The 2018/19 Uefa Champions League is set to spice things up with the group stage pitting a number of giants against each other while some sides will be making their debut in the competition. Here the outrights from Bet365.
The Citizens could go no further than the quarter finals last term after losing 5-1 on aggregate to English rivals Liverpool. It is a surprise that the bet firm tips Pep Guardiola’s men as favourites to lift the title this time, something they have never managed to do before. However, considering that team have progressed under the former Barcelona manager, they certainly can’t be left out.
The previous European campaign was one to forget for the Catalan giants as they surrendered a 4-1 first leg quarter final lead against AS Roma and lost on away goals after a 3-0 second leg defeat. The Blaugrana have not tasted Champions League success since 2015 and that will be a top priority for Ernesto Valverde this season.
The Bianconeri showed bravery to claw their way back to a 3-1 second leg win over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals but it was not enough as Los Blancos had claimed a 3-0 win in the first leg thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo magic. The Portuguese maestro has moved to the Allianz Stadium and it is the hope that the Turin giants get their hands on the trophy for the first time since 1996 even after reaching the thrice (2003, 2015 and 2017).
The Parisians said their goodbyes at the round of 16 to eventual champions Real Madrid, losing 5-2 on aggregate. PSG have struggled to make it count in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, going no higher than the quarter-finals since the takeover by the wealthy Qatar Sports Investment Company in 2011. Unai Emery left his post at the Parc des Princes and in came former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel. The German certainly has a big job in front of him to claim the only title that has eluded the French capital club.
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Three consecutive Champions League titles is something no team has down before but Los Blancos did so after initially breaking the record of back to back titles in 2016 and 2017. It is a bit surprising that they are not outright favourites but there’s no Zinedine Zidane again and with a new coach in former Spain boss Julien Lopetegui who has no previous experience at the top level, Real might not be a fourth time lucky.
Die Bayern were denied a place in last season’s final in Kiev after losing 4-3 on aggregate to Real Madrid. The last time the German giants lifted Europe’s biggest crown was in 2013 against local rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Now under the charge of Niko Kovac who has no previous European experience, the Bavarians are outsiders once again.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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