The 32nd season of the Champions Cup kicks off on Friday, with all 24 teams eyeing a spot in the final in Lyon on 22nd May 2027, and Jack Ogalbe has his best selections for the tournament.
Bordeaux defend their title, having won the trophy in the last two years, beating Northampton in 2025 and Leinster in 2026.
They are joint-favourites to become only the second club to be crowned European champions three years in a row and the Girondins share their place with record six-time winners Toulouse.
The big two in France look like the teams to beat, but with a World Cup next autumn, some of the South African sides are stronger than before and could challenge.
Champions Cup Tips and Predictions
Outright Prediction: Toulouse (9/4)
Dark Horse Tip: Stormers (33/1)
Alternative Tip: Leinster (11/2)
Pools
Pool 1
Leinster
Glasgow
Pau
Sale
Leicester
Clermont
Pool 2
Toulouse
Lions
Saracens
La Rochelle
Exeter
Connacht
Pool 3
Bordeaux
Stormers
Racing 92
Munster
Bristol
Gloucester
Pool 4
Northampton
Bath
Cardiff
Montpellier
Stade Francais
Bulls
The Champions Cup again starts with 24 teams spread over four pools. Clubs from the same country cannot face each other in the group stages.
The format has changed, though. Previously, the top four teams in every pool qualified for the round of 16.
Now, the top three will go through, with the top two earning a home draw, and the remaining four places going to those with the highest points tally still in the competition.
The next four in the standings will drop into the Challenge Cup, with the other quartet eliminated.
The bonus point system also mirrors the Top 14, with teams having to beat their opponents by three or more tries to aid competitiveness and intensity.
Champions Cup Favourites
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Data-Led Champions Cup Predictions & Analytics
Toulouse have won the most Champions Cup titles (6) but Leinster have played the most finals, winning four and losing five
France has had the most winners (14) and runners-up (16)
Last season, Bordeaux became the fifth club to retain the title - Toulon are the only team to win it three times in a row (2013, 2014, 2015)
French clubs have won the last six Champions Cups
South African sides have never gone beyond the quarter-finals since joining the competition for 2022/23
Champions Cup Outright Prediction
French clubs have won the last six Champions Cups and it might be Toulouse's turn to record a record-extending seventh title.
Sloppy away performances against Glasgow and Saracens, albeit caveated by poor conditions and having to play on artificial surfaces, landed them with a tough route through the knockouts and they were eliminated by Bordeaux for the second straight season.
Injuries have not helped, but they have recruited well, with centre Tommaso Menoncello an eye-catching acquisition. Antoine Dupont is also a full year on from his return after knee surgery.
There is also a 'Last Dance' feel, with Thomas Ramos and Francois Cros among those confirmed to be exiting at the end of the season.
Bordeaux join them as favourites, but only one team, Toulon during their Galactico era, has won three European titles on the bounce, and Les Girondins might struggle for a three-peat.
Bath are shorter than Northampton in the market after reaching last season's semi-finals, yet Saints might be the Prem's best shot at success.
Northampton should top Pool 4 and can beat any team if given space, yet may lack the requisite grunt to get over the line in the big games, something Toulouse have in abundance.
Dark Horses to Watch
With the World Cup only a year away, the South African sides are massing their ranks, with several stars back from Japan and elsewhere.
Of those, Stormers appeal. They beat Sharks 39-22 in their recent derby and open their Champions Cup campaign at home to Bristol before heading away to Bordeaux.
That fixture list highlights the challenges the South African sides face, especially in the knockout rounds, when travel is often hastily arranged and rarely comfortable.
However, John Dobson's squad is bursting with talent. Siya Kolisi is back with the club and playing alongside Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers, among others, in the back row.
Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are in the halves, supplying Cheslin Kolbe, Damian Willemse and the rest.
They are in a position to base one team in the northern hemisphere and one at home, can qualify from Pool 3 and could be tough to stop should they get on a roll.
Alternative Tip
This is a big year for Leinster. Head coach Leo Cullen is already confirmed to leave, but they also have a new start to look forward to, with the team back at the revamped RDS Arena.
Playing regularly at the Aviva lost its shine and fans understandably stopped turning up as the novelty wore off.
Leinster start away at Clermont and then have winnable home matches to seal top spot in Pool 1. Reaching the latter stages isn't the issue; winning those matches is, and they were well beaten by Bordeaux in last season's final.
However, that only shows how good their squad is and with fly-half Sam Prendergast looking to have bulked up and offering more of a running threat at the line, their attack may have a new dimension.
Leinster have lost five finals since last lifting the trophy in 2018 and while doubts remain, possibly due to their key players' age, their depth means they can keep things fresh and truly attack this tournament.
Who Lifts the Champions Cup?
Stormers and Leinster have a real chance due to their squad depth, but Toulouse and Bordeaux are the teams to beat.
Toulouse are the call, though. Menoncello is arguably the world's best centre and forms a fabulous partnership with Santiago Chocobares, with France internationals Pierre-Louis Barassi and Kalvin Gourges as back-up options.
Their powerful pack also boasts abundant skill, while the playmaking axis of Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Ramos can be untouchable.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
