Who will win the 2025 UEFA Champions League? | OneFootball

Manchester City salvaged their European season on Wednesday night, securing the points in their must-win Champions League clash with Club Brugge.

Pep Guardiola had gone four consecutive Champions League games without a win for the first time in his managerial career, leaving City’s hopes of progress hanging by a thread.

The Premier League champions were outside the playoff places heading into matchday eight, but a come-from-behind win over Brugge sent them into the next stage – where Bayern Munich or Real Madrid await in a tough tie.

An early exit would have been deemed a disaster for the 2023 winners, but City saved themselves at the Etihad. Can Guardiola’s side go on to succeed from here?

The knockout stages will (again) be must-watch entertainment

Last season’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund was one of the most-watched games in football.

According to ExpressVPN’s research, 450 million viewers tuned in for the showpiece event at Wembley Stadium as Los Blancos wrapped up a record-extending 15th title.

The financial rewards at stake are unrivalled as clubs earn significant payouts for their performance throughout the competition.

And it’s not by accident.

Global interest in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament was off the charts, as witnessed by a jaw-dropping 3.3 billion Champions League-related interactions on social media.

Who qualified?

Liverpool ended the inaugural league phase in top spot, with Arne Slot’s side qualifying with a game to spare after seven straight wins. A second-string side were beaten at PSV on Wednesday, but Barcelona’s draw with Atalanta secured first place in the league table.

Liverpool continue to go from strength to strength under Slot, who made history in this season’s league phase. Indeed, he became only the second manager to win their first seven Champions League matches in charge of a club.

Despite Barcelona’s stuttering title quest in La Liga, Hansi Flick’s men were the only side alongside Liverpool to reach the last-16 with a game to spare following a stunning 5-4 comeback at Benfica. Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa joined that duo as automatic entrants in the Round of 16.

The teams who finished ninth to 24th on the table will face-off in playoff ties to join the top eight.

Who are the favourites?

In addition to topping the Champions League’s 36-team table, Liverpool are setting the pace in the Premier League.

Slot’s high-flying side are impressing as Mohamed Salah continues to rain down goals for fun. His goal against Lille last week made him the first Reds star to hit a 50-goal landmark in major European competition.

With Salah firing on all cylinders and the rest of the team outperforming expectations, the Merseyside giants are the current favourites win the crown.

However, if there’s a team capable of beating Liverpool to the punch, it’s Real Madrid.

Despite facing the play-offs, the reigning holders have become synonymous with this trophy and beat the Reds in the 2018 and 2022 finals.

As such, they’re the second joint-favourites to claim the award, with Arsenal and Barcelona also right up there. Usual suspects Bayern Munich are third in the pecking order, narrowly ahead of Serie A champions Inter Milan.

Champions League Predictions

If Liverpool can maintain this rhythm until May, there’s a strong chance a seventh European crown could head to Anfield. Liverpool have a forward line in form, led by Salah’s individual brilliance this season.

However, Real Madrid tend to perform at their best when the stakes are high. With Kylian Mbappe settling into life at the Santiago Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded squad remain arguably the team to beat.

And can we rule out Manchester City? The Citizens have struggled this season but have reached the quarter-finals in each of the last seven seasons. January recruit Omar Marmoush can be registered for the next round and has added to Guardiola’s firepower.

Marmoush could forge a formidable partnership with Erling Haaland, thus creating a backbone for the Cityzens’ resurrection. Despite all the setbacks, it’s hard to rule them out as potential candidates.

That said, it may feel like a cliche, but we’d stick with Real Madrid as the likeliest winners.

Prediction: Real Madrid to Win

Read – Our Champions League Awards from the 2024/25 League Phase

See more – Champions League Team of the Week – Rogers, Dembele, Wirtz

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