2026/27 Champions League tips: Who are favourites after the UCL draw?

Arsenal

The first of our favourites are Arsenal, who are still on the hunt for their first-ever Champions League triumph following last season's final defeat to PSG.

Firm frontrunners to retain the 2026/27 Premier League title, Mikel Arteta's squad looks primed to launch another eye-catching attack on Europe's elite competition, with last season's perfect league-phase campaign - where they only conceded four goals - setting the tone.

Getting over the line in the PL last season will have done Arsenal the world of good, and with new signings keeping things fresh, the Gunners are our first pick to really challenge for the Champions League trophy this term - despite some tricky ties against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Napoli.

Arsenal's league phase opponents

• Home: Real Madrid / Borussia Dortmund / Lille / Sabah

• Away: Bayern Munich / Real Betis / Napoli / Slavia Prague

Barcelona

Next up is Barcelona, who welcome both Man City and Aston Villa to the Camp Nou in this season's league phase, with Hansi Flick's side looking close to their frightening best.

The acquisition of Anthony Gordon, who scored 10 Champions League goals last season, has elevated their frontline to a level that can hurt any defence in the world, and their perfect start to LaLiga (two wins from two) is showing exactly what they're capable of.

There are plenty of goals in this team, from Gordon to Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, and after getting knocked out in the quarter-finals last time out, Barca have a point to prove - so we're tipping them to mount a serious challenge.

Barcelona's league phase opponents

• Home: Man City / Aston Villa / Feyenoord / Como

• Away: PSG / Sporting / Galatasaray / Sabah

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are always a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League, winning seven of their eight league phase matches last term, and they'll be desperate for redemption after losing a thrilling semi-final to PSG in 2025/26.

The German champions have arguably the best striker around in Harry Kane, and are expected to stroll to another Bundesliga title under the guidance of Vincent Kompany, who is already building a nice trophy cabinet in Munich - but the big one has evaded him thus far.

Ladbrokes are pricing Bayern right among the Champions League favourites following the league phase draw, with some eye-catching ties promising to deliver another unmissable campaign for one of Europe's most consistent heavyweights.

Bayern's league phase opponents

• Home: Arsenal / Real Betis / Bodo/Glimt / Slavia Prague

• Away: Atletico Madrid / Man United / Lille / Viking

PSG

Back-to-back European champions, PSG don't have anything left to prove on the world stage, but that won't stop them from imposing themselves yet again as the team to beat in this season's Champions League.

Luis Enrique's side also retained the UEFA Super Cup after beating Aston Villa, and with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue still firing for the French champions, there's little to suggest they'll be taking their foot off the gas.

A 15th Ligue 1 title in 13 years seems a straightforward ask for PSG, so they can put plenty of focus on stamping their authority on the UCL once again, and with some interesting league phase ties coming out of the draw, the French champions will be ready to push for the three-peat - something only three clubs have ever achieved.

PSG's league phase opponents

• Home: Barcelona / Roma / Galatasaray / Slovan Bratislava

• Away: Man City / Aston Villa / Villarreal / Como

Real Madrid

The most successful club in Champions League history are always in the conversation, and that's no different this season, with Jose Mourinho looking to add a third UCL trophy to his bursting cabinet.

With Kylian Mbappe looking primed for a first-ever Ballon d'Or, Vinicius Jr looking as sharp as ever, and Jude Bellingham seemingly improving every week, there aren't many teams in world football who can match the star quality of the 15-time winners - and with Mbappe scoring 15 UCL goals last season alone, there's not a defence who likes to see them coming.

Some kind fixtures against the likes of LASK and AEK Athens should see Madrid cruise through the league phase, and with such incredible depth, we expect them to be right amongst it come the business end of the season.

Real Madrid's league phase opponents

• Home: Inter Milan / PSV / RB Leipzig / LASK

• Away: Arsenal / Roma / Shakhtar Donetsk / AEK Athens

Arsenal

• Real Madrid (H)

• Bayern Munich (A)

• Borussia Dortmund (H)

• Real Betis (A)

• Lille (H)

• Napoli (A)

• Sabah (H)

• Slavia Prague (A)

Aston Villa

• PSG (H)

• Barcelona (A)

• Borussia Dortmund (H)

• Club Brugge (A)

• Fenerbahce (H)

• Galatasaray (A)

• Viking (H)

• Slavia Prague (A)

Liverpool

• Atletico Madrid (H)

• Inter Milan (A)

• Porto (H)

• Club Brugge (A)

• Villarreal (H)

• Fenerbahce (A)

• Lens (H)

• LASK (A)

Manchester City

• PSG (H)

• Barcelona (A)

• Sporting (H)

• Porto (A)

• Napoli (H)

• RB Leipzig (A)

• AEK Athens (H)

• Lens (A)

Manchester United

• Bayern Munich (H)

• Atletico Madrid (A)

• Roma (H)

• Sporting (A)

• RB Leipzig (H)

• Villarreal (A)

• Sabah (H)

• Como (A)

• Barcelona

Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, Barcelona have pipped Real Madrid to three consecutive LaLiga titles, and our experts are tipping them to win a first Champions League trophy since 2015.

They narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot last season despite a second-leg away win at the Metropolitano, and as the likes of Yamal and Gordon continue to go from strength to strength, we think they've got enough firepower to unsettle any defence on the planet.

So Barcelona are our pick to win the 2026/27 Champions League, with the Spanish champions finally returning to the pinnacle of European football.

View the latest Champions League odds here.

View the latest football odds here.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.