The favourites to win the 2024/25 Champions League - ranked

The expanded and new-look 2024/25 Champions League is well underway and the shift in format is serving up plenty of excitement thus far.

This season's Champions League is bigger than ever before. Four more teams are competing in Europe's most prestigious tournament, with the group stage having been abolished in favour of a streamlined league phase process.

The sweeping changes to the pre-knockout stage have thrown up some weird and wonderful surprises on the field, with plenty more likely to arise between now and the final on 31 May 2025.

With that in mind, here are the favourites for the 2024/25 Champions League - ranked.

8. Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen entered this season's Champions League as genuine candidates for the trophy. While that remains the case, their stock has fallen both domestically and on the continent since the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign.

Last season's Europa League finalists and German double winners were looking to continue their meteoric rise under the suave Xabi Alonso, but have struggled to offer the same intensity and invincibility as they did previously under the Spaniard.

A 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Matchday 4 highlighted they still have some way to go before competing for the title, although they will prove a force to be reckoned with should they rediscover their confidence.

7. Bayern Munich

Bayern were semi-finalists in 2023/24 under now England manager Thomas Tuchel but fell to a dramatic late defeat to eventual champions Real Madrid to deny the world a Klassiker final at Wembley for the second time in the 21st century. Subsequently, Harry Kane's trophy curse continued.

Hiring Vincent Kompany as Tuchel's replacement over the summer certainly raised eyebrows. The Belgian was relegated with Burnley last season and has no experience of managing at such a high level.

However, the early signs have been promising under Kompany - well, domestically at least. Bayern have made a commanding start to reclaiming their Bundesliga title, even if things have been tougher on the continent.

A 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa and 4-1 hammering at the hands of Barcelona in the league phase have served as a reality check for Kompany and his side as they chase a sixth Champions League crown.

6. Arsenal

The competition that Arsenal would love to win more than any other. The Gunners made a strong return to the Champions League in 2023/24 after many years away, reaching the quarter-final with little fuss. However, on the big stage, they froze.

Arsenal were favourites for their last-eight clash with Bayern but underwhelmed under the weight of expectation. Mikel Arteta will be hoping that such an experience will prove beneficial for the north London outfit in the long run.

Arsenal have made a stuttering beginning to the 2024/25 season and their underwhelming Premier League form has carried over to the European stage. Dropped points in Italy and a tame 1-0 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk have tempered expectations.

Still, the Gunners should ease into the knockout stages and have plenty of time to turn their disappointing form into a purple patch.

5. Inter

Inter claimed the Serie A title last season having come so close to Champions League glory in 2022/23. Losing the final 1-0 to Manchester City in a match that could have gone either way felt like a real missed opportunity for the Milan club.

Their European record has been surprisingly poor since their last triumph in 2010 and they exited at the last 16 once again last term. But Simone Inzaghi has moulded the Nerazzurri into one of Europe's most devastating sides, capable of fighting fire with fire and shutting up shop when required.

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that Inter are fighting for the crown come the latter stages of the season, but there are a number of teams who are considered bigger favourites.

4. Barcelona

Barcelona's disastrous Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last season was one of the key reasons behind Xavi's sacking. In new manager Hansi Flick, they have someone with experience of lifting the Champions League trophy aloft.

The German won the competition with Bayern Munich in 2019/20 and will be eager to add a second European Cup to his honours list in Catalonia. The early signs are overwhelmingly positive.

Barca have sparkled under Flick during the early stages of his reign and an opening day Champions League defeat to Monaco has not dissuaded them from climbing the league phase table.

Commanding victories over lesser sides are one thing but Barca's 4-1 thrashing of Flick's former side Bayern shows their promise under a new regime.

3. Liverpool

Much like Barcelona and Bayern, Liverpool find themselves under new management in 2024/25. Jurgen Klopp's departure at the end of last season left a significant void, but it's one that former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has filled remarkably well to date.

Liverpool supporters won't expect a Champions League title in Slot's debut season but the Reds' history in Europe's premier competition means they can never be written off. With the likes of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac Allister in their ranks, they are in with a shot at claiming a seventh European Cup.

The Reds have made an incredible start to their European campaign under Slot, making light work of difficult battles with seven-time winners Milan, Bundesliga champions Leverkusen and an impressive RB Leipzig side.

2. Manchester City

Man City were favourites to defend their Champions League crown in 2023/24 and if it wasn't for a couple of missed penalties in a quarter-final shoot-out with Real Madrid, they may well have done.

The 2022/23 champions were primed to throw their significant weight around in the new-look format but have made an underwhelming beginning to their European campaign by their admittedly sky-high standards.

They have blitzed the competition's minnows but struggled to break down Inter in a repeat of the 2022/23 final before tasting a dismal 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sporting CP on Matchday 4.

The Cityzens' poor form is not limited to the Champions League and the absence of the injured Rodri is proving challenging to overcome. However, Pep Guardiola's side are always late bloomers and are still an undeniable candidate for the top prize.

1. Real Madrid

Reigning champions Real Madrid have earned the right to be considered favourites for 2024/25, even if the defence of their 15th crown has been extremely disappointing to date.

Los Blancos have struggled at the beginning of the Kylian Mbappe era and their issues have been laid bare in Europe. Defeats to Lille and Milan have highlighted their vulnerabilities and even their victories have been cumbersome.

However, this is Real Madrid we're discussing. The perennial overperformers and myth-busters in the Champions League can never be written off, especially so early in the campaign.

They have experience, talent and an elite coach. They just need their performances to match.

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