Haaland and De Bruyne are the best in the world. There is no better striker than Haaland and no better midfielder than De Bruyne in my eyes. For this reason, they are the favorites of this cup for me as well. However, this is a tournament and tournaments have different atmospheres. Also, teams like Real Madrid, who have a lot of tournament habits, can always change the balance. That's why I see Manchester City as the first favorite in the Champions League, but I can't be sure because in this tournament the best in the world are competing and they are fighting to prove to everyone that they are the best.
The Champions League has long been regarded as the most competitive league in European football. They see a number of big clubs from various leagues coming together to compete for the champions league title. The atmosphere will undoubtedly alter, and they will always be a team eager to outperform the other team in order to win the competition. Manchester City will remain the favourites to win the league until we see how other clubs perform on the field in the upcoming Champions League game.
The squad that Barcelona has under the direction of Xavi has formed a strong chemistry between fellow players, I think Barcelona will soon become part of the favorite team to win the UCL if they are able to improve on the abilities that have been shown last season.
Xavi has demonstrated expertise and done a fantastic job for Barcelona, and he is currently working hard to enhance the team ahead of next season. His contributions to the squad cannot be overstated, especially given the team's current status as a worthy representative in the Champions League next season. If they will replicate their current form in the Champions League next season, they will be a serious contender for the title.