'No other outcome' - who will win Champions League? Pundits' predictions

Real Madrid are bidding for their 16th Champions League title

The Champions League is back - and bigger than ever.

Thirty six clubs will now be taking part in a new-look competition - four more than previously - as Real Madrid bid to retain their crown.

Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Celtic are Britain's entrants, with the action kicking off on Tuesday night.

We have asked some of BBC Sport's experts who they think will be lifting the trophy in Munich next year, as well as who will their surprise package be and which player excites them the most.

Don't forget the BBC will show highlights of the Champions League this season.

From 22:00 on the Wednesday of Champions League matchweeks, there will be match-by-match highlights available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, plus a special Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One at 22:40.

There will be also be a highlights show on Thursday on BBC Two at 23:05.

Who will win the Champions League?

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty: The addition of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid’s ranks makes it hard to see beyond a 16th triumph in the tournament for them and a sixth for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Man City will be their closest challengers but Real just have that incredible habit of getting this particular job done even when nowhere near their best and they have been over this course and distance successfully so many times.

BBC Sport's French football expert Julien Laurens:

It is getting a bit boring now because Real Madrid win the Champions League every year - and I see no other outcome again this season.

The Spanish champions have the experience, the savoir faire, the heritage, the money time mentality and the talent.

Imagine keeping the same manager and pretty much the squad (although Toni Kroos is a obviously massive loss) and adding the best player in the world in Kylian Mbappe!

BBC Sport's Spanish football expert Guillem Balague: You imagine the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City in the semi-finals and, once there, there are many things that affect a result (a referee decision, an injury, a mistake) that is not very clever to predict.

But I feel City have got what it takes to win both the domestic long-term competition and the cup competition that is the Champions League.

They are very strong in both boxes and have the maturity to understand what is required in every part of the pitch and every minute of the game

BBC Sport's German football expert Constantin Eckner: Real Madrid won the trophy in May and have since added Mbappe to their attack.

The Spanish powerhouse is once again the team to beat, and they may very well win it for the 16th time.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to their performances until January, because Carlo Ancelotti's side excels in the knockout stages whereas other teams struggle to perform on point in the later months of the season.

As far as challengers to Madrid's throne go, Man City and Bayern Munich have the quality to win the competition.

BBC Sport's Italian football expert Mina Rzouki: I am always loath to bet against Real Madrid, especially considering they are now home to the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe, but I believe this year belongs to Manchester City. With Erling Haaland one of the few players to have benefited from a genuine rest in the summer and a team that remains full of creativity and experience, surely they are the team to beat this year.

Most of the other behemoths have reasons to bet against them. Bayern Munich and Barcelona have a new manager and need time, Arsenal could or should be focusing on the league whereas Manchester City continue to grow and have learned to win in a variety of ways. When even your goalkeeper can deliver assists, I can’t see past Pep Guardiola’s men this season.

Who will be the Champions League's surprise package?

Phil McNulty: Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp or not, there is something about the Champions League and Anfield that gets the juices flowing in this competition, as proved by their record. If they make the knockout stages they will be a handful for anyone.

They will relish their return to what they believe is their rightful stage after a year away and there is still so much class at Arne Slot’s disposal.

The Dutch coach will also enjoy the tactical challenges presented by Europe’s elite tournament.

Julien Laurens: Bayer Leverkusen.

This new mini-league format will make for a more interesting campaign where teams outside of the big ones will have a chance to impress and defy the odds.

I think Leverkusen could be the dark horse of the season.

Xabi Alonso and his players achieved something special last season with an unbeaten domestic season and now the German champions will show all their talents in the biggest competition of all.

Guillem Balague: Inter Milan.

Since they ended Juventus's dominance in 2021, they just won the league again, and have been in Europa league and Champions League finals.

They are another team with a lot of layers and with Lautaro Martinez they have one of the best players around. They did not sell a big name and have added to a strong squad.

Constantin Eckner: My dark horse also hails from the Spanish capital.

Atletico Madrid have made a number of intriguing moves on the transfer market during the summer, adding the likes of Julián Alvarez and Conor Gallagher.

The club have reached the final twice under the tutelage of Diego Simeone. The only concern I have is that Simeone has yet to figure out how his team can be a bit more dominant in possession and thus defend leads better.

Mina Rzouki: Inter Milan

Despite a disappointing performance over the weekend, Inter Milan, like Manchester City and Real Madrid, boast consistency. Their coach Simone Inzaghi, vastly underrated, has constructed a side that play beautiful and fluid football while the mentality they showed last season secured the Scudetto they so richly deserved.

While last year they appear to have concentrated on securing their 20th overall league title, this year they must try to go far in Europe and they have the squad to cause real problems and the tactical balance that is essential in this competition.

With another striker added to the mix in Mehdi Taremi and a coach renowned for excelling in cup competitions, one must be aware of the Italian giants.

Which player are you most looking forward to watching?

Phil McNulty: Having had the appetite whetted at Euro 2024, I’m going for Barcelona’s 17-year-old genius Lamine Yamal. He is made for this stage, as he proved when Spain won in Germany.

If I could pick one more I’d go for another teenager, Real Madrid’s 18-year-old Brazilian Endrick…if he gets regular game time.

Julien Laurens: Lamine Yamal.

There are loads of contenders obviously but the best and most exciting player right now in Europe is the Barcelona winger.

He is still only 17 but his maturity and decision making is out of this world, on top of his pace and technical ability. He is a delight to watch.

He was a star at the Euros with Spain in the summer and will be a star in this Champions League campaign too.

Guillem Balague: Lamine Yamal.

It was only few months back that we were praising moments of magic from him but now he already has three goals and four assists in five games, so his contribution is regular and essential for this Barcelona team that has started so strongly under Hansi Flick.

They recover the ball early in a show of collective effort, they score lots, they create lots too. Fun to watch but Lamine is the player that takes them to another level

Constantin Eckner: I'm interested in seeing Viktor Gyokeres and Sporting's entire attacking line playing in the Champions League.

While most football fans know about Gyokeres, I feel like Sporting are criminally underrated due to the fact that Portugal's Primeira Liga does not attract that much attention internationally.

Mina Rzouki: Fabian Ruiz.

Honestly, we all want to see how Julian Alvarez fares at Atletico Madrid, especially after scoring his first goal over the weekend, but I’m more interested to see what happens with Fabian Ruiz and PSG this season.

Glorious performances for Spain in Euro 2024 had several questioning why Ruiz’s displays for country were so far superior to what he has shown with the French giants. According to El Chiringuito, much of that might have to do with the player’s less than ideal relationship with coach Luis Enrique.

PSG have always preoccupied themselves with scouting attacking brilliance while the midfield has often lacked the balance and brilliance of some of their competitors, such as Manchester City and Real Madrid. Ruiz, if allowed to play with greater consistency, might just be the answer. Against Brest this weekend he reminded us of the technique and magic he can bring to any game, scoring a beauty to help PSG win.

Will we see the Spaniard take control of PSG’s midfield to help navigate the side against a tricky run of European fixtures?