Roy Makaay identifies Bayern Munich as Champions League final contenders

The 2026/27 Champions League league phase begins next week with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig set to compete. After being eliminated in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain last season, Bayern Munich has updated its roster with arrivals including Nathaniel Brown, Ismael Saibari, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Former player and current head coach of FC Bayern’s World Squad, Roy Makaay, cited the club's distinctive mentality and improved squad depth as primary reasons for his prediction. He noted that players arriving at Säbener Straße must adapt to intense internal expectations, which have historically fueled the club's domestic dominance. Vincent Kompany leads the squad into the opening matches of the tournament starting Tuesday.

• 6:30 AMYahoo Sports — EXCLUSIVE: Roy Makaay names Bayern as favourites to reach Champions League final