankfurt recommend defensive worries that must be fastened if they’re to go the entire approach and win their seventh Champions League.
Inter Milan
Lautaro Martinez of Inter. (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
In recent times, Inter Milan have had minimal success within the Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals or additional in simply two campaigns since they final gained the trophy in 2009-10. Simone Inzaghi’s facet look set to alter that after a powerful begin to their European marketing campaign, beating RB Leipzig and Arsenal in addition to drawing away to Manchester Metropolis.
Lautaro Martinez, who ranked at no.6 in FourFourTwo’s listing of one of the best strikers on the planet proper now , scored 27 targets final season which went slightly below the radar, and he has returned to this type in 2024-25 as Inter stay within the aggressive Serie A title race.
Alessandro Bastoni has been one in all Europe’s prime centre-backs this season while Hakan Calhanoglu pulling the strings in midfield has been a pleasure to look at. Inter will not be one of many important favourites however the typically cursed label of a darkish horse suits them properly.
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah competes for the ball with Ferland Mendy of Actual Madrid CF. (Picture credit score: Pedro Salado/Getty Photos)
The one facet to have a 100% report within the league part up to now, Arne Slot has taken Liverpool to the highest of each the Premier League and Champions League very quickly in any respect, and lots of would take into account them favourites to elevate the coveted trophy.
An outstanding report of 1 purpose conceded throughout matches towards AC Milan , Actual Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig amongst others provides to their credentials.
Liverpool aren’t any strangers to European success, having been to a few Champions League finals within the final eight years, profitable their sixth title in Madrid in 2019. Anfield in a European knockout tie is a tough place to go for any facet, no matter Liverpool’s kind, however their consistency so far makes Liverpool one of many hardest sides to face.
Manchester Metropolis
Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Matheus Nunes and Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester Metropolis. (Picture credit score: Harry Langer/DeFodi Photos by way of Getty Photos)
Regardless of Pep Guardiola’s worst run of kind in his managerial profession, Manchester Metropolis nonetheless have the potential to show their marketing campaign round, particularly within the latter phases of the Champions League. Metropolis lastly broke their European curse in 2022/23 and recruitment in January coupled with the return of some key gamers from harm and poor kind might see Metropolis show to be an actual risk.
Erling Haaland is Erling Haaland and can undoubtedly return to his ridiculous goal-scoring methods, while Phil Foden was sensational final yr and is more likely to kick on regardless of a poor begin to the marketing campaign. The standard remains to be there and it appears to be a matter of time earlier than the previous Manchester Metropolis are again.
Actual Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti with the Champions League trophy after Actual Madrid’s 2024 UCL win. (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
A listing of potential Champions League winners wouldn’t be full with out the 15-time champions Actual Madrid. Though their star-studded facet hasn’t set the Champions League alight as of but, falling to defeats to Liverpool, AC Milan and Lille, any facet with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham can’t be written off. The trio are three of the 5 favourites to win the Ballon d’Or in 2025.
Surprisingly, they at present sit exterior the highest eight, however this might change with two video games left to play. In 12 of the final 14 Champions League campaigns Actual Madrid has made the semi-finals – an obscene report.
Alongside their squad heaving with expertise, in Carlo Ancelotti they’ve a five-time Champions League winner within the dugout. Actual need to be thought-about one of many robust favourites with means and historical past on their facet
