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A Spanish Winner - Can Any Nation Challenge The Might Of Barcelona And Real Madrid In The Champions League?
Barcelona and Real Madrid remain firm favourites to bring the Champions League title back to Spain but can any other nation challenge their dominance?
19-Dec-2011 6:05:00 PM
By Ed Malyon
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo - Barcelona, Real Madrid
If you're finding it too difficult to pick which club will win the Champions League this season, then make your way over to 188bet, who are offering a market on the nationality of the winner.
Needless to say, the odds-on favourite is Spain, given that the Iberian nation boasts the two outright favourites also. Backing the Champions League to return to Spain this year, effectively a bet on Real Madrid OR Barcelona to triumph, is priced at 2/5 (1.40).
A German winner is 24/5 (5.80) - with third favourites Bayern Munich's strength in depth seriously helping their nation's cause, while Bayer Leverkusen will surely be considered contenders in the unlikely event they can somehow overcome Barcelona.
The odds on an English winner have significantly lengthened to 8/1 (9.0) after the two Manchester sides (City and United) dropped out of the competition. They had previously been considered England's best hopes to bring home Europe's premier club trophy but now the responsibility rests with Arsenal and Chelsea, with the latter boasting a manager with recent experience of glory in a continental cup competition.
Italian sides have a rich history in the tournament but an out of sorts Inter seem to have little chance, even though they'll be moderately happy with drawing Marseille for the last 16.
City rivals AC Milan are surely their country's best hope, although they have a tough tie against Arsenal to think of before they can even consider winning the title. Napoli have also seen their price to win the competition drift to 30/1 (31.0) after being paired with Chelsea.
Portugal and France are both priced at 50/1 (51.0) to provide the winner, meaning Benfica are considered to be as likely as the Olympique duo of Marseille and Lyon, whilst 'any other' encompassing the two remaining Russian sides plus Basel and APOEL, is 40/1 (41.0)
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Match
Ed Malyon is a freelance sports writer focusing on the football betting markets. His personal website Valderramarama.com can be accessed here.
Needless to say, the odds-on favourite is Spain, given that the Iberian nation boasts the two outright favourites also. Backing the Champions League to return to Spain this year, effectively a bet on Real Madrid OR Barcelona to triumph, is priced at 2/5 (1.40).A German winner is 24/5 (5.80) - with third favourites Bayern Munich's strength in depth seriously helping their nation's cause, while Bayer Leverkusen will surely be considered contenders in the unlikely event they can somehow overcome Barcelona.
The odds on an English winner have significantly lengthened to 8/1 (9.0) after the two Manchester sides (City and United) dropped out of the competition. They had previously been considered England's best hopes to bring home Europe's premier club trophy but now the responsibility rests with Arsenal and Chelsea, with the latter boasting a manager with recent experience of glory in a continental cup competition.
Italian sides have a rich history in the tournament but an out of sorts Inter seem to have little chance, even though they'll be moderately happy with drawing Marseille for the last 16. City rivals AC Milan are surely their country's best hope, although they have a tough tie against Arsenal to think of before they can even consider winning the title. Napoli have also seen their price to win the competition drift to 30/1 (31.0) after being paired with Chelsea.
Portugal and France are both priced at 50/1 (51.0) to provide the winner, meaning Benfica are considered to be as likely as the Olympique duo of Marseille and Lyon, whilst 'any other' encompassing the two remaining Russian sides plus Basel and APOEL, is 40/1 (41.0)
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Match
Ed Malyon is a freelance sports writer focusing on the football betting markets. His personal website Valderramarama.com can be accessed here.
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