scorecard
  1. Home
  2. sports
  3. news
  4. POWER RANKED: All 32 teams in the Champions League after the competition's opening day

POWER RANKED: All 32 teams in the Champions League after the competition's opening day

Sam Cooper   

POWER RANKED: All 32 teams in the Champions League after the competition's opening day
Chelsea is the reigning champion having beaten Manchester City in last year's finalJohn Berry/Getty Images, Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images and John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
  • The UEFA Champions League is back with the first round of matches completed this week.
  • Insider ranked the 32 teams in the competition by likelihood of winning it all, based on bookmakers odds.
  • Despite drawing on opening day, Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain remain favorites for the trophy.

32. FC Sheriff

32. FC Sheriff
It is the club's first appearance in the competition since 2011      Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 2000/1

One thing to know: Adama Traoré, who joined Sheriff in February, played a crucial role in the club's qualification to the Champions League group stages.

The Malian was the club's top scorer in the qualifying phase and has netted four goals in eight games including two as part of a 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb.

He also scored on the opening night in Sheriff's 2-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

31. Club Brugge

31. Club Brugge
Noa Lang is the joint-top assist-getter in the league      Broer van de Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finished third in Group F

Winners odds: 1500/1

One thing to know: No player has assisted more goals in the Belgian First Division this year than Brugge winger Noa Lang.

The 22-year-old has been on hand to provide four assists so far, which is the joint highest in the league.

On the opening day, Brugge held giants Paris Saint-Germain to a 1-1 draw.

30. Dynamo Kyiv

30. Dynamo Kyiv
Dynamo Kyiv is in a group with Bayern, Barcelona and Benfica      Baris Acarli - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finished third in Group G

Winners odds: 1500/1

One thing to know: Dynamo Kyiv won its first European title in 1975 with the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

The Ukrainian side played out a 0-0 draw with Porto on the opening day.

29. Malmo

29. Malmo
Anel Ahmedhodzic started his career at Nottingham Forest      David Lidstrom - Ostersunds FK/Ostersunds FK via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 1000/1

One thing to know: Having started his senior career at Nottingham Forest, Swedish center back Anel Ahmedhodzic returned to his hometown club Malmo in 2019 and has missed just three league games so far.

The highly rated 22-year-old, who is on the radar of the likes of Manchester United, featured heavily in Malmo's qualifying campaign, helping his side navigate past the likes of Rangers to reach the group stages.

A 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the opening round was likely a sign of things to come in a group that also features holders Chelsea, and Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg.

28. Besiktas

28. Besiktas
Miralem Pjanic joined the club from Barcelona in the summer      BSR Agency/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Knocked out in the qualifying rounds

Winners odds: 1000/1

One thing to know: The club's record appearance holder is Rıza Çalımbay who played 602 games for the club between 1980 and 1996.

Çalımbay is now the manager of Turkish club Sivasspor.

The Turkish side lost 2-1 to Erling Haaland's Dortmund in its first match of the 2021 tournament.

27. Shakhtar Donetsk

27. Shakhtar Donetsk
Roberto De Zerbi has been in charge since May      Vyacheslav Madiyevskyi/ Ukrinform/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 1000/1

One thing to know: The club has not played at its home ground, the Donbass Arena, since 2014 due to the ongoing conflict in the east of Ukraine.

As a result, the team plays its matches at the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv.

On opening night, the men in orange and black were humbled by minnows Sheriff.

26. Sporting Lisbon

26. Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon plays its football at the José Alvalade Stadium      Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 1000/1

One thing to know: Sporting Lisbon has won the Primera Liga 19 times, the third most in history behind Benfica and Porto, winning for the first time in 20 years last season.

The Portuguese champions were on the end of a heavy defeat in the opening week, however, losing 5-1 to Dutch league winners Ajax.

25. Zenit St Petersburg

25. Zenit St Petersburg
Zenit begins its campaign against Chelsea      DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finished fourth in Group F

Winners odds: 500/1

One thing to know: Zenit first qualified for the Champions League in 2008, but has never made it past the round of 16.

On Tuesday, the side lost 1-0 away to Chelsea in London.

24. Salzburg

24. Salzburg
Maximilian Wober is a center back for Salzburg      Javier Montano/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finished third in Group A

Winners odds: 250/1

One thing to know: Salzburg has started the season in perfect form having won all seven of its opening games. During that time, the team has scored a league high of 19 goals and conceded a league low of four.

Salzburg drew 1-1 with Sevilla on the opening day after an eventful match which included four penalties in the first half.

23. Young Boys

23. Young Boys
The team has won two, drawn two and lost one of its five opening league matches      Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Knocked out in the qualifying rounds

Winners odds: 250/1

One thing to know: The team is named Young Boys in response to the Basel club Old Boys and was founded in 1898 by high school students Max Schwab, Hermann Bauer, Franz Kehrli and Oskar Schwab.

