This year’s Uefa Champions League feels more open than it has in quite a while, with any number of teams fancying their chances of lifting the trophy at the end of May.
The usual suspects like Barcelona, Liverpool and Real Madrid are among the bookmakers’ favourites to win it, but there are several underdogs who have the potential to reach the final.
We’ve picked out the four clubs who could spring a surprise in the knockout rounds and upset the odds this season.
Champions League dark horses in 2024/25:
Aston Villa
This year’s Premier League campaign has not gone as well as the previous one for Aston Villa, who sit 10th having won one of their last seven games. But their European adventure has been one to remember thus far.
The Midlands outfit won five of their eight league phase matches, including a famous victory over Bayern Munich, to finish eighth in the table and avoid the banana skin that is the play-off round.
They now face Club Brugge, the team who occupied the last place qualification place on 11 points – and beat the Villans in November. The Belgians represent a tricky tie following their convincing win over Europa League holders Atalanta in the play-offs.
Should Villa progress they could potentially face English rivals Liverpool in the quarters. Arsenal might be waiting in the semi-finals, as could Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid or PSV Eindhoven. They have unquestionably landed in the tougher bracket.
One of the biggest challenges facing them this season has been squad depth, but they reinforced in January, signing Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi to boost their chances of a deep run. But Unai Emery is no stranger to them in European competition.
Atletico Madrid
One could argue Atletico Madrid look as good as they have ever done under Diego Simeone. Second in LaLiga, one point behind leaders Barcelona, Los Colchoneros have conceded just 16 goals this season, by far the fewest of any team in Spain.
Their attack also possesses the capability of hurting any team in the world right, thanks in large part to the summer signing of Julian Alvarez. The ex-Man City forward has been in terrific form this season, registering 21 goals in all competitions.
After winning six of their league phase matches, they now take on neighbours Real in the latest installment of their storied rivalry in the Champions League. It’s a painful fact for them that they have never been able to overcome Los Blancos in this competition.
Atleti were dropped into the tougher bracket, but if they could finally get one over Carlo Ancelotti’s men they would be galvanised by a feeling of invincibility and fear no one.
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Bayer Leverkusen
Despite the fact they are trailing Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen are playing just about as well as they did last season. And should be considered favourites to beat the league leaders over two legs in the round of 16.
Die Schwartzroten pummelled Bayern when the two sides met less than a month ago. The goalless scoreline masked the reality of the tie, which was; Vincent Kompany’s team were incredibly lucky to come away with a point on the road. The hosts created a plethora of chances, but the finishing gods were not on their side that day, while the visitors were toothless in attack.
Leverkusen possess quality all over the pitch, but in Florian Wirtz they have an X-factor that could be crucial in the Champions League. Star striker Victor Boniface’s return from injury in recent weeks is a timely boost.
Beat their German foes and either Feyenoord or Inter Milan await in the next round, while Benfica, Barcelona, Dortmund and Lille are on the other side of the draw. Their path to the final, which will be hosted in Munich of all places, is by no means straightforward, but it is certainly preferable to the other bracket.
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG may have scraped through the league phase, but Luis Enrique’s side are not to be underestimated. After winning just one of their opening five games, they won out to finish 15th in the table before destroying fellow French outfit Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-off round.
The Parisians were handed the toughest schedule of any side, facing the likes of Arsenal, Atletico, Bayern and Man City, but finished up with the sixth-best expected goal difference (+9.3xGD). Their attack is really beginning to hum, with Ousmane Dembele in exceptional form, while Kvicha Kvaratskhelia was a huge addition in January.
Their potential route to the final is no kinder to them than the league phase draw, though. PSG, who take on Liverpool in the round of 16, are in the same bracket as possible quarter-final opponents Villa, meaning one of Arsenal, Atletico, Real or PSV await in the semis.
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