As PSG's surprise victory demonstrated, the new Champions League format lends itself to surprises. The reigning champions had to navigate the knockout phase playoffs last season, after losing three and drawing one of their eight league phase fixtures. Little did we know that Luis Enrique's men were just getting warmed up.
More than a decade has now passed since Enrique orchestrated Barcelona's last UCL triumph, but for 2025/26 they're the obvious favourites behind PSG. Barca took their jaw-dropping semi-final defeat by Inter gallantly at the time, because Hansi Flick had done such an extraordinary job turning the rabble left behind by Xavi into domestic treble-winners, but the Nerazzurri's subsequent humiliation by PSG showed that it was in fact a major opportunity missed.
