Will Bayern make it? Matthäus names his top favorites for the Champions League | OneFootball

The new Champions League season is about to kick off, and with it comes the big question once again: Who will ultimately lift the trophy? For Lothar Matthäus, there’s a manageable group of teams that he believes are capable of achieving this great triumph. For the all-time leading German international, FC Bayern is also among the top contenders.

In an interview with Sky, Matthäus explained that he currently has four teams at the very top of his list. Alongside the German record champions, he counts Arsenal, FC Barcelona, and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain among his clear favorites.

The TV expert also generally considers Real Madrid to belong in this category. However, Matthäus currently sees even bigger question marks surrounding the “Royals” than with the other top teams.

A key factor for him is likely to be how quickly José Mourinho manages to turn the star-studded squad into a cohesive unit.

Matthäus also believes that how well the big names play together could be a factor. In particular, potential tensions surrounding Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius could prove problematic for the “Royals” in their fight for the Champions League title.

For Matthäus, Bayern is among the absolute best

The fact that Matthäus counts FC Bayern among the top favorites is likely to reinforce the Munich team’s own ambitions. After being eliminated in the semifinals by Paris Saint-Germain last season, they aim to take the next step this time around.

Harry Kane has also recently made it unmistakably clear where the team is headed. “We’re going into this season with the goal of making it our year. We have to find a way to make it happen,” the Bayern striker explained.

The Munich club has made targeted additions to its squad over the summer. Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari are expected to bring additional quality and versatility to the roster. At the same time, Bayern was able to retain its star-studded offense featuring Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz.

The new Champions League season kicks off on Thursday against Bodø/Glimt. Bayern hopes to extend its impressive streak: The record champions have won all of their last 22 opening matches in the Champions League.

Good prospects for all German teams

Photo: IMAGO

In addition to his top picks, Matthäus sees other teams that could play a role in the race for the trophy. The 65-year-old also credits Manchester City, Liverpool FC, and Atlético Madrid with title chances.

Matthäus also believes Borussia Dortmund is capable of a strong international season. In his assessment, BVB should perform better in the Champions League than they did last season.

The former Bayern Munich pro is also optimistic about VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. He considers both teams strong enough to reach at least the playoffs. Matthäus currently even rates Stuttgart as slightly stronger than Leipzig.

The TV analyst thus sees good chances for all four German Champions League participants to reach the knockout stage.

From a German perspective, however, the greatest hopes for a major title run rest with FC Bayern. For Matthäus, the Munich team, along with Arsenal, Barcelona, and PSG, currently ranks among the absolute best in Europe. He also believes Real Madrid has the potential to win the title—but apparently needs to resolve a few issues first.