Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthäus has given his view on who he believes are this seasons strongest contenders for the UEFA Champions League trophy Writing in his column ahead of Bayerns clash with Chelsea Matthäus highlighted seven major clubs across Europe as the leading candidates He based his choices on squad strength recent performance and overall potential offering an insight into how the competition might unfold this season .
The Seven Clubs Matthäus Believes Can Win
According to Matthäus seven clubs stand out as the main favourites for Champions League glory in the 2025 26 season .
Paris Saint Germain are at the top of the list as the defending champions Their recent success has given them momentum and placed them firmly among the elite Real Madrid with their unmatched history in European football are always considered serious contenders while Barcelona remain in the conversation thanks to their quality and tradition despite some recent inconsistency .
Liverpool have earned a place among the favourites through their strong squad and steady performances in recent years Manchester City continue to be regarded as one of the strongest sides in Europe with their depth and tactical strength making them perennial contenders Arsenal are also mentioned though Matthäus adds them with some caution describing them as favourites to a lesser extent Finally Bayern Munich complete the list with Matthäus insisting his former club have the structure depth and experience to go all the way .
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Why These Clubs Stand Out
Bayerns Position
Matthäus remains confident in Bayern Munichs ability to compete at the highest level He argues that the team is well balanced and well structured combining experienced players with new talent Recent signings such as Luis Díaz Nicolas Jackson Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof have added depth and variety strengthening the squad even further .
He also disagrees with voices inside Bayern that suggest the team may not be among the top favourites Uli Hoeneß had recently expressed doubts about Bayerns chances but Matthäus firmly believes they are still one of Europes elite sides fully capable of challenging for the title .
PSG and the European Giants
Paris Saint Germain carry the burden of being champions With that comes additional pressure as other clubs will see them as the standard to measure against Real Madrid and Barcelona bring long traditions of success while Manchester City and Liverpool have proven their consistency and ability to handle pressure in Europes toughest competition Arsenal are viewed as the outsiders in the group but their steady improvement has convinced Matthäus they should be included among the challengers .
Who Was Left Out
One notable omission from Matthäuss list is Chelsea Despite being back in the Champions League they were not included among the favourites The decision underlines his belief that Chelsea are still rebuilding and not yet ready to be considered among the very best Arsenals inclusion is also made cautiously with Matthäus noting they are less likely to succeed compared to the other six clubs though they could still surprise .
The Stakes of the New Season
Matthäus shared his view just before Bayerns tie with Chelsea setting the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive group phase With PSG defending their crown and traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid Barcelona and Manchester City eager to reclaim glory the competition is expected to be fierce Bayern Munich are under pressure to prove they remain at the top level while Liverpool and Arsenal will be hoping to assert themselves among the best .
What It Means for the Campaign Ahead
The season ahead looks set to deliver intense competition with several strong candidates vying for the title PSG face the greatest pressure as holders while clubs like Real Madrid Barcelona and Manchester City will be aiming to show their dominance once again Liverpools hunger and Arsenals potential to upset the balance add further intrigue For Bayern Munich Matthäuss faith in their squad sends a clear message that they should be judged among the very best .
Conclusion
Lothar Matthäus has clearly outlined seven clubs he believes are best positioned to fight for the 2025 26 Champions League title Paris Saint Germain Real Madrid Barcelona Liverpool Manchester City Arsenal and Bayern Munich all bring history quality and ambition to the competition Whether they can live up to these expectations will depend on consistency form and performances under pressure As always the Champions League may yet deliver surprises but these seven clubs are the ones Matthäus sees as leading the race for Europes biggest prize .