Luis Enrique snubs Arsenal in Champions League favourites prediction

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·29 January 2026

Luis Enrique snubs Arsenal in Champions League favourites prediction

PSG boss is confident his side can retain their Champions League title

Luis Enrique is adamant that Paris Saint-Germain are bigger favourites than Arsenal to win the Champions League this season.

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As was the case en route to claiming European football’s richest prize last season, PSG must navigate their way through a knockout phase play-off this term after failing to secure a top eight finish.

The holders went into the final round of league phase fixtures on Wednesday night in position to qualify directly to the last-16 but were held by Newcastle at the Parc des Princes.

As a result, PSG dropped several places to 11th with Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting and Manchester City capitalising on their 1-1 draw.

Arsenal, meanwhile, were assured of a last-16 place with a game to spare before beating Kairat to top the table with a perfect record and are seen by many as the favourites to win the competition.

However, Enrique insists his PSG side should be considered as favourites to retain the trophy they lifted after thrashing Inter Milan in the final last May.

Speaking to reporters after the Newcastle game, the Spaniard said: “It was a very good first half. We started positively. We missed a penalty, but we created chances.

“The equaliser just before half-time hurt.

“Physically, Newcastle are strong. We knew that before the match. We deserved to win, not by a huge margin, but by a little more. We face very different teams in Ligue 1.

“I have nothing to reproach my players for, even if some didn’t perform at their usual level. I don’t see anyone as a bigger favourite than us in the competition.

PSG failed to secure a top-eight Champions League finish

AFP via Getty Images

“We can be better, get better results. But we’re here, we’re ready. We’ll see who we play against, Monaco or Qarabag.

“I’m very demanding of my team. We have to analyse who we’re going to face. We had 13 points before the last match. We deserved to win against Newcastle.

“The defeat in Lisbon, however, was undeserved.”

PSG will face either Qarabag or Monaco in the knockout phase play-off. If victorious over two legs, a last-16 showdown against Barcelona or Chelsea awaits.