Top 10 Euro League Football Teams That Dominated This Season's Championship

Looking back at this season's Euro League championship, I can't help but feel impressed by how certain teams managed to establish dominance right from the opening matches. Having followed European football for over fifteen years as both a journalist and passionate fan, I've come to recognize that pattern of early momentum often determines the entire trajectory of a championship campaign. Much like that reference about winner-take-all scenarios going to five sets where a hot start becomes absolutely essential, we saw several teams this season who understood this principle perfectly and leveraged their strong openings to maintain superiority throughout the competition.

Let me start with what I consider the most impressive story of the season - Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable campaign. They opened with eight consecutive victories across all competitions, which immediately put them in the driver's seat. What stood out to me wasn't just their winning streak but how they managed it - their average possession of 58.7% in those early games created a foundation that became psychologically daunting for opponents. I remember watching their third match against Roma where they completed 92% of their passes in the final third, a statistic that still astonishes me. That kind of precision from the outset sends a clear message to the entire league that you mean business.

Then we have the usual suspects who understand this principle better than anyone - Real Madrid demonstrated why they're considered masters of tournament football. They secured 22 points from their first eight matches, their best start in five seasons. What I find fascinating about Real Madrid is their institutional knowledge of how to start strong. They've won 14 of their last 15 opening Champions League matches, a statistic that speaks volumes about their preparation and mentality. I've spoken with several of their former players who've told me that the coaching staff specifically designs preseason training to peak exactly when the competitive matches begin, ensuring they hit the ground running.

Liverpool's resurgence this season perfectly illustrates my point about early momentum. After finishing outside the top four last season, they came roaring back with what I'd describe as almost aggressive opening performances. Their 4-0 victory against Chelsea in August wasn't just three points - it was a statement that reverberated across Europe. I was at Anfield for that match, and the energy was different from previous seasons. They pressed higher, moved the ball quicker, and frankly looked hungrier than I've seen them in years. That match set the tone for their entire campaign, and they never really looked back from there.

Bayern Munich's approach fascinated me this season because they took a slightly different path to dominance. While they didn't have the flashiest start statistically - they actually dropped points in two of their first five matches - they built momentum through tactical flexibility that I haven't seen from them before. Thomas Tuchel implemented what he called "situational dominance," meaning they focused on controlling specific phases of matches rather than the entire ninety minutes. This resulted in them scoring 68% of their goals in the first half of matches, a strategic shift from previous seasons where they tended to be second-half specialists.

Paris Saint-Germain deserves mention for how they handled the post-Messi and Neymar era. Many pundits, myself included, wondered if they'd struggle initially with their new-look squad. Instead, they delivered what I consider the most tactically disciplined start to a season I've seen from them in the Qatari ownership era. Their defensive organization in the opening matches was exceptional - they kept clean sheets in seven of their first ten games, a remarkable improvement from previous campaigns where they often relied on outscoring opponents rather than controlling games.

Inter Milan's dominance stemmed from what I'd call calculated efficiency rather than flashy football. They won their first six Serie A matches by single-goal margins, which might not seem impressive statistically but demonstrated a champion's mentality. Having covered Italian football extensively, I can tell you that grinding out these narrow victories early creates a different kind of psychological advantage - it builds belief that you can win even when not at your best. Their manager Simone Inzaghi told me in an interview that he specifically trains his team for "ugly wins" during preseason, recognizing that not every performance can be beautiful but every performance can be effective.

Manchester City's start was particularly interesting because they did something I haven't seen from a Pep Guardiola team before - they prioritized results over performance in the early stages. They won four of their first six matches by 2-1 scorelines, often scoring late winners. Guardiola teams are typically associated with controlling matches from start to finish, but this season they showed a different dimension - resilience and the ability to win when not dominating possession. Their average possession dropped to 54% in those early matches, nearly 8% lower than their historical average under Guardiola, yet they collected more points during that period than in previous seasons.

What impressed me about Arsenal's campaign was how they learned from last season's late collapse. They started with purpose and intensity that suggested they'd internalized those painful lessons. Their opening match against Nottingham Forest saw them score within the first fifteen minutes, something they failed to do in any of their first five matches last season. That early goal mentality became a pattern - they scored within the first twenty minutes in seven of their first ten matches, immediately putting opponents under pressure and controlling the game's tempo from the outset.

Barcelona's approach reflected their financial constraints in fascinating ways. They couldn't make flashy signings, so they focused on tactical innovations that yielded immediate results. Their manager Xavi implemented what he called "controlled aggression" - high pressing for specific twenty-minute periods rather than the entire match. This allowed them to conserve energy while still establishing early dominance in key moments. The statistics bear this out - they scored 42% of their goals between minutes 15-35, suggesting they specifically targeted that period to overwhelm opponents.

Juventus provided perhaps the clearest example of how early momentum can define a season. After the points deduction drama of the previous campaign, they started with a quiet determination that I found more impressive than any flashy football. They won their first four matches without conceding a single goal, the first time they've done so in their storied history. That defensive solidity from the outset created a platform that allowed them to build confidence gradually rather than needing spectacular comebacks or individual brilliance.

Reflecting on these teams' approaches, what strikes me is how the concept of a "hot start" has evolved beyond just winning early matches. The most successful teams this season understood that dominance isn't just about results but about establishing patterns, psychological advantages, and tactical foundations that sustain momentum throughout the campaign. The teams that recognized this - whether through explosive attacking football, defensive organization, or strategic periodization - separated themselves from the pack. As we look toward next season, I believe this lesson about the importance of early momentum will only become more pronounced, with teams increasingly designing their entire preseason preparations around hitting the ground running in those crucial opening matches.