Are This Season's Title Favorites Still on Track? A Tipster's Early Season Check-In

At this point in the 2026/27 European football season, it is far too early to draw conclusions because teams are still settling into form, but the early results show trends worth noting. Some teams are living up to preseason predictions, while others seem to underperform, so the first matches let us assess whether early predictions about different teams' performance will come true.

The main prediction regarding the upcoming season was the dominance of certain teams in certain leagues. For instance, Arsenal for the English Premier League title and Barcelona and Inter for the La Liga and Serie A championships, respectively.

The Big Picture

From the early games, the initial predictions still support the main pre-season favorites. Arsenal moved to 12 points from four Premier League matches after a 2-0 win at Sunderland on September 12. Arsenal have also been in good shape, particularly defensively, and have shown they can cope under pressure from opponents.

Ahead of the Manchester Derby on September 13, Manchester City has been unbeaten and has nine points from their three matches. Manchester City won the Derby, continuing their unbeaten streak.

After Barcelona played Levante following their four previous matches, they succeeded again, bringing their total to five wins. Real Madrid has won four and lost one game, collecting 12 points after a 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

In Italy, the fight for the league has been much more balanced, with Cagliari, Roma and Inter on nine points and Lazio on ten after their first games.

Arsenal Look Like The Strongest

Since the start of the season, Arsenal has been predicted to win the league, and they still are. So far, the form of the club backs up this prediction. Arsenal had won three league games and conceded just one goal before facing Sunderland, whom they then defeated 2-0 to make it four wins in a row.

The game with Sunderland was not easy for Arsenal. Sunderland earned a penalty, which Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved. Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka scored for Arsenal, making it a 2-0 victory. Liverpool and Chelsea have already dropped points, giving Arsenal an even bigger advantage. Arsenal have managed four relatively clean wins in the first games of the Premier League.

Barcelona’s Great Start

Barcelona have been performing well since the start of the season and appear to be the most likely title winner. Barca have won five league matches so far, as of 13th September.

Barcelona currently has a superior goal difference while maintaining a perfect record. The preseason prediction that Barcelona would be the favorites appears to be correct so far.

Inter Has The Early Edge

In Serie A, there is more openness, but Inter has done what champions are expected to do. Inter has three wins from three games and eight goals scored. Among them was the incredible 3-2 win over Napoli on September 5.

However, the markets favor Inter as the undisputed champion. In one of the latest boards, Inter stood at 1.80, followed by Roma at 5.50, Juventus at 8.00, AC Milan at 9.00, and Napoli at 21.00. Roma and Lazio also had strong starts and landed in the top three, so Inter is not the only team in first place, so to speak. However, in the championship, Inter’s squad and experience are more reliable for bettors than current standings alone.

Bayern Struggling

The German Bundesliga shows that you shouldn't rush to conclusions about a team's season performance. Initially, Bayern was expected to win the season at 1.15, while Borussia Dortmund was second at 9.00. Before Bayern’s match against Elversberg on September 13, Bayern had four points after playing two matches, whereas Augsburg, Freiburg, Dortmund, and Elversberg had six.

This is too few matches to draw conclusions about a trend; however, Bayern still appears to be the best team in the market, despite the odds.

PSG Face Their First Problems

PSG have the biggest gap between reputation and results. After winning five consecutive Ligue 1 titles, PSG drew with Rennes and Lille and lost 2-1 to Monaco. PSG scored only two points in three matches before their match with Brest.

However, bookmakers stuck to their opinion. Paris Saint-Germain remains the favorite to win the title at 1.30. Monaco at 7.00, Lille at 12.00, Lyon and Marseille at 11.00 and 34.00.

What Should Tipsters Watch Next?

The coming weeks and months will show more than the opening weeks did. Arsenal's defense needs to stay strong through the tough period ahead. Barcelona has to play away matches and still score goals. Inter must maintain their advantage over the Italian teams. Bayern has to convert their preseason high rating into wins. PSG needs to win quickly to avoid falling behind.

When it comes to bets, one message is clear: don't treat the initial league tables as absolute truth, but don't overlook them. The odds will change following each match, and they should be considered only in connection with other factors. Readers checking soccer betting predictions can use those as one part of the process.

At this early stage, Arsenal and Barcelona have made the strongest statements about their pre-season status. Inter look to be progressing well; patience will be needed for Bayern Munich, while PSG looks to be one of the biggest top clubs that have started poorly.