Real Madrid won their 15th Champions League title at Wembley with a 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund. Goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior ensured Los Blancos extended their record for the most wins of the coveted trophy, despite Dortmund’s relentless pressure that at times looked as if it would cause an upset to a side so dominant in La Liga betting as well as in Europe.
Indeed, Madrid never seem to cave under the weight of the occasion, and even when right up against it they demonstrated why they are the best side in club football at the momentum. When you consider that Carlo Ancelotti will also add the firepower of Kylian Mbappe to the ranks at the Santiago Bernabéu, it’s hard to look past anyone else winning next season’s reformatted competition.
The 2024-25 campaign will certainly be strange in Europe given the new Swiss-style format in the group stages, but even that added unpredictability might not be enough to prevent the Spanish champions from retaining their title.
In this article, we assess some of the other contenders for this season’s Champions League and see if they have what it takes to come up against the might of Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich have long been the force in German football, but after missing out on the Bundesliga for the first time since 2013, attention may turn to the Champions League as the Bavarians pursue a seventh European crown.
Bayer Leverkusen beat them to the title last year and while Harry Kane managed to score 44 goals in all competitions, it wasn’t enough for Thomas Tuchel’s men. However, this time around the squad has gained more cohesion and if they secure the signing of Michael Olise, they have added firepower to support the England captain.
Bayern are perennial contenders in the Champions League, often reaching at least the semi-final and it will be interesting to see if they can go a step further next season.
Manchester City
In what could be Pep Guardiola’s last season at Manchester City, the Spaniard will want to finish his time in England with another European trophy, having finally ended the Citizens’ wait for Champions League supremacy when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in 2023.
Rodri’s strike also ensured City won the treble, and while they captured the Premier League again last season, Guardiola will be hoping for a better continental performance – having lost to Madrid on penalties in last season’s quarter-finals.
The new format will suit City, who often blow sides out of the water at the Etihad Stadium, the question is then if they can get over the line if they meet Madrid for a fourth successive season.
Barcelona
The outsiders in many people’s opinions, Barcelona’s appointment of Hansi Flick gives them a massive advantage in the Champions League, but the question of who they have in their squad will define if they can compete with Madrid both domestically and in Europe.
Flick guided Bayern to a treble and their last Champions League win in 2020, and after reuniting with goal scorer Robert Lewandowski in Catalonia, expect the Polish international to consistently find the back of the net next term.
Add to this the youthful exuberance of Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal and Barca have a fearless side that could cause an upset in next season’s Champions League.
