UCL 2025: Ancelotti Picks Four Clubs to Battle for Champions League Title

Brazil’s head coach and football legend, Carlo Ancelotti, has revealed his top picks to lift this season’s UEFA Champions League trophy, naming Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich as the standout favourites.

Speaking ahead of this week’s Champions League fixtures scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, the former Real Madrid and AC Milan manager shared his candid assessment of Europe’s elite competition. Ancelotti, who now manages the Brazilian national team, told Tutto Sport that despite the new expanded format of the Champions League, the tournament still revolves around familiar names who dominate year after year.

“Seen from the other side of the world, the Champions League has the usual favorites: Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester City and Bayern Munich,” he said. “In these first few matchdays, we’ve seen matches with high goals, and such sensational results make us lose interest. This first phase has been expanded to make it more interesting, yet it is not turning out that way. We have to accept that.”

Ancelotti’s remarks reflect both his admiration and mild criticism of the current competition format, which UEFA introduced to increase the level of excitement and competitiveness. However, the Italian tactician seems to believe that the big clubs still hold the upper hand, leaving little room for surprises in the early rounds.

Having managed some of the greatest clubs in football history, Ancelotti knows the Champions League better than most. He has lifted the prestigious trophy four times as a manager — twice with AC Milan and twice with Real Madrid — making him one of the most successful coaches in the competition’s history.

Paris Saint-Germain, one of the teams mentioned by Ancelotti, are currently the defending champions. The French giants claimed their first-ever Champions League title last season after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in a one-sided final. The victory ended years of near-misses for PSG, whose previous campaigns had been marred by heartbreak despite their star-studded squad.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid remain the most successful club in the history of the competition, boasting 15 titles. The Spanish giants have once again started the new campaign strongly under new leadership and will be eager to reclaim the trophy after losing it last season.

Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, also remain one of the main threats. Despite their domestic dominance, City will look to redeem themselves after being knocked out earlier than expected last season. Bayern Munich, on the other hand, continue to be a powerhouse in Europe, blending experience with youthful energy and tactical discipline.

As the Champions League group stage continues, Ancelotti’s comments will likely spark debate among football fans and analysts about whether this year’s edition can produce new contenders or if the usual giants will continue to dominate the stage.

For now, the eyes of the football world remain fixed on these four European heavyweights PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich as they march toward another potential showdown for the ultimate club football crown.