Who are the favourites for this year’s UEFA Champions League?

The UEFA Champions League returns in two weeks, as Europe's elite battle it out for the most prestigious club football trophy in the world.

This season will be the last time the competition will host 32 teams as it will be revamping to 36 teams – in one giant league – next year. This means it will be the last time we'll see the familiar group stage format.

As for every year, some of Europe's elite are always competing at the business end of the competition come April/May.

This year especially plays host to some teams that may have a sneaky chance of making it to the end of the competition, even with squads that are, at least on paper, much weaker than the big names in Europe.

The Champions League has played host to some of the biggest upsets and greatest matches in world football, and the quality on display this year can almost guarantee that fate.

Here are the favorites and potential surprise teams in this year's UEFA Champions League!

It's easy to start with the reigning champions as one of the favorites for the competition, with Manchester City only looking stronger as we embark on this campaign.

City has kept the core to their team, with Erling Haaland continuing to lead the line. City have added Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku to their side, giving more versatility and keeping them at maximum strength in every competition.

Even with a superstar front three, PSG only made it to the final 16 of the competition last year, and after losing Messi and Neymar, PSG could be in for an early shock exit.

Neymar and Messi are huge holes to fill for the French champions, and with the likes of Sergio Ramos leaving and Marco Verratti set to go, PSG looks to be a lot weaker and may surprise the world with an early exit.

Bayern Munich was dismantled by reigning champions Manchester City in the quarter-final stages last season, but history has proven that Bayern always does well with an elite striker.

Bayern have kept their core players together and added England captain Harry Kane to their ranks. Kane scored 30 goals in the Premier League last season and has already scored three in two this season. With Kane, Bayern are favourites to win the lot.

Newcastle United had an exceptional season last year, clinching a Champions League spot for the first time in 20 years after finishing fourth in the Premier League.

Early signs of performances in the Premier League and the addition of Italian Maestro Sandro Tonali and other established Premier League players have given Newcastle increased depth and chance of making a solid run in the competition.

The record-winning champions of the competition, Real Madrid, are always favorites to win, turning up on the biggest stage even if the form domestically is not so good.

Madrid has the perfect blend of young and old, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. complementing the old guard of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Madrid looks formidable at the start of the domestic campaign, winning three from three.

After securing their first Serie A title since Diego Maradona's time at the club, Napoli will be ready to fight in the Champions League after a quarter-final exit last year.

Napoli looks to be a different proposition this year and could be a surprise package in the competition, appointing former Roma manager Rudi Garcia and keeping star talisman Victor Osimhen.

PSV Eindhoven fired themselves into the Champions League group stages last night with an electrifying 5-1 victory over Rangers in the playoff round.

PSV have opened their league campaign with two wins from two and have made shrewd acquisitions, bringing in Noa Lang, Ricardo Pepi, and Jerdy Schouten to a team full of European experience. They could be a surprise package this year.