Champions League Power Rankings: Barcelona, Arsenal teams to beat as defending champs PSG faces uphill task image
As the most prestigious and noteworthy club competition in global football, the UEFA Champions League is the proving ground for all top teams across the European landscape.
Every season, the most notable and talented clubs throughout the continent convene to decide which one is most worthy to be European champion.
Two-time defending champions PSG are looking for a historic three-peat, but they have exceptional competition from a number of massive clubs, including last year's finalists Arsenal plus La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Sporting News ranks the top 16 teams in the Champions League field, with these teams considered most likely to reach the Round of 16 in the knockout stage.
MORE: How to watch the Champions League in the United States for the 2026/27 season
Champions League power rankings for 2026/27 season
Rankings as of Thursday, September 10 before the day's matches begin.
16. RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 10 at Como
Oct. 13 vs. PSV
Oct. 21 at Real Madrid
Nov. 4 vs. Man City
Nov. 24 vs. Lens
Dec. 8 at Man United
Jan. 20 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Jan. 27 at Feyenoord
Even as they sold teenage sensation Yan Diomande to Real Madrid for an enormous pile of cash, plus offloading Lois Openda to Juventus, RB Leipzig should cause problems in the Champions League this season.
After finishing a distant third in last season's Bundesliga table, Leipzig are back in Europe's top competition. They are adept at selling superstar-level talent for big money and revamping the squad successfully, and so the departures shouldn't hinder them as much as they might for other sides less experienced at flipping young players for financial gain.
We will learn a lot about RB Leipzig early on, as they have matches against Como and PSV to start off the group stage, two teams that are probably right around their level.
15. Porto (Primeira Liga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 8 vs. Man City L 2-0
Oct. 14 at Real Betis
Oct. 20 vs. PSV
Nov. 4 vs. Napoli
Nov. 24 at Feyenoord
Dec. 9 at Liverpool
Jan. 19 vs. Slavia Prague
Jan. 27 at LASK
After winning the Portuguese league title last season, Porto are back in the Champions League after failing to reach the league phase in last year's competition.
They were forced to watch as both Benfica and Sporting made the knockout stage, and boasting a squad full of recognizable talent, Porto could be the ones to enjoy a deep run this season. They brought in Santi Gimenez from his disastrous time at AC Milan, and also welcomed Seko Fofana on loan from Stade Rennes as well, plus they made Jakob Kiwior's loan from Arsenal permanent.
They have a soft league phase schedule where points can be taken, even after defeat to Man City to begin their slate. Don't underestimate Porto, even if they aren't one of the most exciting upset-minded sides in the Champions League table.
14. Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 8 vs. Villarreal W 3-2
Oct. 14 at Bodo/Glimt
Oct. 20 at Sabah
Nov. 4 vs. Real Betis
Nov. 24 at Arsenal
Dec. 9 vs. Inter Milan
Jan. 19 at Aston Villa
Jan. 27 vs. AEK Athens
The offseason departure of Karim Adeyemi will hurt, but Borussia Dortmund remain a top European contender every year regardless of their comings and goings.
Dortmund dominated Villarreal in their Champions League opener, and are off to a very positive start domestically as well. Serhou Guirassy is back for another go at the European top scorer award, having been right up near the top of the table in the last two campaigns, supported in part by new Greek youngster Konstantinos Karetsas.
The German side have a relatively difficult league phase slate, but there's enough meat on the bone to see them through to the knockout stage barring major disappointment, and they could give an opponent trouble in the two-legged tie.
13. Napoli (Serie A)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 vs. Arsenal L 1-0
Oct. 13 at Villarreal
Oct. 20 vs. Bodo/Glimt
Nov. 4 at Porto
Nov. 24 at Man City
Dec. 8 vs. Club Brugge
Jan. 20 at Sabah
Jan. 27 vs. Viking
Napoli have struggled to start the season on multiple fronts, losing two of their first three Serie A matches, but that does not take away from their ability to trouble top teams across Europe. They were disappointingly left out of the Champions League knockout phase last season, but lost hardly any players while adding a few fringe players, running it back with last season’s squad that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Rasmus Hojlund, and Scott McTominay. They also believe Billy Gilmour can be a key contributor in midfield, and he looked to have made strides in the defeat to Arsenal in which they looked up to the task against one of Europe’s best.
12. Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 vs. Galatasaray W 3-1
Oct. 13 at Lens
Oct. 21 vs. LASK
Nov. 3 at Shakhtar Donetsk*
Nov. 25 vs. Man United
Dec. 8 at AS Roma
Jan. 20 vs. Barcelona
Jan. 27 at Man City
After reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season and giving Arsenal a good fight there, Sporting are back for another go, and have a very soft league phase slate to prop them up as much as possible.
Sporting made a whole host of moves this summer to revamp the squad with young talent, including securing World Cup standout Nestory Irankunda from Watford. They also offloaded a lot of top talent, however, including winger Francisco Trincao to the Saudi league, midfielder Morten Hjulmand to Atletico Madrid, and defender Ousmane Diomande to Nottingham Forest.
If they can hit the ground running with the new additions, as they appear to have done, they can be an annoyance for the top sides once again, and have the capacity to reach into the last eight of the competition again if the draw works in their favor.
11. Como (Serie A)
Date Match Result
Sep. 10 vs. RB Leipzig
Oct. 14 at Feyenoord
Oct. 21 vs. Man United
Nov. 4 at Lens
Nov. 24 vs. AEK Athens
Dec. 9 at Real Betis
Jan. 20 vs. PSG
Jan. 27 at Barcelona
Easily one of the darlings of the Champions League this season, Italian upstarts Como have flourished under Cesc Fabregas's leadership.
Led by Argentine revelation Nico Paz, this Como team is a true danger for any of the top teams, and looks to be a threat to not just advance to the knockout stage, but cause some problems there as well. They brought in Trevoh Chalobah and Robert Sanchez from Chelsea, plus the loan of Moise Kean from fellow Serie A side Fiorentina. Alongside Paz, they also have another rising young player in Martin Baturina, plus former Real Madrid youth product Jacobo Ramon at the back.
No title contender should overlook Como, because it could prove lethal if they do.
10. Man United (Premier League)
Date Match Result
Sep. 10 vs. Sabah
Oct. 13 at Atletico Madrid
Oct. 21 at Como
Nov. 3 vs. AS Roma
Nov. 25 at Sporting CP
Dec. 8 vs. RB Leipzig
Jan. 20 vs. Bayern Munich
Jan. 27 at Villarreal
Last season, with no European football whatsoever to bog them down, Manchester United finished third in the Premier League to qualify them for the Champions League.
They spent big in the summer to revamp the midfield, but for the most part the main starting lineup remains the same. Bruno Fernandes is likely to regress some from his historic campaign last year, but even some slight drop-off should put United into position for advancement to at least the playoff round.
The rigors of a new season with extra congestion will prove a challenge, and they have an extremely difficult league phase slate, so there are added adversities to deal with this season, but they still look likely to advance to the knockout stage if they can avoid disappointing results in games they're favored to win.
9. Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 at Liverpool L 2-1
Oct. 13 vs. Man United
Oct. 20 at Stuttgart
Nov. 3 vs. Bayern Munich
Nov. 25 vs. Viking
Dec. 9 at PSV
Jan. 19 at Bodo/Glimt
Jan. 27 vs. Fenerbahce
Diego Simeone has long since shedded the overtly defensive mindset his Atletico Madrid team used to embody, and that has made the side much more entertaining to watch. But has it made them better? That is a much tougher question to answer.
Even as their style has evolved, one thing this Atleti team still displays under Simeone is exceptional toughness, especially at home, where they are far tougher to beat, and that makes them a threat against any opponent. Unfortunately, they also display a propensity for conceding soft goals, and they need to repair the relationship with Julian Alvarez if they are to prove a threat to the stronger, more established title contenders.
8. Inter (Serie A)
Date Match Result
Sep. 8 at Real Madrid L 2-1
Oct. 13 vs. Club Brugge
Oct. 21 vs. Shakhtar Donestk
Nov. 3 at Feyenoord
Nov. 25 vs. Stuttgart
Dec. 9 at Borussia Dortmund
Jan. 19 vs. Liverpool
Jan. 27 at Slovan Bratislava
On their best day, Inter can challenge anyone in Europe for a result. They proved as much two years ago by beating Barcelona en route to a spot in the Champions League final, and they also made that case in their league phase opener this season, losing to Real Madrid in a game they dominated large stretches of but failed to capitalize on their best chances.
