The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 season is here with a brand-new chapter of
European football. Following the league-phase draw in Monaco, 36 clubs have been
placed into four pots. This season uses the Swiss-system format, where every club plays
eight matches against two teams from each pot (one at home, one away).
In this article, we provide Champions League 2025/26 league phase predictions, analyzing
each pot to highlight the favorites, dark horses, and teams likely to struggle.
How the Group Stage Format Works
- 36 clubs are split into four pots of nine teams each.
- Every club plays eight matches against eight different opponents.
- No team can face more than two opponents from the same country.
- The top eight finishers qualify directly for the Round of 16.
- Teams finishing 9th to 24th go into a playoff round.
- Teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated.
Champions League 2025/26 League Phase
Predictions
Pot 1 Predictions – The Giants
Teams in pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan,
Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona
Pot 1 contains Europe’s biggest clubs, and most of them are expected to qualify with ease.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) remains the favorite to secure a top-eight finish, led by key players like Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, and Vitinha. Real Madrid, the record champions, are also strong contenders, with Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Jr. leading their attack. Bayern Munich continues to be a reliable force due to their formidable attacking power. PSG will aim to defend their title with their players in peak form. Barcelona, on the other hand, should have enough quality to progress comfortably in the competition. Additionally, we all expect Chelsea to qualify with their recent form and new signings.
The pressure is on Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, who may face challenges against other strong teams. Manchester City could qualify if the team works well together.
Prediction: Five or six teams from Pot 1 will comfortably finish in the top 16.
READ ALSO: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Draw: Complete Fixtures, Pots and Format Explained
Pot 2 Predictions – The Challengers
Teams in pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal,
Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge.
Pot 2 is full of challengers who can make life difficult for the top seeds. Arsenal, Juventus,
Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid are the strongest bets for qualification. Atalanta’s fearless
attacking football could see them upset some of the bigger teams, while Benfica are
always tough in Europe with their strong home record.
Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt can compete but may lack consistency to reach the top 16. Club Brugge, despite being competitive, will likely struggle against higher-level
opposition.
Prediction: Expect at least four Pot 2 teams to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Pot 3 Predictions – The Wildcards
Teams in pot 3: Tottenham, PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague,
Bodø/Glimt, Marseille.
This pot is tough, with clubs that can either shine or fall short. Napoli, led by Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay, and Romelu Lukaku, should comfortably progress to the next round. Tottenham should easily qualify with Thomas Frank in charge of the team; their new signings and recent form suggest they should easily qualify. Sporting CP remains a tricky opponent with the ability to upset higher seeds.
Bodø/Glimt are debutants but known for their fearless approach, making them the surprise
package of Pot 3. Marseille, with passionate support at home, could also play spoilers.
Olympiacos and Slavia Prague are likely to find it difficult against top-level opposition.
Prediction: Napoli, Tottenham, and Sporting CP to qualify, with Bodø/Glimt as the wild
card.
Pot 4 Predictions – The Underdogs
Teams in pot 4: Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Union SG, Qarabag, Athletic Bilbao,
Newcastle United, Pafos, Kairat Almaty
Pot 4 is usually where underdogs live, but there are still strong contenders. Newcastle
United and Galatasaray, despite being placed here, have enough quality to reach the knockout stages.
Monaco are experienced and technically strong. Also, Galatasaray’s home advantage and recent signings make them a dangerous opponent.
Union SG and Athletic Bilbao could spring surprises, especially in home fixtures, but Pafos
and Kairat Almaty are unlikely to compete at this level. Qarabag has experience but
rarely progresses beyond the early rounds.
Prediction: Newcastle and Galatasaray are the best candidates to qualify from Pot 4.
Overall Champions League 2025/26 Group Stage Predictions
Top 8 Favorites: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Barcelona,
Liverpool and Juventus.
Likely Top 16 Qualifiers: Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham,
Monaco, Newcastle.
Dark Horses: Napoli, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Galatasaray
Teams Likely to Struggle: Pafos, Kairat Almaty, Qarabag, and Slavia Prague.
The Champions League 2025/26 group stage promises high-quality football, unexpected
results, and plenty of drama. While the giants such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, and
Bayern Munich are likely to dominate, smaller sides like Bodø/Glimt and Union,
Galatasaray and Tottenham could deliver surprises that define the early rounds. Every
match will count, and the road to Budapest will be full of excitement from the very start.
