Last Updated on Agosto 29, 2025 10:29 am by Erwin Noguera
The UEFA Champions League returns this September with a refreshed format and an expanded stage. The 2025/26 edition introduces the Swiss-style league system, replacing the traditional group stage with a single 36-team table.
Each Club will play eight different opponents, facing two teams from each seeding pot, with four matches at home and four away. The top eight sides will qualify directly for the Round of 16, while clubs finishing between ninth and twenty-fourth will battle through a playoff to reach the knockouts.
Defending Champions Paris Saint-Germain enter with the burden of expectation, hoping to prove that last season’s triumph was not a one-off. Alongside them, Europe’s usual giants dominate the spotlight: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Liverpool headline the favorites.
Manchester City, recently crowned winners themselves, are also among the frontrunners, boasting depth and tactical brilliance that could once again carry them to the final stages.
League Phase Draw
The draw itself has already delivered drama. Manchester City find themselves in a daunting set of fixtures, facing Real Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Villarreal, Bodo/Glimt, Galatasaray, and Monaco.
Liverpool must contend with Madrid and a slate of German opposition in a throwback to classic European rivalries.
Barcelona face a blockbuster clash with PSG as well as a high-stakes matchup against Chelsea, both of which could shape their trajectory early. Real Madrid, as ever, will be tested by a difficult combination of English and continental rivals, but their pedigree suggests they will once again rise to the occasion.
The Calendar ensures no shortage of high-stakes encounters. The league phase will run from September 16 to January 28, followed by a playoff round in February, the Round of 16 in March, and the quarterfinals in April.
Semifinals are scheduled for late April into early May, setting the stage for the final in Budapest on May 30. With the Swiss format guaranteeing clashes between Europe’s biggest names as early as the autumn, the campaign promises fireworks from the opening whistle.
Champions League 2025/26 Betting Picks
It is impossible to discuss the Liga dos Campeões without Madrid. The 14-time winners remain the gold standard of the competition, consistently finding ways to excel when the stakes are highest. Last season, Los Blancos’ campaign ended in the quarterfinals, but with a strong squad and a new Head coach, their squad is looking more powerful than ever.
Manchester City brings formidable depth into the 2025/26 campaign. Their first-team roster shines with elite performers like Erling Haaland spearheading the line. City’s balance of tactical continuity under Pep Guardiola, and improved knockout consistency make them a top pick.
Paris Saint-Germain captured their first-ever Champions League title in 2025, delivering a historic 5-0 dismantling of Inter Milan in the final. Their success was built on youth and cohesion, not lingering star baggage. Their tactical clarity under Luis Enrique and newfound mentality turn them into a confident replay pick for bettors.
Champions League Outside Picks
Arsenal impressed by reaching the semifinals in 2024/25. Despite dropping off slightly after their defeat by PSG. Their strategic balance, squad building under Arteta, and strong European trajectory make them a compelling “value dark horse” pick this time around.
Atalanta’s evolution under Gian Piero Gasperini has been remarkable. Their emphatic 3-0 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final signals a club capable of performing on Europe’s biggest stage.
Aston Villa may not feature prominently in headline discussions, but their turnaround under Unai Emery has European competition written all over it. By winning four of their first six Champions League matches and notably toppling Bayern Munich, Emery’s side proved their mettle on the continental stage.
Champions League 2025/26 Winner Betting Pick
Paris Saint-Germain
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