Inter are a talented squad, and set up for success, especially with a relatively soft league phase schedule. Yet they need everything to go right if they are to beat a top side, meaning they won't be favored to win matches against anyone above them on this list. The Azzurri remain far and away Italy's best hopes for a continental title, but they're up against it if they can't finish opportunities presented to them against top-tier opponents.
7. Liverpool (Premier League)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 vs. Atletico Madrid W 2-1
Oct. 14 at LASK
Oct. 20 vs. Villarreal
Nov. 4 at Fenerbahce
Nov. 25 at Club Brugge
Dec. 9 vs. Porto
Jan. 19 at Inter Milan
Jan. 27 vs. Lens
Like many of the Premier League teams this season, Liverpool are also under new management, and Andoni Iraola has struggled in some capacities to get his team rolling to begin the year, complaining about how their fitness levels need to improve before they can execute his desired style of play.
Yet as in seasons past, this Reds team has exceptional moxie, known for grinding out results even when they don't have their best stuff. That was on display against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener, as they came back from an early 1-0 deficit to win the match.
Iraola has a task on his hands to make this team legitimate title contenders both domestically and abroad. He has to improve Florian Wirtz's contributions in front of goal, figure out who will start on each wing, and get Alexis Mac Allister back to his best after a very poor season last year. If he can sort those glaring concerns out, the Reds may be one of the dark horses for the competition this year.
6. Man City (Premier League)
Date Match Result
Sep. 8 at Porto W 2-0
Oct. 14 vs. PSG
Oct. 20 vs. AEK Athens
Nov. 4 at RB Leipzig
Nov. 24 vs. Napoli
Dec. 8 at Barcelona
Jan. 20 at Lens
Jan. 27 vs. Sporting CP
With Pep Guardiola no longer on the touchline for Manchester City, the club enters a new era, as Enzo Maresca hopes that being the guy after the guy doesn't give him the (sky) blues.
There are many, many questions around Man City ahead of this season. What will they look like without Pep? Can they cope with the loss of Rodri? How will the many new players settle in? City completely overhauled the midfield this offseason, bringing in Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, and Ayyoub Bouaddi, plus a number of other players to fill out the roster.
On paper, City are bursting at the seams with talent just like always, but given the incredible amount of transition this offseason, there's a "believe when we see it" feeling around this team to begin the year.
5. Real Madrid (La Liga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 8 vs. Inter Milan W 2-1
Oct. 14 at AS Roma
Oct. 21 vs. RB Leipzig
Nov. 4 at AEK Athens
Nov. 24 vs. PSV
Dec. 9 at Arsenal
Jan. 19 vs. LASK
Jan. 27 at Shakhtar Donetsk*
* All road matches at Shakhtar Donetsk will be played at Stamford Bridge in London.
Los Blancos are under new yet familiar management as Jose Mourinho takes over for a second spell, hoping to bring trophies back to the Bernabeu after two straight seasons without any major silverware. They also spent big money to bring in 19-year-old Yan Diomande, an exciting yet raw talent who will need time to develop in Mourinho's system.
Even though Madrid have a new leader on the touchline, they look very similar to their old iteration. Mourinho has them playing well, with Kylian Mbappe gobbling up generational shot totals in front of goal, supported by great creativity and goal-scoring prowess from Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, while the boss deploys a more central and defensive-minded wing foil on the right flank.
Early on, it looks an effective setup. Mourinho's biggest influence on the squad seems to be his jolt of energy to Vini, as the Brazilian appears to be fully motivated, even pressing and defending at a high work rate. Yet the team still poses flaws. They lack midfield depth after missing out on Rodri in the summer, seeing Mourinho test Trent Alexander-Arnold in the middle of the pitch, and they are thin along the back as well.
We'll see how far they go, but at the moment, Madrid look a bigger threat than they have been the past two years.
4. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 10 vs. Bodo/Glimt
Oct. 13 at Viking
Oct. 21 vs. Arsenal
Nov. 3 at Atletico Madrid
Nov. 25 at Lille
Dec. 8 vs. Slavia Prague
Jan. 20 at Man United
Jan. 27 vs. Real Betis
The German giants have yet to really get into the thick of their season, having already dropped points domestically with a scoreless draw against Schalke, but they still look a dominant force when the starters all play, and boast supreme, world-class talent in the regular lineup.
