Who are the Favorites for UEFA Champions League Glory?
The UEFA Champions League has just gotten back underway and there has already been a massive shock, with Lazio stealing a 1-0 victory at home to Bayern Munich thanks to a late penalty from captain Ciro Immobile. The traveling Bavarians were heavily favored in their trip to the Stadio Olimpico. However, they struggled to break down the resolute Italians and England captain Harry Kane was starved of service. As a result, his side have a deficit to overturn in the return fixture at the Allianz Arena, as well as a five-point deficit to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Despite their defeat, Bayern Munich are still one of the favorites for glory. But which other sides are considered frontrunners?
Manchester City
Manchester City has not only ascended the ranks of English and European football since their money-spinning Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008, but under Pep Guardiola they have redefined the modern game with their brand of fast-flowing, possession-based football. The team’s Midas touch in the Premier League has resulted in serial domestic titles, but it was the elusive Champions League that the club’s owners craved more than anything. That finally came last season at the 12th time of asking courtesy of Rodri’s second-half winner against Inter Milan in Istanbul.
This season, Bovada sportsbook has made them the overwhelming favorites to retain the famous ‘Big-Eared’ trophy, pricing them up at +170. Their formidable midfield, boasting the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, is a creative powerhouse that can dictate the tempo of any game. Add to that the sheer firepower of striking sensation Erling Haaland and it’s clear to see why City are much fancied once again.
Real Madrid
Record 15-time champions Real Madrid have the pedigree to turn the tide in their favor in any footballing contest. Under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti, Los Blancos claimed the title back in 2022 with a 1-0 victory against Liverpool in Paris. They are expected to mount a fearsome challenge yet again, with a blend of experience and youthful exuberance.
The midfield trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Federico Valverde was already a harmonious engine room that could orchestrate the most complex of attacks. The addition of English sensation Jude Bellingham has transformed the club from the Spanish capital into a powerhouse. The former Borussia Dortmund man has been the star of the show at the Bernabeu this term, netting a mighty 20 goals in all competitions, as well as providing a further eight assists in just 29 appearances.
Don Carlo’s men were perhaps the most impressive team in the group stages, winning all six games, including victories home and away against Italian champions Napoli. That will leave Real Madrid with the impression that they can beat anyone on the continent, and they will have to do exactly that if they are to claim the title once again this term. They already hold a 1-0 lead over RB Leipzig and look deadset on reaching yet another quarterfinal. If their starboy Bellingham can continue in a similar fashion, Los Blancos will certainly be a problem in the latter stages of the tournament.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s resurgence under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta has injected a fresh sense of optimism into the Gunners’ faithful. Last season, they pushed Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race, topping the pile for much of the campaign only to falter at the final hurdle. This season, they are domestic contenders once again, just two points behind league leaders Liverpool. Hopes of a first English top-flight crown in two decades are building.
Many feel that The Gunners may well be better suited to the ebb and flow of knockout football rather than a prolonged title race, and that is exactly what they will find in the Champions League. Arsenal have a Round of 16 clash against FC Porto up next, a two-legged tie that they will be heavily favored to win. Their reinvigorated defense is led by Brazilian Gabriel Magalhães and Frenchman William Saliba, two men who very rarely let goal-scoring opportunities come to fruition.
Up top, Arsenal have one of the most feared frontlines in all of Europe in the form of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka. Add to that the experience of two former Chelsea stars, namely Kai Havertz and Jorginho, and perhaps the finest defensive midfielder in the world in Declan Rice, and it is easy to see why the North London club is more than a match for any of Europe’s finest on their day. They have won their last two Premier League games by a combined score of 11-0, beating West Ham 6-0 and Burnley 5-0, both away from home. If they continue in a similar vein, they may end up with more than one trophy in their cabinet this year.
