Wayne Rooney has revealed his Champions League prediction after Chelsea’s impressive victory over Barcelona.
Chelsea thumped La Liga champions Barca 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to climb into the top-eight of the Champions League – where teams qualify mechanically for the knockout stages.
Barcelona were one in all the favourites to win the Champions League last season but conceded two late goals in a dramatic semi-final defeat to eventual runners-up Inter Milan.
Chelsea, meanwhile, weren’t even in Europe’s top cup competition last season, as an alternative winning the vastly inferior Conference League.
Enzo Maresca’s side are showing signs they will not only compete but challenge for the Champions League, but Rooney believes one other Premier League club have a ‘good likelihood’ of winning the competition.
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Premier League leaders Arsenal boast an ideal record in Europe ahead of their clash with German champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
The Gunners haven’t had the simplest run of fixtures but wins over Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague has put Arsenal on target for one more deep Champions League run.
Arsenal’s perfect record shall be put to the test on Wednesday as Bundesliga leaders Bayern – also yet to drop any points within the Champions League – visit the Emirates Stadium.
Before Mikel Arteta’s side attempt to make it five wins from five in Europe, Rooney has backed Arsenal to win the Champions League on account of their strong squad and impressive recruitment.
After predicting Arsenal would lift the Champions League trophy, Rooney told MailSport: ‘I believe they’ve nearly as good a likelihood as they’ve had for a very long time.
Champions League 2025-26 odds
Arsenal 4/1
Bayern Munich 9/2
PSG 6/1
Man City 15/2
Real Madrid 15/2
Liverpool 17/2
Barcelona 17/2
Chelsea 14/1
Inter Milan 18/1
Napoli 33/1
(Odds courtesy of Betfair)
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‘The entire squad they’ve put together, I believe it’s got good players obviously starting [and] good players on the bench to are available in the event that they get injuries as well.
‘I believe the recruitment has been really good, and so they’ve been really strong within the Premier League. In the event that they can take that form into the Champions League, they’ve a very good likelihood.’
Arsenal have also been backed to win their first Champions League by John Obi Mikel, who won the competition with Chelsea.
‘This season I believe it’s Arsenal’s to lose,’ he said on The Obi One Podcast. ‘If Arsenal and Mikel Arteta don’t win the Premier League… the squad, the depth they’ve, is frightening.
‘They’ve the perfect squad not only within the Premier League, not only in England, in world football without delay. I bet you there’s no higher squad depth than Arsenal’s.
‘We’re talking concerning the Premier League but I believe they will go on to win the Champions League, that is how good Arsenal are.
‘It’s scary, I’m telling you, the squad they’ve, the players they’ve, there’s something there, I can feel it now, finally Arsenal are ready.’
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