The Champions League 2024-25 has begun with a new format with 36 teams across the countries in Europe and each of them have already played three matches. In this new format, the top 12 teams will automatically progress to the knockout stages, with the next 12 clubs moving into a play-off, while the bottom 12 will be eliminated.

In this early phase of this UCL season, all the Premier League clubs are doing extremely well and all of them are yet to be defeated. Interestingly, the top three spots are also occupied by the three of them, namely, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City. Arsenal are sitting at ninth, but they are equal in points with the third-placed Man City.

The defending champions Real Madrid are sitting 12th with six points, whereas last season’s runners-up Dortmund is positioned just one spot ahead of the champions. As of now, the other favourites of this competition, like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and PSG, are also positioned in the safe zone.

However, reportedly the former Man City legend and Lionel Messi’s compatriot Sergio Aguero named three clubs as the favourites for winning the UCL.

According to the Argentine, there will be much more excitement due to the new format. He said, “This is a new Champions League format, I think this year will be full of surprises. This format could help smaller teams to thrive and qualify for the next round. This might also complicate things for bigger clubs to qualify.”

Aguero then mentioned his favourite teams to win the UCL, as he said, “I’ve always felt that the favourite to win the tournament is Manchester City, and then Real Madrid, but I also see a very strong Arsenal team. However, I do hope both Man City and Barca can conquer this edition. Even though I’ve seen City struggle in some Premier matches this season, it is the same club we know, controlling the games from start to finish.”

He also mentioned his anticipation of experiencing something new in the final. He said, “But to tell you my prediction, I feel that this year’s Final will have two teams that no one is expecting.”