The Uefa Champions League 2026 begins with a rare storyline already in motion: Paris St-Germain are trying to win the competition for a third straight season, and expert Julien Laurens does not think they will manage it. He believes PSG remain contenders, but says the challenge of three in a row is simply too much, with Arsenal his pick to go all the way.
It is a season launch that carries real weight. The league phase starts on Tuesday, five English teams are involved, and the is widening its highlights coverage across iPlayer, the Sport website and app, One and Two. With the final set for 5 June next year in Madrid, the race for the trophy begins immediately.
Laurens: Arsenal can go the distance
Laurens was clear when asked who he would back to win it.
"I don't think they will do it," he said of PSG's bid for three straight titles. "I think two in a row is already special - three in a row is impossible unless you've got Cristiano Ronaldo in your team, which they don't."
He added that PSG are still likely to go deep in the competition. "I think they'll reach at least the semi-final, but I think going for three in a row is tough," he said.
That gives the wider picture of his thinking. PSG may still be the team to beat, but Laurens is not convinced they can sustain another title run all the way to Madrid. In his view, Arsenal have the balance to do it.
Why Arsenal stand out
Laurens said he would not go all-in on PSG or on the Jose Mourinho-Real Madrid project, preferring Bayern Munich and Arsenal to reach the final. He described those teams as the ones, aside from PSG, who have "deserved to be there the most in the past two seasons."
His final verdict was even stronger. "To win it, I'll go for Arsenal," he said. "They have the best defence in Europe by far and that's what wins you titles."
That is the classic Champions League argument: a team can have quality all over the pitch, but the sides that survive the pressure usually defend best when it matters. Arsenal's run to the final last season, their first since 2005-06, has only strengthened the sense that they are now a genuine force in the competition again.
The other contenders
Guillem Balague also backed the idea that the leading teams should be expected to go far. "As the main axis is there, I expect them to get very close to winning it again," he said. "Those three should be in the semis unless they meet before."
Between them, the verdict is straightforward. PSG remain the benchmark, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are the strongest challengers, and the league phase will be watched closely for signs of who can carry that form through to the last four. For viewers, highlights will be available on Wednesday of Champions League weeks at 22:00 BST on iPlayer, the Sport website and app, while this week a highlights show airs on Two at 22:30 on Thursday.
The opening stage will not decide the trophy, but it will start to separate the contenders from the hopefuls. If Laurens is right, Arsenal have the defence to make this their year, while PSG must prove that a third straight title is not beyond them after all.
