📊Champions League: Opta tips Liverpool top, Inter in top 10, Juve, Napoli | OneFootball

The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 kicks off on September 16 and promises three consecutive evenings of stellar football.

After the historic triumph of Paris Saint-Germain, who annihilated Inter 5-0 in the final, a new season full of challenges and surprises is opening.

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The renewed format - with 36 teams in a single maxi-ranking instead of the classic groups - has increased the show: more matches, more goals, more emotions. Last year the average was 3.27 goals per game, the highest since 1976!

🦁 Liverpool: the true masters of Europe?

According to the Opta supercomputer, the absolute favorites are the Reds with a 20.4% chance of lifting the cup.

Arne Slot's team dominated the last group stage and now aims to redeem itself after being eliminated in the round of 16 against PSG. With impressive numbers (79.5% chance of finishing in the top eight), the dream of a seventh Champions is more alive than ever.

🔫 Arsenal: the great opportunity

Arteta's men come from a semi-final and have an iron defense: only 0.75 goals conceded on average per game under the management of the Spanish coach.

With a 16% chance of victory, the Gunners could finally erase the label of eternal underachievers: no trophy in over 200 Champions matches.

🇫🇷 PSG: the repeat is possible?

Reigning champions, but "only" 12.1% chance of repeating the feat.

The Parisians have a very tough schedule in the league phase, but the same was said last year and in the end they swept away everyone. Be careful: they could surprise again.

🇮🇹 The Italians between dreams and reality

The Italian teams arrive at this Champions with contrasting ambitions.

Inter, coming from two finals in the last three seasons, however, lost Simone Inzaghi and starts again with Cristian Chivu: for the supercomputer the chances of victory are only at 3%. Napoli, the champion of Italy, entrusts the European dream to Antonio Conte, but the chances remain low (1.4%).

Juventus, far from triumph since 1996, is stuck at a 0.6% chance, while Milan is not even among the main favorites. Slightly better Roma from the North? No, but watch out for teams like Atalanta (0.6%), still formidable outsiders in a competition where the Italian heart often surprises.

⚡ Other big names in the race

Manchester City and Barcelona (8.4%): both luxury outsiders, with Barça led by the super coach Flick.

Chelsea (7%): coming from the triumph at the Club World Cup, watch out for the Blues' revival.

Real Madrid (5.8%): the Kings of Cups want the 16th, but this time they do not start in pole.

Bayern Munich (4.3%): tradition of giants, but a complicated draw can weigh.

🌟 Outsiders and possible surprises

Newcastle, Tottenham and Benfica have reduced chances (1-3%), but in Champions nothing is impossible.

Even further behind are teams like Dortmund and Leverkusen: less than 1% chance of winning, but with a strong desire to defy the numbers.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 GLYN KIRK - AFP or licensors