European football has always been a test of strength and endurance for English clubs. In the 2025/26 season, a record nine Premier League sides will compete in European events. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur enter the UEFA Champions League, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest join the UEFA Europa League, while Crystal Palace steps into the UEFA Conference League. 

However, the question arises. Does such a busy schedule lift clubs to new heights, or does it hold them back in their home league race? History shows that balancing both goals has been rare, with only a few clubs able to claim the Premier League and European crowns in the same season.

The weight of a packed season

European runs add both glamour and burden. For teams chasing trophies abroad, the number of matches can grow heavy. A club that reaches the late rounds could face up to 55 matches in one season, with 38 league fixtures, domestic cup ties, and 15 to 17 European games. 

In contrast, Leicester City’s title win in 2015/16 came during a calm schedule, as they played only 43 matches and avoided Europe altogether. The gap in match load shows how rest and recovery may aid some sides while travel and midweek contests stretch others thin.

Player view: Rhythm vs fatigue

Former England defender Matthew Upson sees the matter from a player’s point of view. He recalls enjoying a steady rhythm when playing twice a week, as the pace of matches built sharpness and fitness. For players, more games often mean more chances for medals and less risk of losing match shape. 

However, Upson admits that the number of matches near the winter break can become too much, pushing the need for bigger squads. Rotation is important, as rest ensures energy for others.

History of league success without Europe

Leicester’s miracle run in 2015/16 is a clear sign that freedom from Europe can fuel success. Chelsea matched the feat the following year. Even in the early Premier League years, clubs such as Manchester United in 1992/93 and Blackburn Rovers in 1994/95 had little European strain when they took the title. 

Since England received four Champions League spots after the 2001/02 season, it is rare for Premier League clubs to reach the top-four spots in the domestic league without experience in continental football leagues like the UCL and the Europa League. Still, the dream of ruling both at home and abroad is not impossible. 

Manchester United did so in 1998/99 and 2007/08, while Manchester City reached the same glory in 2022/23. Liverpool’s older double wins in 1976/77 and 1983/84 remain part of English football pride. These rare feats prove that, while hard, it is not beyond reach.

The strain of extra matches

The current season has already shown how fast the calendar can grow. Crystal Palace had played seven matches before mid-September, including qualifiers and the Community Shield, and may reach 29 by Christmas. 

By contrast, sides like Bournemouth, Leeds United, Manchester United, Sunderland, and West Ham United could play only 18 by that point, with no Europe and early cup exits. More games mean more risks, from injuries to poor form, but fewer games can also lead to longer waits between matches, which may stall rhythm.

Upson stresses that breaks can help if the training mood is good. If form dips and morale sinks, long gaps can hurt more than they help. Players then face long days at the training ground with no quick chance to fix their troubles on the pitch.

Europe can hurt league form

For some clubs, the push for Europe has come at a sharp cost in the league. Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League last season by beating Manchester United in the final, yet they slumped to 17th in the Premier League. 

Meanwhile, United ended only one spot higher. Spurs won their first European competition since 1984, but their underperformance in the Premier League still led to Ange Postecoglou's exit.

Burnley’s 2018/19 season showed another case. They played six UEFA Europa League qualifiers by August, failed to reach the group stage, and ended 15th in the league, far worse than the year before. 

Newcastle in 2012/13 advanced to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals but slumped to 16th in the league. Both Blackburn in 1998/99 and Ipswich Town in 2001/02 were relegated while in European contests. The toll of travel, fatigue, and split focus has often left sides vulnerable.

Strange without Europe

For some giants, a season without European ties feels unusual. Manchester United, for example, last played a campaign without Europe in 2014/15. This year marks only their second such season since the 1990s. 

Already out of the Carabao Cup, they may finish with their lowest match total in the Premier League era unless they make a deep FA Cup run. A lighter schedule may bring rest, but can also rob players of the stage they are used to.

The balance of risk and reward

European football remains a dream and a danger. The lure of silverware and the honour of continental glory drive clubs to chase it, even as the Premier League demands steady focus week after week. 

Clubs outside Europe gain longer rest and simpler schedules, while those in Europe face fatigue but gain chances at history. The question lingers each season. Is it better to stay fresh and fight at home, or to risk a heavy load in pursuit of a greater prize?

The true cost of glory

The story of English clubs in Europe has always been about balance. Some sides have thrived, finding ways to claim both home and abroad. Others have struggled, paying the price of split focus with poor league finishes or even relegation. 

This season, with nine clubs carrying the extra weight, the test will be greater than ever. By spring, the answer may be clearer. Is the dream of Europe worth the risk of losing ground in the Premier League?

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The UEFA Champions League is fiercely competitive every year, but the 2025/26 season might be the toughest one to predict. The most talented clubs are looking for a shot at European glory with a Champions League victory.

