The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League begins with 36 clubs competing in the league-phase format for a third consecutive season.
Each team will play eight different opponents before the competition moves into its knockout stages. The top eight automatically qualify for the last 16.
Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter two-legged knockout play-offs. The tournament will conclude at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium on June 5, 2027.
Paris Saint-Germain enter the competition as two-time defending champions. However, several European heavyweights are rated above them heading into the new campaign.
Opta’s supercomputer ran 10,000 simulations to calculate each team’s prospects across the competition.
According to Opta Analyst, Arsenal emerged as the supercomputer’s favourites to win the 2026/27 Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side lifted the trophy in 21.2% of the simulations, giving them the highest probability among all 36 participants.
Arsenal came close last season before losing the final to PSG on penalties. They had previously won all eight league-phase matches and finished top of the standings.
Bayern Munich rank narrowly behind Arsenal with a 19.9% probability of winning the competition. The German champions also topped the league phase in 19.8% of simulations.
Manchester City complete the leading trio with a 12% chance of lifting the trophy. They are the only other club with a rating above 10%.
Despite chasing a third successive European crown, PSG sit fourth with a 7.7% probability.
Barcelona follow at 7%, with Real Madrid and Liverpool level on 5.1%. Manchester United have a 3.7% chance after returning to the competition following a two-year absence.
Inter Milan rank next at 3.4%, while Aston Villa complete the leading 10 contenders with a 2% probability.
Borussia Dortmund received a 1.8% chance, while Roma and Sporting CP are both rated at 1.4%. Club Brugge follow on 1%.
At the opposite end, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slovan Bratislava and Sabah each received just a 0.01% probability.
However, every participating club won the Champions League at least once across Opta’s 10,000 simulations.
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