Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid, Champions League, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid, Champions League, Football
Carlo Ancelotti has named his favourites for this season's Champions League, including just one Premier League team.
The 2025/26 Champions League campaign is three games in as the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have started very strongly this time around.
Real, PSG and Arsenal have won their opening three fixtures in the Champions League - as have Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
Brazil boss Ancelotti now watches the Champions League from afar, having dominated the competition - winning it five times during his legendary managerial career.
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Ahead of the Champions League resuming next week, Ancelotti was asked to name his favourites for the competition and singled out four clubs.
He sided with his olds teams Real, PSG and Bayern, not to mention Manchester City, who have won two of their three opening European clashes this season.
"Seen from the other side of the world, the Champions League has the usual favourites: Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich," the veteran Italian manager told Tutto Sport.
"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's not turning out that way. We have to accept that."
Ancelotti failed to name Liverpool, who returned to winning ways following their victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Slot's side were dumped out of last season's competition by PSG, who are the holders following their emphatic triumph over Inter.
Given their dominance last season, they will be the team to beat.
Luis Enrique's side sits at the top of the Champions League standings after three games.
Ancelotti name-dropped Pep Guardiola's Man City, too, who won the competition in their treble-winning campaign in 2023.
Real will also be in the mix considering their history in the Champions League.
The Spanish giants triumphed in the 2023/24 season, securing their 15th European title.