Before diving into the clubs that could compete, look first into the criteria behind a successful club in Europe.

What makes a club a top contender for the UCL?

Winning the Champions League is one of the most demanding challenges in football. Only clubs with a specific blend of qualities can consistently compete for the trophy. Here are some points to look into:

• Squad depth - When a club has a deep squad filled with talented players, they are favoured to win more matches. Even if important players suffer major injuries, the squad depth could help them since there won’t be a big drop-off from one player to the backup option.
• Elite managerial leadership - A good manager makes the difference, as any tactically astute coach can outwit the best in high-pressure knockout matches. Talented players are always present, but a manager’s tactics could separate one club from the others.
• European experience - Playing well in past Champions League campaigns matters, as they will be better equipped to handle the unique demands of playing during Champions League nights. If they have a good history in Europe, they should be able to play well in the UCL’s 2025/26 season.
• Tactical flexibility - When the club can play any style possible, that could make them one of the favourites, as they can compete against any opponent and their unique styles. Being pragmatic can lead to a successful run for any manager.

The top contenders

Here are the best clubs that could win the 2025/26 Champions League:

Liverpool

The defending champions from the 2024/25 Premier League season, Liverpool, already have one of the best squads in Europe. With the addition of players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz on club-record fees, they have the top-level talent that can separate them from the rest of the field. 

They have mostly a successful squad, but they still have three members of the squad that won the 2019 Champions League with Mohamed Salah, Alisson, and captain Virgil Van Dijk. The Reds have some of the most talented squads in the world, and it will be difficult to beat them, especially with their firepower in the attack. 

Defensively, they might have some issues, but they could always outgun their opponents. Salah, Isak, and Hugo Ekitike are a fantastic trio, and they should be able to score multiple goals across the competition.

Arsenal

After a superb summer window in 2025, Arsenal have reloaded and are ready to become winners in both their domestic and continental competitions. The same core is still present with star players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel, and William Saliba.

However, the rest of the squad has been refined, as they are looking to establish themselves as the best defensive side in Europe. Manager Mikel Arteta is a pragmatic coach, so he prefers a defensive style. Despite that focus, he still made improvements to the attack with the additions of Viktor Gyökeres, Ebere Eze, and Noni Madueke. 

In terms of squad depth, Arsenal are near or at the very top of Europe. Arteta has all the tools at his disposal now; all he has to do is lead his team to the promised land. They need to score goals, as their defence can propel them to shut out opponents. However, they must improve their attack to have a chance at winning their first UCL trophy. 

Real Madrid

The club with the record-setting 15 UCL trophies, Real Madrid, is once again one of the favourites. With players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr., the club will always be a top contender. They have the firepower to beat any team, as they have also worked on their defence and midfield in the summer of 2025.

They are not as inevitable as the mid-2010s Real Madrid squads, but this club could still win their 16th title. Los Blancos are one of the toughest sides in Europe, and they will continue to play their hearts out until the final whistle is blown. 

Real Madrid are on a redemption journey after being trumped by Arsenal in the 2024/25 season, so they will look to stay and compete. It will be challenging, but anything is possible with Real Madrid, especially with Xabi Alonso at the helm.

Paris Saint-Germain

The current title holders, Paris Saint-Germain, have all the talent to compete with the rest of Europe. Players like Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are immense threats to any club. The attack is rock-solid, and their defence has been hit a bit with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s exit. 

However, PSG still have the quality and experience to become winners again. They will mostly focus on the UCL to keep their legacies as the titleholders and do it a second time. Luis Enrique has done a great job during his managerial stint in Paris, and he will look to keep adding to his accolades. 

Barcelona

In terms of attack, Barcelona have one of the most powerful in Europe. With players like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski, Barça are tough to go against. Add Marcus Rashford to that, and you have a fantastic attack that could beat any team in the world. 

With Lewandowski and manager Hansi Flick’s experience, they could lead this team to the promised land. They already won in 2020 with Bayern Munich, so they will look to do that again, this time for Barcelona, who have not won since 2015.

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Arsenal begin its Champions League campaign in Bilbao without Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Ben White. They adjust their lineup, but manager Mikel Arteta stays focused on securing a win. The match takes place at San Mames, a stadium known for its strong home crowd.

Captain Odegaard failed to recover from a shoulder problem in time. Meanwhile, Saka and White also missed the match with injuries, leaving Arteta with a thinner squad.

Still, Arteta's goal is to push Arsenal closer to winning Europe’s top club prize, a title the club has never claimed. Last season, Arsenal reached the semi-finals, showing they can compete with any team when they stay sharp and united.

