Who Will Claim the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Title - Odds and Predictions
The UEFA Champions League has officially started with the draw. This year, we will witness a completely new format, with 36 teams ready to compete for the European Champion Clubs' Cup. This new format has been receiving both positive and negative reactions, but for both football fans and bettors it is a completely new dimension. Let’s say that this year's winner will be the team who adapts the most to the changed conditions, with more games in store and a tight schedule, which might be challenging the fitness of the biggest football stars out there. Real Madrid were the winners of the Champions League last season, with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, marking their 15th CL title win, making them again the main contenders for the title in this new season.
UEFA Champions League Schedule
This year marks the 70th season of UEFA Champions League and the 33rd since it was renamed. This elite football competition started on 9th July 2024 and the final will be played on 31st May 2025. Due to the new format the number of games played will increase from 96 to 144 in the new league phase.
UEFA Champions League Favorites
According to bookies, this year's favorites are again Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s team is ready to win this prestigious competition once again like they did in 2023 after several near misses. However, last year, we saw the power of Real Madrid, without huge names in the teams, and underestimated by bookies, managed to clinch the title. This season, they are again favorites - never write off Real Madrid! Moreover, with the addition of Mbappe their chances to retain their league title and win the Champions League two times has increased. According to sportsbooks Los Blancos are neck and neck with City in the race for the crown. Alongside Man City and Real Madrid, we have Arsenal and Liverpool in the mix among Premier League clubs, while PSG, despite losing Mbappé and dismantling their superstar lineup, remains within the top 10 contenders. The Italian teams are difficult to separate in the odds, while Sporting Lisbon emerges as the strongest side outside of Europe’s top five leagues.
The Odds for Winning UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (+320)
After last year's remarkable gameplay, it’s quite a surprise that Real Madrid is not bookie’s favorite for this year. With the French superstar Kylian Mbappé, as an addition to the all star team consisting of names like Luka Modric and young talents as Jude Bellingham, it’s expected that Real Madrid under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, will be presenting some football magic on the field. La Liga and Champions League have always been their priority, and the main advantage from that mindset, is that their domestic league is less demanding compared to Premier League, where Manchester City faces tougher competition.
Man City (+275)
Manchester City are ready to reclaim their glory and make another win of the Champions League. After their quarterfinal exit and the ongoing buzz surrounding the club’s alleged rule violations, City will be more determined than ever to silence their critics in the upcoming season. Heavily relied on key players like Rodri and Erling Haaland, the team faces potential trouble if any injury or lack of form occurs to these players. Being sportsbook favorites, even over last year champions, speaks a lot about their potential.
Arsenal (+900)
Even though Arsenal might be a bit distant to this year favorites in odds, this year they are coming back with a stronger lineup than last season. The Gunners were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Bayern Munich in a close 3-2 contest, but since then, they’ve gained invaluable experience. Many of Arsenal’s key players were venturing into the latter stages of the Champions League for the first time and have since furthered their development in this year’s Euro and Copa America tournaments. If Arsenal can challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title, they certainly have the potential to make a deep run in Europe as well.
eChampions League
One particular subsport of the CL has emerged - the eChampions League. It has been one of the most exciting eSports competitions since its beginning in 2019, and growing in popularity and new players each passing year. For online bettors this is a perfect opportunity for diversifying betting portfolios, because betting on football matches but in video game format and played by the best video game football players is a brand and existing experience. It's a perfect blend of traditional football and the dynamic nature of video games, which makes it an appealing betting opportunity for football fans.
To bet on this new betting category there are several options. The most popular among bettors are the crypto eSports betting platforms. Using cryptocurrency guarantees anonymity and makes regions that were typically blocked by traditional platforms accessible. Regardless if you are betting on Champions League matches or you want to explore the eChampions League, the odds are constantly changing. By doing a little research, you can go a long way! We recommend finding the eSports betting site that has the eChampions League in their catalog, and a bit more research to compare the odds of different games - always choose the ones that offer bigger odds!
