Lothar Matthaus names one English club in his five Champions League favourites

Bayern Munich and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has named Arsenal among his five favourites to win this year’s Champions League.

Europe’s premier competition gets up and running this week and the stage is set for what promises to be a compelling tournament, which will be decided at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium in nine months’ time.

Luis Enrique’s all-conquering Paris Saint-Germain side enter as the holders after finally bringing their curse to a halt with victories in each of the last two tournaments.

Last year’s runners-up, Arsenal, meanwhile, are still yet to get their hands on the prestigious prize and will hope to have ended that hoodoo at long last come next June.

Domestically, the Gunners have started out in convincing fashion, winning the Community Shield before sweeping aside Coventry City, Aston Villa and Chelsea to claim top spot in the Premier League alongside Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s men, the reigning English champions, kick off their group-stage campaign on Wednesday night away to Serie A giants Napoli, where Massimiliano Allegri will be looking to put a first dent in the north Londoners’ perfect record.

‘For me, there are five favourites for the title this year: Arsenal, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich,’Matthaus told Sky Germany ahead of the opening round of fixtures.

‘However, Real Madrid still needs to gel as a team – as seen against Real Betis at the weekend – and therefore remains a question mark.

‘Jose Mourinho still needs to forge a unit from the squad.

‘If there are further issues with Kylian Mbappe or Vinicius Junior, it might be necessary to simply leave one of them out.’

Matthaus – a two-time Champions League runner-up with Bayern – added: ‘The other four clubs are, in my opinion, clear title contenders.

‘However, teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, or Atletico Madrid, who would have a home game in the Champions League final, could also reach for the stars.

‘Borussia Dortmund recently passed their character test in Hoffenheim and should go further in the Champions League than last year, although that, of course, always depends on the draw.’

Arsenal are one of five English teams competing in this year’s competition, with Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United also doing battle for the main prize.

City kick things off away to Portuguese champions Porto this evening, while Unai Emery’s Villa face off against Club Brugge in Belgium.

Six-time winners Liverpool open their European campaign at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, before Manchester United welcome Azerbaijani minnows Sabah to Old Trafford the following night.

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