Arsenal knows the Champions League is tough, with small margins deciding games. Even so, the team travels with hunger and belief, ready to start strong despite the setbacks. Arteta strengthened his squad this summer to avoid running short of players when the season gets tough.

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Crystal Palace made history with a 1-0 win over Fredrikstad in the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, yet the night felt split. The win marked the club’s first step in Europe in 27 years, but fans also faced the loss of key man Eberechi Eze, who is set to join Arsenal.

At Selhurst Park, many wore shirts with 'Eze 10' and held signs of gratitude for the midfield star. Coach Oliver Glasner later said Eze would not play for Palace again. Still, joy broke out when Jean-Philippe Mateta struck a header in the second half, giving Palace their first goal in a European competition since 1998.

The club entered this run fresh from their FA Cup and Community Shield wins, which had first placed them in the Europa League. That slot was cut by UEFA due to club share rules, leaving Palace to fight in the lower tier.

Chairman Steve Parish noted that life must go on after Eze, with new signings due. Yet, more exits may come, as Marc Guéhi is linked with a move to Liverpool.

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After weeks of negotiations between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, Eberechi Eze is headed to Arsenal. It is a sudden hijacking of the move by the red side of North London, as Eze has chosen to make the move from South London to the Emirates. 

The now-former Palace player is set to join his boyhood club. He played in Arsenal’s Hale End Academy as a youngster, but was released as a 13-year-old. Now, he has made his move back to Arsenal as a 27-year-old, playing as one of the featured stars of the senior squad.

Eze provides Arsenal with a new world of options

With Eze joining Arsenal, his skill set provides many possibilities with the squad setup. They already have a set attacking midfielder with Martin Ødegaard. However, Eze can be a competition to him, but he can also play with the Arsenal captain. 

Most people believe that Eze could be the answer to Arsenal’s struggles with the left-hand side. Gabriel Martinelli was superb during the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, scoring 15 goals and dishing out five assists. 

Unfortunately, he has dropped off since that campaign, struggling with only 14 goals and eight assists across 68 Premier League matches over the past two seasons. With Eze joining the club, he provides a competitor and a likely replacement in the starting XI.

The added depth is also a big strength, as Arsenal dealt with all kinds of injuries in the 2024/25 season. As long as he stays healthy and productive, manager Mikel Arteta will keep him playing.

Eze has the winning mentality required to succeed

Since he was released as a youngster by Arsenal, Eze has developed a mentality that has made him a stellar player. He went from playing in the EFL Championship for Queens Park Rangers before earning a move to Crystal Palace. In South London, Eze became one of the most promising players, which the England national team took note of.

Eze’s Palace career was a strong display of loyalty and success, culminating in an FA Cup win in 2025, when he scored the winning goal against Manchester City. That winning pedigree is what he will bring to Arsenal.

Arsenal fans are ecstatic with his arrival

It is safe to say that Arsenal fans are ecstatic with Eze’s arrival. He is already immortalised in a mural on a tunnel wall near the Emirates Stadium. Fans on social media have praised the signing, especially since they got a player over their bitter rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

Overall, this is a fantastic move for Arsenal, especially with what he provides on the pitch as a footballer and off the pitch as a likeable person.

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At 38, David Luiz is now making a surprise return to European football. Luiz has signed with Cypriot side Pafos FC, a club currently competing in the Champions League qualifying rounds. This move follows the early end of his contract with Brazilian team Fortaleza on August 1.

Luiz left Europe back in 2021 after two seasons at Arsenal. He later joined Flamengo and then Fortaleza in Brazil. Injuries and a lack of game time at Fortaleza led him to cut his one-year deal short. He only played 17 matches for them. Now, he's set to stay at Pafos until 2027.

Pafos proudly called this signing a 'historic moment' for football in Cyprus. They highlighted Luiz’s experience in some of the world’s biggest clubs and stadiums, calling him a global icon. 

Luiz is recovering from a thigh injury, preventing him from playing in the first leg of Pafos�Champions League third-round qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv. The club hasn’t confirmed when he’ll be back on the pitch.

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The 2025 summer transfer window is still heating up, and the biggest story of early July 2025 is Viktor Gyökeresâ€?impending exit from Sporting CP. The Swedish striker has been adamant that he wants to leave the Lisbon side in this entire transfer window, and his focus has always been on joining Arsenal. 

The North London club has weighed their options during the transfer window, and the best choices were Gyökeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško. When Leipzig was not budging with their financial demands, Arsenal closed in on Gyökeres.

Sporting looks set to sell Gyökeres, as they are already looking at Almeria’s Luis Suárez as the new forward. With that interest, it seems like Gyökeres is on his way to North London to compete for the starting striker spot with Kai Havertz and deliver on their potential as a potential Premier League title winner.

