Gary Lineker Names One Team That Can Stop Arsenal From Winning 26/27 Champions League

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Gary Lineker claims one team can stop Arsenal winning the Champions League this season

Despite identifying Arsenal as one of the favourites for Champions League glory in the 2026/27 season, Gary Lineker has snubbed both the Gunners and Paris Saint-Germain when naming his winner.

Those two were the finalists last term, with Mikel Arteta's side looking to go one step further this time around and finally get their hands on a first-ever major European honour after putting an end to their 22-year Premier League title drought.

Standing in everyone's way, though, is a PSG side that have won the last two titles on offer, with Luis Enrique blessed with a gluttony of superstars chasing the Ballon d'Or at October's ceremony.

It's difficult to see anyone else upsetting the apple cart, judging by last year's tournament and the fact that both sides have only strengthened this summer while keeping their core intact.

Lineker, however, who is usually the voice of reason in the world of football punditry, has gone against the grain by naming a side that hasn't lifted the famous big-eared trophy since 2015.

In naming this team, Lineker has also snubbed Real Madrid - who already look more like themselves following the return of Jose Mourinho - as well as Bayern Munich, and the Gunners' Premier League rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City.

Indeed, the former England striker has gone with Barcelona , who look to be on a constant upward trajectory under Hansi Flick, having won the last two La Liga titles, as well as having claimed a domestic treble last term.

La Blaugranas have made it to the semi-finals in the past two seasons, but have always seemed to miss the final piece to the jigsaw puzzle - but Lineker claims they've now found it.

"Arsenal will be one of the favourites, but I don’t think overall they’ve got quite the superstars that some of the other big guns in Europe have," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast , before highlighting Barca's £65 million Rodri signing as a key reason he believes they can go all the way.

> "I do think Barcelona might be quite tasty and take some beating this season now they’ve got Rodri in there as well in that crucial position."

Ex-Man City defender Micah Richards has also questioned whether Arsenal have the attacking flair to go one better in the Champions League.

Arteta tried to sign Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez in the summer but the Brazil icon stayed at Real Madrid while the Argentine striker failed to force his way out of Atletico Madrid.

In the long run, that could cost them, with the Gunners still needing their defence to be the heroes on a regular basis, forcing matches to be a lot nervier than often necessary.

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