Michael Olise in particular has developed into a creative monster, and after a strong World Cup performance, he is firmly in the mix for Ballon d'Or consideration. Speaking of the Ballon d'Or, Harry Kane has a great shot to win last year's award, putting him in good position for yet another great campaign, even if he falls a bit short of last year's generational production.
There are two big problems for Bayern right now. First, Manuel Neuer is 40 years old and clearly no longer a Champions League-caliber player in goal, but continues to press on despite considerable struggles over the past few seasons and in this summer's World Cup. Additionally, the team's depth presents a bit of an issue, as they lean heavier this season on the team's youth call-ups than in recent memory, with the likes of Lennart Karl, Nathaniel Brown, and Tom Bischof not quite up to the level of the starters they back up.
Still, this team, if healthy, looks an absolute force, especially if Jamal Musiala can get back to his best after a number of fitness issues over the past two seasons.
3. PSG (Ligue 1)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 vs. Slovan Bratislava W 6-1
Oct. 14 at Man City
Oct. 20 vs. Barcelona
Nov. 3 at Villarreal
Nov. 25 vs. AS Roma
Dec. 8 at Aston Villa
Jan. 20 at Como
Jan. 27 vs. Galatasaray
It may be shocking to see the two-time defending champions so low on the list to begin the season. PSG do this every year under Luis Enrique — they begin the season slow, mixing in lots of their squad depth in league play throughout the first half of the season, before everyone hits the afterburners in late January.
Yet at some point, playing with fire in that manner is going to burn them. It may already have this season, where they have failed to win each of their first three Ligue 1 games of the season, drawing with Rennes and Lille plus defeat to AS Monaco. They clobbered Slovan Bratislava at home, but they must secure results in their upcoming matches against Brest and Marseille if they are to avoid falling deeper into an early-season hole domestically, and have Champions League matches against Man City and Barcelona coming up before October is over.
Make no mistake — PSG are still absolutely, bang-on title contenders, of course. But right now, the three teams above them are simply in much better form, and if Luis Enrique doesn't get them together now, they could lose their grip on the domestic table, which could very easily translate to Europe. The margins are thin at the top of the Champions League title contenders, and this is simply where PSG have shown they are at right now.
2. Arsenal (Premier League)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 at Napoli W 1-0
Oct. 13 vs. Lille
Oct. 21 at Bayern Munich
Nov. 4 at Slavia Prague
Nov. 24 vs. Borussia Dortmund
Dec. 9 vs. Real Madrid
Jan. 20 at Real Betis
Jan. 27 vs. Sabah
Arsenal have slowly improved their Champions League position each of the last three seasons, culminating with a spot in last year's final, where they were narrowly beaten by PSG on a penalty shootout after a regulation draw.
Pair that with their Premier League championship last season, as well as their strong start to the new campaign, and there is no debating that Arsenal are amongst the very best teams not only in England, but in all of Europe. Their defensive capabilities both with and without the ball are unmatched, and they have just enough attacking firepower to edge out the competition, showing an ability to succeed in both long-term league play as well as short-term knockout action.
Still, there are occasional questions about Arsenal's front line, especially in one-off matches or two-legged ties, where a dip in finishing can hurt teams more than over the length of a full league season. They have a massive hole at left wing, and the combination of Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres, while strong, can be edged out by better attacking squads throughout the top echelon of the Champions League title contenders.
When you play so many matches on a knife edge, things can feel a bit hairy, even when they're not.
1. Barcelona (La Liga)
Date Match Result
Sep. 9 vs. Feyenoord W 5-1
Oct. 13 at Galatasaray
Oct. 20 at PSG
Nov. 3 vs. Aston Villa
Nov. 25 at Sabah
Dec. 8 vs. Man City
Jan. 20 at Sporting CP
Jan. 27 vs. Como
It's incredibly early, of course, but the Barcelona front line is playing like it might be one of the best this generation has ever seen.
By moving Raphinha to the striker position and slotting Anthony Gordon into the left wing, the fluidity of the attacking trio has completely demolished every single opponent, scoring 23 goals and conceding just two.
They also haven't looked quite as susceptible to counter-attacks as they have been in the past under Hansi Flick, a good sign considering their last two exits from the Champions League have come from teams transitioning them to death. This is bolstered by the addition of former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is an exceptional win-now addition to an already monstrously talented squad.
Right now, Barcelona have to be considered the favorites to win the title on current form, squad talent, and coaching acumen, but there's also an exceptional amount of football still to be played.