Champions League 2025/26 – Who Can Conquer Europe?
European Football Special
Champions League 2025/26 – Who Can Conquer Europe?
By our European Football Correspondent
The greatest prize in club football is back – the UEFA Champions League. The 2025/26 campaign has kicked off under the relatively new “Swiss-style” league format, demanding consistency, resilience, and depth like never before. No longer can a big side afford a slow start; the calendar is unforgiving, and the margins are slim.
The stage is already set for the grand finale: Budapest’s Puskás Aréna will host the final on 30 May 2026. For Hungary, it is a chance to showcase its modern footballing cathedral; for the clubs, it is the promised land.
The Favourites
Liverpool
Liverpool enter the season as statistical favourites. Their pressing game and attacking verve make them a nightmare for opponents. With European pedigree and a squad stacked with experience, the Reds will expect nothing less than a deep run. Their vulnerability? Injuries and defensive lapses in high-stakes away ties.
Arsenal
Close behind, Arsenal arrive with youthful swagger and momentum. They have built a side capable of dazzling in attack while maturing under continental pressure. Yet, unlike Liverpool or Madrid, Arsenal still lack the hardened scars of Champions League battles. This is their chance to prove they belong among Europe’s elite.
Paris Saint-Germain
The reigning champions. PSG’s emphatic 5–0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich last May was a statement – not only their first European crown, but the most lopsided final in modern history. But history tells us defending the trophy is as tough as winning it. Squad balance, defensive resilience, and avoiding complacency will be crucial if the Parisians are to repeat.
The Old Guard – Real Madrid & Bayern Munich
Write off Madrid at your peril. Their aura in Europe defies logic; when others wilt, Los Blancos find a way. Bayern Munich, too, are perennial contenders. Their machine-like efficiency and squad strength keep them in the conversation, though recent inconsistency leaves question marks.
And don’t rule out Barcelona, Chelsea, or a surprise Italian entrant – history loves an underdog.
Themes That Will Decide the Season
Depth Matters – The Swiss-system rewards squads who can rotate without losing quality. Thin benches will be exposed.
Defensive Nerve – The best attacks may thrill, but Champions League ties are won by defences that do not crumble.
Flexibility – Managers who can change shape mid-match or outfox opponents tactically will rise.
Mentality – Nothing compares to the pressure of a European night; the strongest minds tend to lift the cup.
From Munich to Budapest
The shadow of last season’s final looms large. PSG’s destruction of Inter in the Allianz Arena was both breathtaking and sobering – a reminder that when a side clicks, even Europe’s best can be dismantled. Whether anyone can match that level of dominance this time around is the defining question of the new campaign.
Budapest awaits. By late May, only one team will stand on the podium, confetti in the air, Champions League anthem echoing in the night.
And the rest? They will look back at where they fell short – in the small margins, in the missed tackles, in the moments of brilliance denied.
The Dale Blues Editorial Note
Here in Rochdale, we know football’s power lies not only in the glittering lights of Europe’s grandest arenas but also in the terraces of towns like ours, where the game is lived and breathed daily. The Champions League may crown its kings in Budapest next May, but every aspiring player in Rochdale, every coach on a muddy training pitch, and every supporter braving the rain carries the same spirit of belief.
As Europe’s giants battle for glory, let us remember: the roots of greatness are found in communities like ours, where passion and perseverance matter just as much as silverware.