Top 7 Scariest Teams Ahead of Next Season, Including Chelsea and Barcelona

The stage for the 2025/26 football season is getting set, and Europe's top clubs are already positioning themselves as formidable contenders for trophies. From Rashford’s surprise move to Barcelona to Chelsea signing a perfect replacement for striker Nicholas Jackson, it shows that these clubs are ready to make significant impacts.

This list looks at the top 7 scariest football clubs fans should watch out for in no particular order. This article also serves as a warning to other teams that are also considering contending for major titles in the next season. 

Hansi Flick’s first season at Barcelona saw the team become very daring and scary. They played with high pressing and the kind of game control that made their opponents unable to level up. This earned the team a domestic treble and a total El Clásico domination.

The attack trio of Lewandoski, Raphinha, and Yamal scored over 100 La Liga goals and also ensured Barca scored the most goals in Europe's top five leagues last season. The addition of Marcus Rashford adds depth to their attacking options. 

After failing to win the Champions League last season, other clubs will have to be wary of this goal-thirsty Barcelona side next season. 

The French team didn’t just clinch its first UEFA Champions League title last season, but won a historic treble in the process. The departure of Kylian Mbappé didn’t affect that team last season. In fact, we saw a new version of PSG under Luis Enrique that almost won everything.

PSG is the team to beat next season if you must win any title. Balloon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembélé will still be leading the attack while midfield greats like Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz will orchestrate the tempo of the game. 

After winning only the EPL title last season, Liverpool has already put things in place ahead of the new season to avoid disappointments. The team has an attacking lineup with the Premier League's Player of the Season, Mohamed Salah, leading them.

The team has also added talented players like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, who didn’t waste time showcasing their potential during pre-season friendlies. With Pulse Sports reporting that Arne Slot is looking forward to landing Alexander Isak, the Reds might just be unstoppable in the 2025–26 season.

The Turkish league champions, Galatasaray, are another team to be scared of in the 2025/2026 season. After dominating domestically, the team plans to make waves in European competitions, essentially with the complete signing of Victor Osimhen.

The Super Eagles striker scored a record 37 goals in all competitions last season. The addition of former Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane will make the Turkish club more formidable and ready to make an impact on the Champions League. 

Despite not having a great season, Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup against all odds. These achievements highlight their upward trajectory towards the new season. The London club also stood out as the team to stop PSG from winning everything.

Enzo Maresca made significant signings, including players like João Pedro, Liam Delap, and Jorrel Hato, to solidify both their defence and attack. This move shows the club’s commitment to upsetting many teams for the glory. Trust Chelsea to deliver, even when nobody expected it.

Without winning a single trophy last season, we witnessed a very poor Pep Guardiola squad that we’ve never seen before. However, the club remains a powerhouse and still has what it takes to instill fear in opponents. 

Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have joined the club to bring in creative attacking and playmaking abilities, which the team lacked last season. With the creativity of these talented midfielders and the goal-scoring prowess of Erling Haaland, Man City is a team to watch next season.

Winning the Scudetto in the 2024/2025 season is surely not enough for Napoli. Although this is an unexpected addition, the Italian champions have a squad depth that can cause major upsets next season

The team's tactical flexibility and attacking flair make them a consistent threat in Serie A and European competitions. The signing of experienced midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne will help to add more creativity to the team.

The teams on this list represent clubs with great attacking prowess and technical abilities that can cause trouble for their opponents. However, football fans should also expect intriguing football from Arsenal, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.

Arsenal has always been promising, and we expect the addition of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres to boost Mikel Arteta’s team's attack. Meanwhile, AC Milan had brought in the experience and Champions League-winning mentality of Luka Modric, as well as Real Madrid signing Xabi Alonso, a new coach who will turn the team around.