The five favourites to win the Champions League according to the UK’s favourite bookmakers

Jak Netting ✓ Fact-checked by British Gambler i Spotted a mistake? Email partners@britishgambler.co.uk Published September 5, 2026 ⏱ 11 min read

The League Phase draw for the UEFA Champions League has taken place, and fans are already speculating about who has the best chance of taking the crown of European football home this season.

Football is loved for its unpredictability, but teams’ chances of prevailing in UEFA’s premier competition is not entirely random.

With that said, here are the five favourites to win this year’s edition of the competition, according to some of the United Kingdom’s favourite bookmakers.

5. Real Madrid

ODDS: Bet 365 – 13/2, Paddy Power – 6/1, Sky Bet – 6/1

It promises to be a blockbuster season for Real Madrid, following the return of Jose Mourinho as Los Blancos’ head coach.

Self-proclaimed as “the special one”, Mourinho’s CV speaks for itself, with 26 major honours, including two previous Champions League triumphs.

Real Madrid spent just shy of £200 million this summer to overhaul their squad, on top of the free agent arrivals of Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva.

The Spanish giants have added depth and quality to their defence, while the return of Endrick from loan, and the £120 million arrival of Yan Diomande promises to add a new level of firepower to the club’s attack.

Real Madrid, who are 15-time Champions League winners, will feel in a much better position than last season, when they exited in the quarterfinals at the hands of Bayern Munich, but have tough opponents to overcome if they want to go all the way for the first time since 2024.

League Phase games: Inter (H) – 08/09/2026, AS Roma (A) – 14/10/2026, RB Leipzig (H) – 21/10/2026, AEK Athens (A) – 04/11/2026, PSV (H) – 24/11/2026, Arsenal (A) – 09/12/2026, LASK (H) – 19/01/2027, Shakhtar (A) – 27/01/2027

4. Bayern Munich

ODDS: Bet 365 – 6/1, Paddy Power – 11/2, Sky Bet – 11/2

Any team as dominant as Bayern Munich are always likely to be amongst the favourites to win the Champions League, and having a striker who scored 61 goals in all competitions last season.

A shrewd transfer window saw the Bavarian giants quietly add quality over quantity, with two senior additions – Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari – joining the club for a combined £85 million.

Having reached the semi-finals last season, Vincent Kompany will be confident that his side can go at least one step further this time around, and possibly all the way to claim their seventh Champions League title.

League Phase games: Bodo/Glimt (H) – 10/09/2026, Viking (A) – 13/10/2026, Arsenal (H) – 21/10/2026, Atletico Madrid (A) – 03/11/2026, LOSC Lille (A) – 25/11/2026, Slavia Praha (H) – 08/12/2026, Manchester United (A) – 20/01/2027, Real Betis (H) – 27/01/2027

3. Barcelona

ODDS: Bet 365 – 6/1, Paddy Power – 11/2, Sky Bet – 11/2

Few teams are more synonymous with success than Barcelona, who have five Champions League titles in their 104-strong trophy cabinet.

In his two seasons with Barcelona, head coach Hansi Flick has overseen back-to-back La Liga titles, and has reached at least the quarterfinals in the Champions League both times.

As well as keeping the bulk of their squad from last season, Barcelona added both depth and quality, with Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus bolstering their attack.

But perhaps the Blaugrana’s biggest acquisition was the £65 million arrival of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri from Manchester City.

On paper, there is no reason why Barcelona cannot go all the way but, of course, it is never as straightforward as that.

League Phase games: Feyenoord (H) – 09/09/2026, Galatasaray (A) – 13/10/2026, PSG (A) – 20/10/2026, Aston Villa (H) – 03/11/2026, Sabah (A) – 25/11/2026, Manchester City (H) – 08/12/2026, Sporting (A) – 20/01/2027, Como (H) – 27/01/2027

2. Arsenal

ODDS: Bet 365 – 6/1, Paddy Power – 11/2, Sky Bet – 11/2

It is probably unsurprising that last season’s runners-up, who were denied their first Champions League crown only by the misfortune of penalties, are back amongst the favourites this season.

The Gunners have been on a steady upward trajectory for more than half a decade and, after finally winning the Premier League last season, the next logical step is to fulfil their European aspirations.

An underwhelming transfer window was made to feel as such due to the club’s failed pursuits of Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, despite selling three attackers, including an imminent club-record sale for Gabriel Martinelli to join Al Hilal. The sales, and lack of attacking transfers, mean that Arsenal start the season with just one natural left-winger.

But Arsenal are coming from such a strong starting point that there is no reason why they cannot reach another final, and get over the line this time.

League Phase games: Napoli (A) – 09/09/2026, LOSC Lille (H) – 13/10/2026, Bayern (A) – 21/10/2026, Slavia Praha (A) – 04/11/2026, Borussia Dortmund (H) – 24/11/2026, Real Madrid (H) – 09/12/2026, Real Betis (A) – 20/01/2027, Sabah (H) – 27/01/2027

1. Paris Saint-Germain

ODDS: Bet 365 – 5/1, Paddy Power – 9/2, Sky Bet – 9/2

The defending back-to-back Champions League champions will take some beating in this season’s competition.

Boasting an incredibly strong squad, despite the big-money sale of Bradley Barcola, PSG gain an added advantage from their ability to heavily rotate in Ligue 1 matches around Champions League games.

Teams in the rest of Europe’s top five leagues are not afforded the same benefit, due to the added strength of other leagues, making bridging the gap to Luis Enrique’s talented squad an even harder task.

Having recruited well over the summer, with the likes of Maghnes Akliouche, Ferran Torres and Mika Godts, among others, joining the Parisian club.

League Phase games: Slovan Bratislava (H) – 09/09/2026, Manchester City (A) – 14/10/2026, Barcelona (H) – 20/10/2026, Villarreal (A) – 03/11/2026, AS Roma (H) – 25/11/2026, Aston Villa (A) – 08/12/2026, Como (A) – 20/01/2027, Galatasaray (H) – 27/01/2027

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