A last-gasp goal from Theoson-Jordan Siebatcheu gave Young Boys a 2-1 win against Manchester United in the first game of the season.

22. Benfica

22. Benfica
Benfica is managed by Jorge Jesus      CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Knocked out in the qualifying rounds

Winners odds: 200/1

One thing to know: One of the greatest players of all time, Eusébio, played 301 times for Benfica and scored 317 goals.

Nicknamed the Black Panther, Eusébio died in 2014 at the age of 71.

Benfica drew 0-0 on opening day, but face an uphill battle to make the last 16 with both Bayern and Barcelona in the same group.

21. Villarreal

21. Villarreal
Villarreal is currently 13th in La Liga      David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 200/1

One thing to know: Owing to its yellow jerseys, the club is nicknamed the Yellow Submarine and up until 2001, the side's anthem was the song by the Beatles.

Villarreal drew 2-2 with Italy's Atalanta on matchday one.

20. Lille

20. Lille
Lille shocked PSG to win the Ligue 1 title last season      Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 150/1

One thing to know: Lille has won Ligue 1 twice in the past 10 years but before that, the club had gone 57 years without winning the title.

The French sided kicked of the Champions League this season with a boring 0-0 with Wolfsburg of Germany.

19. Porto

19. Porto
Pepe spent a decade at Real Madrid      Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Quarterfinals (Knocked out by Chelsea)

Winners odds: 100/1

One thing to know: Porto defender Pepe once said he had no desire to play football anymore having given away a late penalty and got himself sent off during Real Madrid's defeat against Getafe.

Porto drew 0-0 with Diego Simeone's Spanish champion Atletico Madrid this week.

18. Wolfsburg

18. Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg is alongside Salzburg, Sevilla and Lille      Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 100/1

One thing to know: When the club first formed in 1945, the coach had 10 green jerseys and bed sheets donated by the public were sewn together to make the white shorts.

17. RB Leipzig

17. RB Leipzig
American Jesse Marsch has been Leipzig coach since April      Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Round of 16 (Knocked out by Liverpool)

Winners odds: 100/1

One thing to know: Since joining Leipzig from Manchester City in 2020, Spanish full back Angeliño has become a key member of the German team.

In 26 league games last season, he scored four goals and registered six assists.

Leipzig's campaign got off to a shaky start, losing 6-3 to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

16. AC Milan

16. AC Milan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rolled back the years since returning to Milan      Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Did not feature

Winners odds: 100/1

One thing to know: AC Milan is one of the most successful teams in Champions League history having won the tournament seven times but before this season, the Italian giant had gone seven years without qualifying.

In a replay of 2005 final, Milan lost to Liverpool on the opening day, going down 3-2.

15. Sevilla

15. Sevilla
Erik Lamela moved to Sevilla from Spurs in the summer      Javier Montano/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Round of 16 (Knocked out by Borussia Dortmund)

Winners odds: 66/1

One thing to know: Since swapping Tottenham for Sevilla, Erik Lamela has hit rich goal scoring form. In his three appearances, all from the bench, he has scored three goals including two during his debut against Rayo Vallecano.

Famed for success in the second tier Europa League, a 1-1 draw started Sevilla's campaign in the Champions League this year.

14. Ajax

14. Ajax
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag signed a new contract in the summer following interest from Tottenham      ANP Sport via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finished third in Group D

Winners odds: 66/1

One thing to know: Ajax has won four European Cups with its last success coming back in 1995.

A thumping 5-1 win, featuring four goals from Sebastian Haller, opened Ajax's account for 2021.

13. Inter Milan

13. Inter Milan
Lautaro Martinez has been linked with a move to Barcelona      MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finished fourth in Group B

Winners odds: 66/1

One thing to know: Inter's title win last season was the club's first for 11 years. It has won a total of 19, the second best in history behind Juventus.

Inter, now without last season's star, Romelu Lukaku, lost a tight game to Real Madrid on opening day.

12. Atalanta

12. Atalanta
Remo Freuler has been at the club since 2016      Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Round of 16 (Knocked out by Real Madrid)

Winners odds: 50/1

One thing to know: In the club's first ever appearance in the competition, Atalanta reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out by PSG in 2020.

In that season, one of its matches against Valencia, was widely credited as helping rapidly increase the spread of the coronavirus in Europe.

11. Borussia Dortmund

11. Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund reached the final in 2013      Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Quarterfinals (Knocked out by Manchester City)

Winners odds: 33/1

One thing to know: Dortmund reached the final in 2013 under the management of Jurgen Klopp but was defeated by bitter rival Bayern Munich.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben scored the winner in the 89th minute to break Dortmund hearts.

