UEFA Champions League Returns with PSG Seeking Historic Third Consecutive Title
3 sources across 3 countries · Brazil · Indonesia · United Kingdom
Who reported this
- Folha de S.Paulo
- Tempo English
- BBC News
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
Political lean describes where an outlet sits within the politics of its own country. It is never a position on a single global scale.
Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.
The owner of each outlet is listed as a matter of record, not as a judgement about the outlet.
The UEFA Champions League begins its league phase on Tuesday, with Paris Saint-Germain aiming to win their third consecutive title. This achievement has only been accomplished by Real Madrid in recent history. While PSG seeks a three-peat, several other European giants are positioned as top contenders, including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. The tournament will culminate in a final held in Madrid on June 5 of next year.
Expert opinions on the favorites vary. Julien Laurens believes Arsenal is the most likely winner due to having the best defense in Europe, while predicting Bayern Munich will be the runners-up. Guillem Balague suggests that PSG, Barcelona, and Arsenal are likely to reach the semifinals, noting that Barcelona is currently performing at a high level. Meanwhile, Real Madrid enters the competition under the management of Jose Mourinho, though some experts express skepticism regarding the current project.
Squad changes have marked the lead-up to the tournament. PSG has reformulated its attack with additions such as Ferran Torres, Maghnes Akliouche, and Mika Godts. Barcelona has strengthened its midfield with Rodri and added attackers like Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Gabriel Jesus. Manchester City has undergone a significant transition, with Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola as manager and several changes to the midfield. Arsenal has reinforced its defense with Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimarães, though the team has lost attacking depth following the departures of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard.
Key players to watch include Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, who is operating in a number 10 role, and PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is considered a Ballon d'Or contender. Additionally, Nico Paz is highlighted as a talent to watch for Como in their first Champions League campaign under manager Cesc Fabregas.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- The center-left framing emphasizes expert projections and statistical favorites, highlighting the potential for Arsenal to break PSG's dominance.
- Centre
- The center framing focuses on the tactical details of squad reformulations and the historical context of the clubs involved.
Sources
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.