Barcelona and Arsenal lead Champions League 2026-27 title race, with Mbappe favoured for top scorer

Africafoot’s analysis of bookmaker prices places FC Barcelona and Arsenal among the leading contenders to win the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League, while Kylian Mbappe is the clear favourite to finish as the competition’s leading scorer. Nasser Eddy, a consultant on NCI Sport and presenter of European Champions League coverage on radio Nostalgie, has also offered his predictions ahead of the league phase, which begins on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.

For the third consecutive season, 36 teams from across Europe will compete for the UEFA Champions League trophy, widely regarded as the most coveted prize in club football. The final is scheduled for 5 June 2027 at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium.

PSG and Bayern among leading contenders

Paris Saint-Germain, who won the competition for the first time in 2025 before retaining the trophy this year, will again attempt to defend their title. A third successive triumph would see them match Real Madrid’s achievement between 2016 and 2018 under Zinedine Zidane.

PSG have been active in the transfer market while retaining the core of the side responsible for their recent double. Their departures have largely involved squad players, including Bradley Barcola, Lee Kang-in, Goncalo Ramos and Ibrahim Mbaye. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, their influential midfield trio and first-choice full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes remain in place. They have also added World Cup winner Ferran Torres in attack.

However, PSG’s domestic start has been difficult, with two points and no wins from their opening three league matches. That has raised the possibility that their run of dominance could come to an end after two outstanding campaigns.

Bayern Munich, European champions in 2020 after beating PSG, and semi-finalists in the past two editions, are regarded as another natural contender. Their attacking trio of Luis Diaz, Michael Olise and Harry Kane is supported by the central defensive partnership of Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano. The German club have retained their leading players and appear to have added greater strength by combining experience and composure with youth and flair.

Real Madrid, record 15-time winners, begin the campaign determined to recover their status after two trophyless seasons. They have won six of the past 13 editions and are starting a new chapter, with Jose Mourinho returning to the dugout.

The Spanish club have also recruited extensively, bringing in players including Ivorian prospect Yan Diomande, France defender Ibrahima Konate, Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva and Spain international Marc Cucurella. They will join the existing forward line of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, who were sometimes left to carry too much responsibility last season. Real Madrid’s recent defeat by Real Betis served as a reminder that assembling a side full of stars does not automatically create a successful team.

FC Barcelona have not won the competition since 2015 but have also strengthened. Their signings include wingers Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon, as well as Spain captain and recent world champion Rodri in midfield. Hansi Flick’s side have won all four of their opening La Liga matches, scoring five goals in three of those games, and begin their European campaign against Feyenoord Rotterdam on Wednesday afternoon.

Their form has impressed, although Barcelona have suffered heavy setbacks in recent European campaigns. Maintaining that intensity and consistency over an entire season will become more difficult as the quality of the opposition increases.

Arsenal, Champions League semi-finalists in 2024-25 and beaten finalists last season, return after winning the English title several months ago. The Gunners have started strongly, including a 2-1 home victory over Chelsea in Sunday’s London derby.

Mikel Arteta’s side have kept their main structure despite the departures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard and a serious injury to Gabriel Saliba. Winger Christos Tzolis and defender Ezri Konsa are among the relatively few but high-quality additions. Arsenal’s main strength remains their defensive solidity.

Manchester City won the trophy in 2023 but are entering a new era following Pep Guardiola’s departure. Enzo Maresca has taken charge of a deep and balanced squad led by goalscorer Erling Haaland, although Rodri has left. City have won all three of their league matches, but their performances have been unconvincing, leaving questions over the confidence of Gianluigi Donnarumma and his team-mates.

The leading 1xBet prices for the tournament winner are:

– FC Barcelona – 5.75 – Paris Saint-Germain – 6.3 – Bayern Munich – 7.4 – Arsenal FC – 7.4 – Real Madrid CF – 7.9 – Manchester City – 9.7

Africafoot’s assessment gives Barcelona and Arsenal the strongest prospects of winning the trophy on 5 June 2027. Bayern Munich and PSG are considered the next most likely challengers.

Inter and Liverpool among serious outsiders

Inter Milan are viewed as one of the strongest outsiders after finishing runners-up in 2023 and 2025. They have lost important defensive players, including Yann Sommer and Denzel Dumfries, but have recruited Ivan Provedel, John Stones and Djed Spence.

Christian Chivu’s side have won all three of their opening Serie A matches, scoring eight goals, and will begin their Champions League campaign against Real Madrid. That fixture should provide an early test of their current level.

Liverpool, winners in 2019, endured a disappointing campaign last season and were eliminated from the past two editions by eventual champions PSG. They have begun a new cycle with Andoni Iraola as manager and have added internationally recognised players including Bradley Barcola and Ronald Araujo.

Liverpool drew their first two league matches but claimed their first victory of the campaign by beating Ipswich 2-0 on Friday.

Atletico de Madrid remain a consistent presence at the highest level of European football and will hope to reach the final at their home stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano. They have reached the final three times, including in 2014 and 2016.

Diego Simeone has retained much of last season’s squad, although Antoine Griezmann, Manuel Molina and Matteo Ruggeri are among the notable departures. Julian Alvarez has stayed despite previously indicating a desire to leave, which represents a major boost. Atletico have made a mixed start in La Liga, winning twice, drawing once and losing once in four matches.

Manchester United return to the competition after several years away. The three-time winners, most recently in 2008, have strengthened with players including Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Marcus Rashford has also returned from his loan spell after rebuilding his form during last season at Barcelona.

Michael Carrick has kept the key players who helped secure Champions League qualification, including Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo.

The main 1xBet prices among the outsiders are:

– Liverpool FC – 6 – Manchester United – 10 – Inter Milan – 13 – Atletico de Madrid – 17

Inter and Liverpool are considered the best-equipped teams in that group to challenge the established order.

Mbappe leads scoring market

The leading scorers from last season’s competition are all expected to return. Mbappe, who scored 15 goals in 2025-26, is the leading candidate to finish top again. Harry Kane, who scored 14 times last season, is considered his closest challenger.

Kvaratskhelia, who scored 10 goals last term, and Ballon d’Or winner Dembele are also expected to compete for the scoring crown. Haaland, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres are among the other leading candidates.

Bayern’s Diaz and Olise, along with Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, are also regarded as capable of joining the contest.

The 1xBet prices for the leading scorers are:

– Kylian Mbappe – 4.5 – Harry Kane – 8 – Erling Haaland – 9 – Ousmane Dembele – 13 – Lautaro Martinez – 21 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 21 – Viktor Gyokeres – 34 – Luis Diaz – 40 – Michael Olise – 41

Africafoot’s prediction is that the top-scorer race will be contested primarily by Mbappe, Kane and Haaland. Kane is given the edge because Bayern Munich are considered better equipped to progress deep into the tournament.

Betting odds may change.