10. Barcelona

10. Barcelona
Depay was one of many summer signings at Barcelona      Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Round of 16 (Knocked out by PSG)

Winners odds: 33/1

One thing to know: Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman was the club's hero in 1992 when he scored the winner during the European Cup final. With the score tied at 0-0, the game between Barcelona and Sampdoria went into extra time and looked like it was heading for penalties.

Then, in the 112th minute, Koeman struck a free kick into the net and won the game for the Spanish side.

In its first Champions League game without Messi in over a decade, Barca fell 3-0 to 2020 champion Bayern Munich.

9. Atlético Madrid

9. Atlético Madrid
Simeone has turned Atletico into title contenders      Eric Alonso/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Round of 16 (Knocked out by Chelsea)

Winners odds: 28/1

One thing to know: Diego Simeone is the longest serving manager in Europe's top five leagues having been at Atlético since 2011.

Before becoming the manager, Simeone played for the Madrid club between 1994 and 1997 and then again between 2003 and 2005.

8. Juventus

8. Juventus
Giorgio Chiellini won the European Championship with Italy in the summer      Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Round of 16 (Knocked out by Porto)

Winners odds: 25/1

One thing to know: Manager Massimiliano Allegri has returned to the club after a two-year break. In his first stint, the 54-year-old Italian won five consecutive Serie A titles

7. Real Madrid

7. Real Madrid
Benzema has stepped up in the absence of Sergio Ramos      Denis Doyle/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Semifinals (Knocked out by Chelsea)

Winners odds: 14/1

One thing to know: Madrid is the most decorated club in the history of the competition. When the European Cup first started in 1956, the Spanish giant won the trophy five years in a row.

In the first final, Madrid came from behind to beat Stade de Reims thanks to goals from Alfredo Di Stéfano, Marquitos and two goals from Héctor Rial.

6. Manchester United

6. Manchester United
Ronaldo returned to the club this summer      Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Finish third in Group H

Winners odds: 12/1

One thing to know: Manchester United has won the Champions League three times but has not reached a final since 2011.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team were roundly defeated 3-1 by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. After the match, the United manager said the Spanish side was the best he had ever faced.

Even with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, United lost in dramatic fashion to Young Boys in Switzerland on the first day of matches.

5. Liverpool

5. Liverpool
Salah has been Liverpool's top scorer for the past four seasons      Michael Regan/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Quarterfinals (knocked out by Real Madrid)

Winners odds: 8/1

One thing to know: Virgil van Dijk's return from injury will have manager Jurgen Klopp hoping his side can recapture the form that led to the Premier League title in 2020 but another player crucial to that is Mohamed Salah.

At the weekend, he scored his 100th Premier League goal and only Cristiano Ronaldo scored more Champions League goals than Salah during the 2017–18 season.

4. Chelsea

4. Chelsea
Lukaku returned to the club he left in 2014      Michael Regan/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Winners

Winners odds: 13/2

One thing to know: Romelu Lukaku made a big money move back to Stamford Bridge in the summer having left the club in 2014.

The Belgian returns as a different player and one that Chelsea needed.

At Inter Milan, he excelled, scoring 47 goals in 72 appearances, and it is this kind of clinical finishing in front of goal that coach Thomas Tuchel will be eager to see more of.

3. Bayern Munich

3. Bayern Munich
Julian Nagelsmann is new to Munich      A. Hassenstein/Getty Images for FC Bayern

20/21 finish: Quarterfinals (knocked out by PSG)

Winners odds: 6/1

One thing to know: Despite reports in the summer he was looking for a new challenge elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski has stayed with the German giants and will be key if Bayern has aspirations of winning Europe's top prize.

The Polish striker's goal scoring feats broke many records during the 20/21 season including a record that had lasted for 49 years.

He broke Gerd Müller's tally of 40 goals in a single season and finished the campaign with 41 league goals.

2. Manchester City

2. Manchester City
Guardiola has won the competition twice but not since 2011      Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

20/21 finish: Final (defeated by Chelsea)

Winners odds: 7/2

One thing to know: The club is one of the biggest spenders in world football and has spent more than $1.5 billion since 2015.

The biggest signing during that time was Jack Grealish who was signed this summer from Aston Villa for $146 million.

Pep Guardiola's team scored six on the opening day, but conceded three.

1. Paris Saint-Germain

1. Paris Saint-Germain
Messi could be the key to PSG's Champions League dreams      ANP Sport via Getty Images

20/21 finish: Semifinals (knocked out by Manchester City)

Winners odds: 7/2

One thing to know: If Lionel Messi can't lift PSG's Champions League curse then no one can, right?

The Barcelona legend swapped Spain for France in this summer's biggest shock transfer and he may prove to be the final piece of the puzzle for PSG and its relentless pursuit of Europe's biggest competition.

Messi himself has won four Champions League trophies but has not been successful since 2015.

Even with a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge on opening day, PSG remain favorites to win in 2022.

READ MORE ARTICLES ON

Advertisement