Manchester City knocked out by Real Madrid, Arsenal overcame Bayer Leverkusen, as Mikel Arteta’s side now the favourites to win the Champions League title.
It was a dramatic night in the Champions League as the round of 16 ties came to a close, with mixed fortunes for the English sides. Manchester City were knocked out after a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad against Real Madrid, sealing a heavy 5-1 aggregate loss. Chelsea also bowed out comfortably, beaten 3-0 at home by Paris Saint-Germain to go down 8-2 across the two legs.
Arsenal, though, gave English fans something to cheer about. They stepped up when it mattered, beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on the night to seal a 3-1 aggregate win and book their place in the quarter-finals.
Mikel Arteta's side are the favourites to life their first UEFA Champions League trophy, leading the odds. They finished the group stage undefeated and beat Leverkusen confortably over the two legs. The fixtures somewhat favour them as well, with their first truly challenging fixture likely to come in the semi-finals against Barcelona.
Who is the Betting Favourite to Win the 2026 Champions League?
Arsenal are currently the clear betting favourites to win the 2026 Champions League, sitting top of the outright market ahead of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Man City and PSG. Bookmakers price the North London side around 5/2, implying roughly a 28% chance of Mikel Arteta’s side lifting the trophy this season.
| Champions League Winner | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 5/2 | Bet365 |
| Bayern Munich | 7/2 | Bet365 |
| PSG | 11/2 | Betway |
| Barcelona | 7/1 | AK Bets |
| Real Madrid | 15/2 | Bet365 |
BresBet
Bayern Munich have around a 22% chance of winning the Champions League. They bring plenty of European experience and quality across the squad, but with a tricky draw and strong rivals like Madrid and PSG in the mix, their road to the final won’t be easy.
Paris Saint-Germain have roughly a 15% chance. They are still a potent attacking force, but defensive flaws and tough upcoming ties mean they’ll have to be at their very best to go all the way.
Barcelona sit on roughly a 12% chance. Their attack can be absolutely devastating, but inconsistency in big moments could make life difficult as they try to go all the way.
Real Madrid come in with about a 11% shot at lifting the trophy. Their experience and squad depth are undeniable, but a dip in form recently means they are slightly behind the top contenders.
English Clubs’ Mixed Fortunes in the Round of 16
It has been a night of highs and lows for English sides in the round of 16. Manchester City and Chelsea both bowed out in disappointing fashion, leaving Arsenal as the only Premier League team to progress. The Gunners will now carry the hopes of English football into the quarter-finals after a confident performance over Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool face a tricky challenge of their own, trailing 1-0 to Galatasaray ahead of tomorrow’s second-leg clash. The Reds know they cannot afford any mistakes at Anfield and will need to bring their best attacking and defensive form to turn the tie around.
