Can Lamine Yamal's Barcelona Win the 2025-26 Champions League?

'The Chaaaaampions'! That's right: the most famous anthem in world football will once again ring out across Europe this week with the start of the 2025-26 Champions League season. Thirty-six teams will compete to lift the European Cup in Budapest on May 30, but can any of them, like the mighty Barcelona , ​​snatch the crown from Paris Saint-Germain?

Luis Enrique's side certainly looks like a potential winner once again, although they will face stiff competition from a host of clubs. Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have strengthened their squads, although their spending doesn't come close to that of the Premier League's top clubs, where Liverpool and Arsenal have shelled out huge sums to boost their chances of continental success. Club World Cup winners Chelsea will also feel confident, as will Manchester City despite their struggles over the past 12 months. On the other hand, Bayern Munich are once again the dominant force in Germany, which could help their chances of winning knockout matches in the later stages of the competition, while Inter will be looking for another trip to the final despite a turbulent summer at San Siro.

'Barcelona's forward line can destroy Europe's best'

Joe Strange: Barcelona 's porous defense robbed us of a potentially historic Champions League final last season, but this time it will be a different story. Hansi Flick's talented youngsters have an extra year of experience, while new goalkeeper Joan Garcia already looks like a smart addition. And even if Barcelona isn't the strongest defensively in the competition, their fearsome attack has the ability to tear apart the best in Europe. Expect their long-awaited return to the Camp Nou to provide a spark in the knockout stages, plenty of goals, and talismanic Lamine Yamal to lift the trophy in Budapest.

'Madrid is the safest bet'

Richard Martin: Real Madrid is always the safest bet in the Champions League. Los Blancos have won 21 percent of all European Cups, and since the turn of the century, they've lifted eight out of a possible 26. But even setting aside statistical probability and the fact that lifting Europe's biggest prize is in the club's DNA, it's hard not to look to Madrid. Kylian Mbappé is still the best striker in the world today, and if he doesn't get you, Vinicius Jr. will. In fact, Madrid's squad is so full of talent that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde aren't guaranteed a starting spot. Moreover, they now have one of the most astute coaches in the game, Xabi Alonso, who is tactically competent and understands the needs of a modern dressing room.

'Barcelona could sweep its way to the trophy'

James Westwood : Barcelona will do better than last season and secure their first European crown since 2015. Led by the sensational Lamine Yamal, the team was by far the best attacking side in the competition in 2024-25 and was extremely unlucky not to at least reach the final, ultimately being undone by defensive errors against an inferior Inter. With young Roony Bardghji beginning to blossom and Marcus Rashford having arrived on loan, Barcelona has even more attacking firepower this time around and will fear no one. Early signs this season suggest they will also be more solid at the back. Hansi Flick's Barcelona could steamroll their way to the trophy if they avoid serious injuries.

'PSG is the favorite among six candidates'

Mark Doyle: I see six potential winners at the moment: Real Madrid, Barcelona , ​​Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and PSG. However, despite Kylian Mbappé's brilliance, it's difficult to see Xabi Alonso conquering Europe in his first season in charge of a still-unbalanced Real Madrid. Barcelona has attackers capable of tearing apart any defense, but Hansi Flick's high defensive line remains a serious cause for concern. As for Liverpool and Arsenal, they certainly have the depth to go all the way, but the grueling nature of the Premier League will likely take too much of a toll on them. That leaves Bayern and PSG, the only legitimate contenders able to rotate key players regularly given the weakness of their respective leagues. Consequently, I'm picking PSG to retain their title.

'It's quite difficult not to look at Liverpool'

Thomas Hindle: It's strange going into a Champions League season where Real Madrid aren't favorites, and while you could argue a PSG repeat is possible, early injuries to a couple of big names look a bit ominous. This year will be all about squad depth, and for that reason, it's quite difficult not to look at Liverpool, who have two players for virtually every position. An injury to Virgil van Dijk would obviously hurt, but can any team survive without their most important player? Arne Slot had an excellent first season; his second could be even better.

'Barcelona will have learned its lesson'

Stephen Darwin: This has to be Barcelona 's year . If it weren't for Francesco Acerbi's right boot, Hansi Flick's side would very likely have been crowned European champions last season. They were seconds away from beating Inter in that memorable semi-final and would certainly have been a tougher opponent for PSG in the final. Still, they will have learned lessons from that agonizing defeat and will be ready to try again. They possess the best player on the planet in Lamine Yamal and have a squad strong enough, with talent in every area, to go far in 2025-26. Barcelona 's performance will depend on their defensive consistency.

'Barcelona has the best player in the world'

Sean Walsh: The world wanted to see a PSG- Barcelona final last year. This time, Barcelona should be stronger because of that experience, even if their defense still looks shaky. What they do have, however, is arguably the best player in the world in Lamine Yamal, who has set his sights on multiple Ballon d'Or wins. Winning the Champions League and the World Cup in the same season would almost guarantee him the former, and that's a pretty realistic possibility. I'd rather back Yamal and be proven wrong than back him and look foolish for doubting him.

'Liverpool has a full squad'

Krishan Davis: I feel compelled to mention PSG, but given that it's been almost impossible for anyone other than Real Madrid to win the Champions League consecutively in the modern era, I'm going to look elsewhere. If it's not PSG, it will surely be Liverpool or Barcelona who claim European glory in Budapest, and based on how complete their squad is, I think the Reds have the edge. This depends on Arne Slot's team improving as the season progresses, but after a summer of mind-blowing spending, they now have a formidable group of players at their disposal and should be capable of winning it all.

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