Former Chelsea star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has shared his thoughts on which clubs have the potential to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy this season. As the competition kicks off under its new format, all 36 qualified teams are competing in an extended league phase, with each club playing three matches.

In this early stage, Premier League side Aston Villa has emerged as a surprising frontrunner, currently leading the group with an impressive record of three wins from three matches. Close behind them are Liverpool and Manchester City, sitting in second and third place, respectively.

As the Champions League fixtures approach this week, Hasselbaink weighed in on the favorites for the prestigious title. He confidently named Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Arsenal as the clubs he believes are most likely to succeed in this year’s tournament. In a statement to BoyleSports, he remarked, “Along with Manchester City and Real Madrid, I’d also include Arsenal and Barcelona among my four favorites to win the Champions League this season.”

Hasselbaink also expressed some hesitation regarding Bayern Munich, noting, “I might have mentioned Bayern Munich, but I wasn’t impressed with their style of play. I truly believe it will be one of those four clubs that ends up lifting the trophy, and I have a strong feeling that Arsenal will make a significant impact this year.”

This outlook highlights the competitive nature of this season’s Champions League, where traditional powerhouses and rising teams are all vying for European glory.