SAEDNEWS: As the Champions League kicks off, BBC experts, pundits, and even a supercomputer shared their predictions on who might lift the trophy in Budapest. Liverpool emerged as the favorite, but PSG, Real Madrid, and Barcelona remain strong contenders.
According to Saed News; The Champions League returns this week, with 36 teams competing for the most prestigious prize in European football. Holders Paris Saint-Germain, six English clubs, and giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich all begin their campaigns with dreams of lifting the trophy in Budapest next May.
The BBC gathered its most trusted experts — from commentators to former players — to predict who will come out on top. Alongside them, Opta’s “Supercomputer” simulated the season 10,000 times to provide a data-driven favorite. The results reveal both consensus and surprising wildcards.
The most common pick among pundits was Liverpool. BBC’s chief football writer Phil McNulty praised the Reds’ “huge strengthening” over the summer, with new signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak adding star quality. Others, including Sami Mokbel and Thomas Hitzlsperger, pointed to Liverpool’s Premier League form and squad depth as reasons they could go all the way.
John Murray echoed that sentiment, noting Liverpool’s narrow penalty shootout loss to PSG last season. “If Liverpool reach the knockout phase, the Anfield factor grows with every game,” he said.
Even Opta’s “Supercomputer” agrees: out of 10,000 simulations, Liverpool were crowned winners 20.4% of the time — more than any other team.
Paris Saint-Germain may have finally shed their “nearly men” reputation after last year’s triumph, and many experts see them as favorites again. Former England captain Steph Houghton described PSG’s squad as “young, athletic, and forward-thinking,” while Pat Nevin emphasized their innovative attacking style. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague predicted “a new era of success” for PSG under their positional football model.
Real Madrid, of course, remain ever-present in Champions League conversations. Steve Wilson, Rory Smith, and Nedum Onuoha all argued that the Spanish giants’ mentality and individual talent make them impossible to rule out. Xabi Alonso’s management and the emergence of players like Arda Guler could propel them back to the top.
Barcelona received backing from analysts like Stephen Warnock and Matt Upson, who believe their youthful squad — including teenage sensation Lamine Yamal — can build on last year’s semi-final run. Despite off-field instability, their blend of talent and experience makes them dangerous opponents.
Arsenal were also named as potential winners by Theo Walcott, who argued that their defensive strength and new striker Viktor Gyokeres could make the difference. Others believe Arsenal, at minimum, will be the best-performing English side after reaching the semi-finals last season.
While the giants dominate headlines, experts highlighted several dark horses. Napoli, under Antonio Conte and boosted by Kevin De Bruyne’s arrival, were widely tipped to spring surprises. Thomas Hitzlsperger and others also praised Athletic Bilbao’s return to the competition and the unique fairytale of Bodo/Glimt.
Galatasaray’s big-money rebuild, Villarreal’s consistency, and Chelsea’s youth-driven project also earned mentions as potential “surprise packages.”
If there’s one name everyone is excited about, it’s Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. At just 18, the winger is already being hailed as one of the world’s brightest attacking prospects. Experts from Phil McNulty to Sami Mokbel believe he could light up the tournament.
Other players to watch include PSG’s Desire Doue, Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, and Newcastle’s record signing Nick Woltemade. As always, the Champions League promises to showcase both established superstars and emerging talent.
Opta’s algorithm gave Liverpool the best chance of winning (20.4%), followed by Arsenal (16%), PSG (12.1%), and then Manchester City and Barcelona (both 8.4%). Interestingly, Bayern Munich did not rank as high as in previous years, reflecting uncertainty about their squad.
The AI prediction, generated using Microsoft’s Copilot Chat, also favored Liverpool — aligning machine learning with human expertise.
So, who will win the Champions League? While the expert panel is divided, Liverpool, PSG, and Real Madrid consistently dominate the conversation. Arsenal and Barcelona are considered serious challengers, while Napoli and Bilbao could cause upsets.
Whether you trust pundits, players, or the “Supercomputer,” one thing is certain: the road to Budapest will be filled with drama, surprises, and unforgettable football.
