The new season of the UEFA Champions League is here, bringing the promise of unexpected outcomes even in an era dominated by some of Europe’s finest teams and star players.
While a well-known group of athletes are expected to vie for top honors in Europe’s premier club tournament, the strong performances from Real Madrid and Manchester City may not deter contenders such as Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool. These clubs have shown strong form early in the season, positioning themselves as serious candidates for the Champions League title and introducing fresh competition amid the tournament’s new format.
The initial narratives of the 2024-25 season have sparked a diverse range of predictions from the CBS Sports team, forecasting a thrilling campaign as teams prepare for the final match set for next spring at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
As the league phase kicks off on Tuesday, here are key predictions to launch this Champions League season.
Fans can keep up with all Champions League action through Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and CBS Sports Golazo Network throughout the season.
Here are expert predictions for this matchday:
Winners: Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid
Biggest Surprise: Barcelona, Liverpool, PSV, Atalanta
Biggest Disappointment: Inter, Real Madrid, Girona, Bayer Leverkusen
Top Scorer: E. Haaland (17 goals), K. Mbappe (15), E. Haaland (18), R. Lewandowski (12), E. Haaland (14)
Player of the Tournament: E. Haaland, Luis Diaz, K. Mbappe, J. Bellingham
Winners: Betting odds suggest this season’s Champions League could boil down to a fierce competition between the last two champions. This is understandable, as defending champions Real Madrid have bolstered their lineup with Kylian Mbappe, while Manchester City continues to perform at a high level. However, teams like Arsenal and Liverpool are emerging as strong contenders, along with Bayern Munich’s wealth of talent. Barcelona also can’t be overlooked; they posted impressive advanced metrics last season and have started this campaign with impressive form. If they can maintain fitness, they may very well be lifting the trophy. — James Benge
Biggest Surprise: Atalanta might not seem like an underdog after their Europa League win, but with injuries to Gianluca Scamacca and Teun Koopmeiners moving to Juventus, they have challenges to overcome. Yet, they have promising new additions like Mateo Retegui, and veteran Ademola Lookman remains at the club, guided by the leadership of Gian Piero Gasperini. They are likely to achieve the results needed to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League. — Chuck Booth
Biggest Disappointment: The addition of Kylian Mbappe was expected to reinforce Real Madrid’s status as strong title defenders. However, their early season form has indicated that the integration of new players, especially under Carlo Ancelotti’s guidance, will take time. Injuries and absences complicate the situation, and getting key players such as Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham to work together will be a significant challenge in the upcoming weeks and months. It might be too soon for Los Blancos to reclaim the Champions League title this year. — Jonathan Johnson
Top Scorer: The battle for the top scorer title will likely feature several elite forwards, but Manchester City’s Erling Haaland stands out as the favorite. Known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, Haaland has already made a strong start this season with nine goals in just four games, building a significant lead over his competitors. His summer rest compared to others makes him a strong candidate to claim the Champions League golden boot by season’s end. — Pardeep Cattry
Top Player: After signing with Real Madrid from PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2024, Kylian Mbappe is under great expectation to perform. Despite a challenging start to the season, he possesses the potential to be the season’s MVP, bringing experience and a winning mentality to a club that has enjoyed success in recent years. Mbappe aims to make his mark at Real Madrid by capturing the Champions League trophy once again. — Francesco Porzio