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Barcelona are in talks to sign Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey on a free transfer when his contract ends this June 2025. Liverpool plans to bid for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is valued at over £40m and has already agreed to join. 

Liverpool also failed in two offers for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and may offer Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah in return. Chelsea are close to signing striker Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m, with part of his medical already done. Everton are showing interest in Brighton’s Matt O'Riley but are unsure if the club will sell him.

Bayer Leverkusen agreed to sign Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken for £8.43m. Brentford will replace him with Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher for a fee starting at £12.5m. Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi will decide if he will join Al-Hilal.

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Arsenal is looking for redemption after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. They did not win a trophy for the fifth season in a row, and they also had a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League.

It has been a challenging time for Arsenal, but they are showing positive progress. To take the club even further, they will need reinforcements with their signings, which could include a potential Rodrygo signing.

Rodrygo provides Arsenal with a two-pronged attack

Bukayo Saka has been Arsenal’s cornerstone for a long time, and he is still improving. He plays the right-winger position, serving as the team’s main creative outlet. Saka is the perfect star player for this team, as he can do everything with his skill set as a playmaker and scorer.

Unfortunately, Arsenal does not have the same dynamic winger on the left-hand side. Gabriel Martinelli is a talented player, but he plays more of a direct style with his pace. Arsenal needs a winger who could make an equal impact to Saka, which could be Rodrygo.

The Brazilian winger is a more natural player when playing from the left wing, which could be the open spot at Arsenal. Rodrygo is a tremendous player with his dynamic skill set, but he also contributes goals and assists when given the opportunity. He is also quite flexible as he can play on the right wing, as he does at Real Madrid, but he can also go down the middle and be a centre-forward.

Rodrygo has the winner’s pedigree 

A big part of why having Rodrygo on the team is how successful he is for Real Madrid. He is not just successful as he has played a big part in the team’s success, especially in his two Champions League runs. 

Rodrygo is a serial winner, as he has collected multiple trophies by the time he’s 24. The ability to step up on the biggest stage in the Champions League speaks volumes as he could be the game-changer Arsenal needs.

Rodrygo fits the timeline

At only 24, Rodrygo is at the perfect age for Arsenal’s long-term project. He is still developing, but he is already a world-class player. He fits in well with players like Saka, Martin Ødegaard, William Saliba, and Declan Rice, who are all in their early to mid-20s. 

Signing Rodrygo is a big market opportunity, as reports have said the Brazilian might be on his way out. Going to Arsenal is understandable because he solves a big problem they have on the left-hand side. Rodrygo could be the key for the club to win the long-awaited  Premier League trophy and European glory in the Champions League.

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Arsenal has a good spine with a top forward in Bukayo Saka, a defence with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, and a supposed star duo of Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard in the midfield. They might be top players, but they have not been in the optimal midfield set-up that takes advantage of both of their assets. 

That changes with Martin Zubimendi coming in. The Spanish midfielder could be significant for Arsenal, possessing the qualities that manager Mikel Arteta values for his team.

Zubimendi gives Arsenal the midfielder they need

Arsenal has operated with either Thomas Partey or Jorginho as their defensive midfielder or #6 in the 2024-25 season. They have been good because they dictate the game’s pace. However, they are limited on the physical side of the game, as they are slower out of possession (OOP), making other players adjust to them.

With Zubimendi, that won’t be the case as he is athletic enough to play as the #6, but he still has the qualities of Partey and Jorginho. The passing range encourages the rest of the team to bomb forward. Rice, who was a #6 before joining Arsenal, has become the left-sided #8 with Ødegaard on the right.

Now that they have more opportunities to attack, they can focus on that aspect of the game and contribute to creating goals. Rice has done well with that in the 2024-25 season, but Ødegaard could have a resurgent campaign.

Arsenal’s midfield depth will be remarkable

If and when Zubimendi joins Arsenal, the club will have a strong cast of midfielders. The trio of Zubimendi, Rice, and Ø are the primary options, but they also have Mikel Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly moving from left-back to their preferred midfield roles. 

This midfield also includes Ethan Nwaneri, who has been developed as the depth behind Ødegaard. Another academy graduate, Max Dowman, is also being developed into one of the team’s best midfielders. He is only 15, but the potential is impressive, as Arteta wants to integrate him into the system.

With more reinforcements likely coming in the transfer window, Arsenal could have one of the world’s best midfield lineups. This will make them one of the squads other clubs will be wary of.

Arsenal can win trophies with this core

Zubimendi’s arrival allows more players to be in their natural positions, which could be what Arsenal needs to start winning trophies. Those could come in the Premier League, Champions League, or even the cup competitions, as they have the depth to compete. 

The club has competed at the highest level over the past few seasons, which means those experiences could lead the team to improve and beat the top teams.

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