UCL Power Rankings: Real Madrid and Man City Lead Top 5 Favourites for the Title

The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League has kicked off, with fans witnessing some exciting results after just two matchdays and the favourites are already hitting top gear.

Manchester United are already having a season to forget and their woes continued in the UCL after they suffered an embarrassing 3-2 loss at Old Trafford to Galatasaray.

On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain produced one of the biggest shockers in the group stages after they were pummelled by Newcastle United 4-1 at St. James Park - the Magpies' first UCL home game in 20 years.

So far, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and defending champions, Manchester City are just a few teams who have maintained a 100 per cent winning record in this season’s competition after two games so far.

Champions League: Onana's costly mistakes, Bellingham shines and the 2 talking points from Wednesday

Football

Sports Brief, alongside GOAL, has ranked the five favourite teams for the 2023/24 Champions League title after the second week of action in Europe’s elite club competition wrapped up on Wednesday.

5. Inter Milan (Italy)

Last season's runners-up are looking good after a hard-earned point away at Real Sociedad was followed by a magnificent 1-0 triumph over Benfica, courtesy of Marcus Thuram.

With Lautaro Martinez in fine form, Simone Inzaghi will be quietly confident of securing a place in the last 16 and also going on to win the tournament, which eluded them last season.

4. Bayern Munich (Germany)

Bayern Munich are yet to be convincing in Group A, only beating Manchester United by the odd goal in seven despite dominating at the Allianz Arena before coming from behind to win against FC Copenhagen.

However, at the end of the day, the Bavarians sit atop the table with a maximum harvest of six points and will fancy their prospects of becoming European champions again.

3. Barcelona (Spain)

Barcelona didn't have it all their own way at the Dragao Stadium, with the injury to Robert Lewandowski not helping matters.

However, Ferran Torres scored the game's sole goal after taking advantage of some sloppy FC Porto defence and the Catalans will now be immensely confident of topping one of the tournament's lightest groups and winning their first Champions League title since 2015.

2. Real Madrid (Spain)

Real Madrid are already well on course to reach the last 16 after a hard-fought 3-2 win against Napoli to maintain their 100 per cent winning run in this season’s Champions League.

The addition of Jude Bellingham to the already star-studded squad has propelled Los Blancos to become one of the favourites for the title owing to the Englishman’s phenomenal contribution to the team.

1. Manchester City (England)

Manchester City haven't been at their best this season, but Pep Guardiola's men haven't had to be.

Despite being drawn into the competition's weakest group, the incumbent champions are already well on their way to qualification, having won 3-1 against Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig.

Man City should be the first team to reach the final 16 and are the overwhelming favourites to retain their Champions League title.

Enrique defends PSG’s tactics despite loss

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on PSG's embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Champions League still leaving a sour taste in the mouth of fans, but not manager, Luis Enrique.

The Spaniard has been criticised for the tactics he deployed in sticking with a formation using Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani, Goncalo Ramos, and Kylian Mbappe up front.

Enrique has now come out to defend himself and his tactics during the Newcastle clash after deploying a 4-2-4 formation which was attack-heavy but also exposed his defence.