Yet, after defeating Liverpool comfortably in the first round of the quarterfinals, they look strong enough to win the title for the fourteenth time. According to an analysis done through a supercomputer Bayern Munich, are the favorites to retain the trophy.
But after their recent loss to PSG in the first leg of the quarterfinals and a series of injuries, winning the UCL now looks to be out of Bayern’s reach. So, which team has the best odds of winning the Champions League title this year?
What are the Bookies Saying?
Manchester City are favorites to win the UCL according to many bookies. They have odds of +190 to win the tournament, much higher than the second closest contender, Chelsea (+425). PSG kick come third with odds of +450 while Real Madrid are at a distant fourth with odds of +500.
Can Man City win the UCL for the first time ever? The Pep Guardiola-led men have had a problem of exiting at the semi finals over the years. Domestically, Man City have always been a top-performing team. And this year nothing is different.
The Cityzens are tipped to win the English Premier League before the end of April. In the UCL, they also stand to reach the semis, having won their first leg against Borussia Dortmund. However, only time will tell whether they will clinch the competition.
If you’re confident about the odds of Man City winning the UCL, join one of the betting websites listed at mybettingsite.uk. Then look for UCL bets and place a wager on the team. Of course, you can also wait until the semis to determine which teams will end up in the finals. But the odds will have changed.
What are the Polls Saying?
The UCL is in its knockout stages. That means millions of fans around the world are already speculating teams to win the competition. In an ongoing poll by UEFA, Bayern leads the race with 22% of football fans tipping them to win the title.
Man City is second with 19% of the votes while Chelsea are ranked third with 18% of the vote count. Liverpool, who won the title in 2019 are ranked fourth (14%), while Read Madrid are placed fifth (12%).
When you think about it, football fans and bookmakers seem to agree that Man City, Bayern or Chelsea will win the UCL. Man City and Chelsea are one step into the semifinals. But Bayern’s fate will be determined when they face PSG on April 13.
Making a Case for the Favorites?
As we’ve mentioned, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid are the most favored sides to win this season’s UCL title. Do they stand a chance or will an underdog snatch it from them?
1—Bayern Munich
When it comes to Bundesliga dominance, no team comes close to Bayern Munich. They’re the undisputed best team in the league. This year, Bayern are expected to win their 31st title this year, with no team anywhere close to challenging them.
In the UCL, Bayern are also a force to reckon with. They’ve won the tournament four times, having won it last year. Owing to their incredible performance in the domestic and European leagues, it’s not surprising bookies and fans believe FCB could lift the trophy.
Unfortunately, Bayern are running out of first team options. Ace striker Robert Lewandowski, is out with a knee injury. Winger Dougle Costa has a foot injury and striker Serge Gnabry is out after testing positive for COVID-19.
Canadian international, Alphonso Davies, won’t be playing in the UCL anytime soon after receiving a red card in the match against PSG. On the other hand, midfielder Corentin Tolisso is also out with a muscle injury.
In light of that information, Bayern will need a miracle to defeat PSG by at least two goals in Paris. That’s the only way they can qualify for the semifinals.
2—Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is hopeful Manchester City will one day break their UCL semifinals’ curse. Will this be the year City does it? The former EPL winners have spent over €800 million to buy players in the last eight years.
And every year, the Citizens get knocked out of the competition before reaching the finals. Despite that, bookmakers are confident Pep Guardiola could lead City to the UCL finals this year.
Unlike Bayern, City doesn’t have an injury concern. Many of Guardiola’s men are fit. And after defeating Dortmund away, there’s a decent chance City will be heading to the semifinals. Truth be told, City could also win the UCL competition.
3—Chelsea
In the history of the UCL, many winning teams are usually the defending champions in their domestic leagues. If they are not defending league titles, they rank in the top four sports. Chelsea rank fifth in the EPL, and conceded five goals to 19th placed West Brom Albion.
What are the odds the blues can defeat high flying Man City, Real Madrid or PSG to win the second UCL title in history? It depends on how they perform in the semis. Everyone expects them to beat Porto and advance to the semis. But it’s this next round that will seal their fate.
4—PSG
If there’s one team with a squad talented enough to win the UCL, it’s PSG. Neymar Jnr and Kylian Mbappe are two of the mot valued football players in the world. They are in excellent form and have a great supporting cast in the likes of Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Marco Verratti.
Impressively, PSG are also one step into the UCL. A win or draw at home on April 13, will take him closer to winning the UCL. Unfortunately, the Parisians are famous for bottling it up—losing great leads and not winning when opportunities strike.