Although the dust has barely settled on the recent Champions League final, where Paris Saint-Germain secured their first-ever title with a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter, it`s never too early to cast an eye toward the next season. While not all places in the league phase are confirmed, history shows that teams qualifying automatically through their domestic league position are more likely to lift the trophy than those who enter via the playoffs.
Even though the 2024-25 season concluded with an unexpected final featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Inter, the likelihood of an English or Spanish club reaching the final next season remains high. The summer transfer window is bringing significant changes: Trent Alexander-Arnold is moving from Real Madrid to Liverpool, Rayan Cherki is reportedly heading to Manchester City, and Florian Wirtz is also linked with Liverpool. Additionally, Xabi Alonso`s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu raises many questions for Real Madrid this summer. The upcoming Club World Cup will offer some early insights into these teams, but for now, let`s assess who are the potential favorites for the next Champions League campaign and the reasons behind their ranking.
Still Forming: Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold`s arrival addresses one of Madrid`s main shortcomings this past season – creating scoring opportunities – but it doesn`t solve their issue with team balance. Xabi Alonso faces a significant task in ensuring Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior don`t occupy the same attacking areas. The midfield also needs addressing, and more new signings are likely. Considering all this, it`s challenging to predict Real Madrid`s setup for next season, making it difficult to place them among the absolute top contenders for the Champions League title. While they possess the talent to potentially gel and dominate, they need to demonstrate their capabilities on the pitch before being ranked in the top five.
5. Liverpool
With Alexander-Arnold`s departure, Liverpool face defensive questions, but these seem less daunting after Mohamed Salah`s performance last season. Reports linking Florian Wirtz and the confirmed arrival of Jeremie Frimpong suggest the Reds will have ample new talent to not only maintain their current level but potentially improve. Although expectations will be high following Arne Slot`s hypothetical Premier League win in his first year, the squad will be familiar with his system by his second season, positioning Liverpool firmly among the contenders. Their squad depth and strong academy pipeline also indicate potential breakthroughs from young players.
4. Arsenal
Arsenal`s defensive baseline is significantly higher than most global teams, but they require an offensive leap to match the world`s elite. This past season, the Gunners clearly needed a striker upgrade to advance, and this summer might be when they address that need. However, even without a truly top-tier forward, Arsenal remain competitive as long as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are fit.
3. Barcelona
Lamine Yamal is remarkably only 17. His continued performance alone could propel Barcelona back into contention for the final next season, but the truly astonishing prospect is his potential for further improvement as he matures. Coupled with Pedri in midfield and Raphinha performing at a level worthy of Ballon d`Or consideration, Barcelona`s attack appears promising. Even if Robert Lewandowski`s age starts to show, Ferran Torres has proven capable of leading the attack. Marc-Andre ter Stegen`s return from injury, having missed much of last season, will also bolster the defense. Hansi Flick will likely need further defensive reinforcements, but given Barcelona`s performance this season, even a slight defensive upgrade next term could make them formidable.
2. Paris Saint-Germain
Having just claimed their maiden Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germain are rightly considered among the favorites to repeat the feat next season. Their squad is remarkably young, suggesting they will remain a formidable force for years. 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 big-game experience under Luis Enrique. While competitors will strengthen, PSG`s current squad is formidable even without major summer signings.
1. Manchester City
Despite having what many considered their least successful season under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City still secured a top-four Premier League finish, ensuring Champions League qualification. With Rodri returning and reinforcements anticipated, expecting Manchester City to regain their dominant form is reasonable – a daunting prospect for their rivals. Europe arguably saw a slightly subdued City this season, but they are unlikely to stay `down` for long in the next campaign.
