2026-27 Champions League predictions and odds: Bayern Munich poised to end PSG's reign

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2026-27 Champions League betting tips & predictions

Best bets

Bayern Munich to win Champions League
3pts 6-1 general

Manchester City to win Champions League
2pts 9-1 general

Como to be top Serie A team in league stage
1pt 7-1 bet365

2026-27 Champions League preview 

Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended their Champions League title last season, albeit by a massively reduced winning distance.

The Parisian powerhouses had crushed Inter 5-0 in the 2024-25 final but they were taken to penalties by a dogged Arsenal side in Budapest at the end of May.

The Gunners topped the league-stage table, winning all eight of their matches, and were rewarded with a comfortable path to the final.

Mikel Arteta's men beat Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 before edging past Sporting and Atletico Madrid, who upset Barcelona in the quarter-finals, to set up their clash with PSG.

The other half of the draw featured a series of heavyweight ties. PSG hammered Chelsea and Liverpool, while Real Madrid beat out-of-sorts Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate.

But Real's run came to an end with a 6-4 aggregate quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich, who kicked off the semis as trophy favourites – despite facing holders PSG.

The market rated Bayern highly and, after losing 5-4 in an extraordinary game in Paris, they were just 4-7 to win the second leg in 90 minutes.

Vincent Kompany's side were held to a 1-1 draw by PSG in Munich, going out 6-5 on aggregate, but they have the class and consistency to lift the trophy this season.

Last season's semi-final between Bayern Munich and PSG was one of the greatest in the history of the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty Images

Bundesliga record-breakers ready to rule Europe

In 2023-24, Bayern knocked out Arsenal in the quarter-finals and were leading Real 3-2 on aggregate until the 88th minute of their semi-final second leg.

A year later, their injury-hit side lost narrowly to Inter in the last eight and they barely put a foot wrong in Europe last season.

Bayern finished second in the league phase, winning seven of their eight matches including a 3-1 home victory over Chelsea and a 2-1 success away to PSG.

They walloped Atalanta 6-1 and 4-1 in the round of 16 and, like PSG, benefit from playing in a less competitive domestic league.

Bayern won the Bundesliga title by 16 points last season, scoring a record 122 goals in 34 matches, and are 1-16 to top the table again.

That gives them a significant advantage over the Premier League contenders as well as Barcelona and Real Madrid, who should be vying for the title in La Liga.

Bayern cannot match the spending power of top English clubs but Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise form a world-class attacking unit.

Ismael Saibari, who starred for Morocco at the World Cup, and young Germany international Nathaniel Brown are exciting summer signings.

The Bavarians last won the Champions League in 2019-20, beating PSG in the final. In six subsequent seasons, they have reached at least the quarter-finals and Bayern backers should get another good run for their money.

Big-spending City primed to improve underwhelming record

PSG's success last term was not as emphatic as their maiden triumph in 2024-25. 

They were flattered by the 4-0 aggregate scoreline against Liverpool in the last eight while the Bayern tie could have gone either way and PSG's only goal in 120 minutes in the final came from the penalty spot.

Luis Enrique's men have made a sloppy start to their Ligue 1 campaign, scraping draws at Rennes and Lille before a 2-1 home defeat to Monaco.

They could go close to a hat-trick but Manchester City look a more appealing selection.

For all their domestic dominance under Pep Guardiola, City had an underwhelming Champions League record.

They have won the tournament once in 15 attempts, losing to Real Madrid in the playoff round in 2024-25 and the last 16 in 2025-26.

Guardiola's tinkering did not help City in the expanded league format but Enzo Maresca must take every game seriously as he bids to establish himself at the Etihad Stadium.

Maresca won the Conference League and Club World Cup during his brief spell at Chelsea and has been generously supported in the summer transfer market.

City's squad overhaul started in previous windows, with signings such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rayan Cherki, Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo, and they could be the pick of the English challengers.

Gunners may lack attacking depth to go one better

Arsenal's defensive approach was an anomaly in last season's Champions League. 

The Gunners' seven knockout ties produced a total of ten goals – only one more than PSG and Bayern scored in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Arsenal were unable to capitalise fully on a dream draw in Europe and their summer pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez fizzled out, leaving them short of attacking magic.

Barcelona were the leading scorers in the Champions League two seasons ago and hammered Newcastle 7-2 in the home leg of their last-16 tie last term.

But they look short enough given their patchy away performances – they were stuffed 3-0 by Maresca's Chelsea in late November – and there is not much juice in Real's odds under Jose Mourinho.

Liverpool's Andoni Iraola and Manchester United's Michael Carrick are newcomers to the Champions League and Aston Villa lost the spine of their Europa League-winning team over the summer. 

Como manager Cesc FabregasCredit: DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Como's compatriots could be overshadowed

Another managerial debutant is Cesc Fabregas, who led his stylish Como side to fourth place in Serie A last season.

Only champions Inter outscored Como and brilliant young Argentinian playmaker Nico Paz has made his loan move from Real Madrid permanent.

Como face PSG at home and Barcelona away in their final two league fixtures. However, they should rack up plenty of points against RB Leipzig, Feyenoord, Manchester United, Lens, AEK Athens and Real Betis so they are worth chancing to finish as the top Serie A club.

Inter, Roma and Napoli are Como's rivals in this market and Fabregas's progressive side dominated last month's 2-1 league win away to Napoli.

2026-27 Champions League betting odds

Sign up with bet365 to bet on the Champions League. Here are the latest outright odds:

33-1 bar - each-way 1/2 1,2. Odds correct at time of publishing

Want more top football betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport's tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.

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