Every Team Left in the Champions League – Ranked

Karim Benzema, Fernandinho
The Champions League returns in a knockout tournament format | Pool/Getty Images

It’s August. You know what that means.

Nope, no getting up at 3am to watch your club in a largely pointless preseason tournament before the 2020/21 season kicks off in a few days. Thanks to the current ongoing pandemic, what remains of the Champions League is still yet to be played, and while it’s physically exhausting for football teams and likely to affect the upcoming season, it makes for a great summer for fans.

The Champions League came to a halt just over halfway through the round of 16, back in the Before Times, and the quarter-finals can’t commence until the rest of the second-leg ties are played out. RB Leipzig and Atalanta have already played their second legs and booked their place into the makeshift knockout tournament in Lisbon, as have Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

The knockout tournament is an unusual format and a nice break away from the norm – and will no doubt shake up the competition. Teams have to play less, meaning the chance to win Europe’s elite prize is technically easier than ever before…or meaning that one single mistake can be a team’s undoing.

With the knockout tournament edging closer, here’s every team left in the Champions League ranked by how likely they are to win the competition.

Olivier Giroud
Chelsea need a miracle against Bayern Munich | Pool/Getty Images

They’re already trailing 3-0 to the joint favourites to win the competition. To say Chelsea face an uphill battle when they visit Germany for the second leg would be an understatement.

Consider that those three Bayern goals are all away goals, too, it’s probably beyond Frank Lampard’s side.

Timo Werner
RB Leipzig are without talisman Timo Werner, who has signed for Chelsea | Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Leipzig impressed all viewers by dumping out Tottenham in the round of 16 before play was stopped, comprehensively dispatching them with an aggregate score of 4-0.

They face Atletico Madrid in the quarter final and, while the game proves to be a spectacle for the fans of the tactical side of the game, the loss of Timo Werner in attack will significantly reduce the threat of Die Roten Bullen.

Before his sale, they had a better chance. Now? Not so much.

Lyon missed out on winning the French Cup against PSG
Lyon missed out on winning the French Cup against PSG | FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

An early goal on Friday night gave the impression that Lyon could cruise past a spent Juve side into the last eight. That didn’t happen, because Cristiano Ronaldo exists.

They did make it through though, a brilliant rearguard effort proving just enough, and now they’ll face…Manchester City.

Unfortunate draw for the French.

Atalanta v Valencia CF - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg
Atalanta are the dark horse heading into the Champions League | Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Atalanta have shocked the footballing world with their efforts this season. They achieved a commendable third-placed finish in Serie A and have already booked their place in the Champions League quarter final with victory over Valencia before the lockdown.

Unfortunately for them, awaiting them in the next round are Paris Saint-Germain. While the French champions don’t boast a particularly great Champions League record, they are likely to do the job over one leg now that Josip Ilicic is unavailable.

It’ll be a short stay in Portugal for the Italian side.

Matteo Politano
Napoli must take advantage of a poor Barcelona side | Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images

Napoli’s seventh place in Serie A was hugely disappointing, but their Coppa Italia triumph proved that they can do well in a mini-knockout tournament. They visit Catalunya for their second leg against Barcelona with the score locked at 1-1, and their hosts’ poor form since the restart will have them rubbing their hands together.

Whoever advances, however, must face Chelsea or Bayern Munich. Bayern are favourites to win the competition, and if Chelsea beat Bayern…well. Scary.

Deportivo Alaves v FC Barcelona  - La Liga
A Champions League looks unlikely for La Blaugrana | Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Despite them looking the poorest they have in recent memory, Barcelona have invaluable experience in the Champions League…and Lionel Messi.

Even if they do beat Napoli, their fate will be the same in the next round, which is why they only sit once place above their Italian opponents.

Paris Saint Germain v AS Saint Etienne - French Cup Final
A Champions League win would secure a treble for PSG | Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Les Parisiens have been drawn against Atalanta in the quarter final and, while that won’t be a walk in the park, it would be a sizeable upset if PSG didn’t go through.

Their ventures among Europe’s elite have been disappointing, but with the firepower they have, now is as good a time as ever to turn their fortunes around. A win puts them just two games away from lifting the Champions League.

Club Atletico de Madrid v Real Sociedad  - La Liga
Atletico Madrid have the chance to make good on an otherwise poor season | Denis Doyle/Getty Images

They’ve struggled in recent years but, having experienced a Champions League final in 2016, Atletico have a strong chance of making it there again this season.

They finished 17 points behind La Liga champions Real Madrid this season, but if they can draw a line under that and go again here, they could be the surprise package.

A lack of Timo Werner is going to hurt RB Leipzig in their quarter-final, and Diego Simeone will ensure his side give nothing away over the course of 90 minutes. They could sneak their way through into the latter stages, with the games being down to one leg.

Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus
Manchester City must make good on their chance to win the Champions League | Pool/Getty Images

If Manchester City are ever going to win the Champions League, surely now is the greatest chance they will get.

Pep Guardiola in charge, Real Madrid dispatched, and only three games separating them from the trophy with some questionable competition in their way.

There’s a reason they’re joint favourites to win it alongside Bayern Munich, but they have to live up to the hype. Now more than ever.

Robert Lewandowski
Bayern are favourites to win the Champions League | Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Since Hansi Flick took permanent charge of Bayern Munich, they’ve looked virtually flawless.

They stormed to an eighth consecutive Bundesliga title and barely broke a sweat doing so following the restart, and already hold a 3-0 lead over Chelsea. They look light years ahead of both Napoli and Barça, their quarter-final opponents.

A Manchester City/Bayern Munich semi-final is a real possibility and would make for incredible viewing, but the experience and cutting edge quality of Die Roten is likely to see them through to the final. Who would they face there? Who cares. They’re the best team there.

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