In 2022, Real Madrid secured the Champions League trophy and, in so doing, the club extended its own proud record. Los Blancos have now won Europe’s top club competition on no fewer than 14 occasions and it’s a standard that others are struggling to match.
Can Real make it 15 in 2023 or will another side from Europe’s top divisions come through to take the title? Even at this early stage, we can consider the teams in contention and look to make some predictions.
The Neutral Viewpoint
Even before a ball is kicked in anger, betting markets are already in for the winners of the 2022/23 Champions League. Real Madrid may be the defending champions, but they are down among the chasing pack this time.
According to odds supplied by sources attached to Sbo.net, Manchester City are the favourites for the UCL next term while the closest challenges are expected to come from Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Aside from the outright tournament odds, Sbo.net will also list markets for every game in the Champions League. There will be match winner options, side betting and there may even be potential for an arbitrage bet. Arbitrage betting occurs when a sportsbook lists odds for two or more separate outcomes within a match. Odds are listed in such a way that it can be possible to lock in a profit no matter what happens.
Also included on the website are bookmaker reviews and it’s possible to get directly involved in the Champions League betting. Each of the sportsbooks referenced on these pages are able to accept new account holders.
In return for completing a swift and secure registration process, many of those operators have a welcome promotion to take advantage of. Once that’s used up, there may be options for additional offers through the account.
Extra benefits keep coming and there is likely to be a wide choice of funding options, plus effective customer service, in-play markets and the ability to stake via a mobile app. In summary, it’s the site to follow if you are betting on the Champions League but have those bookmakers called it correctly?
The Favourites
As we’ve already seen, the four teams at the top of the Champions League market are Manchester City, PSG, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Of those sides, only Bayern and Liverpool have won the Champions League in previous years.
Could that experience help them in 2022/23 and beyond? Manchester City and PSG are dominant sides but there is pressure on them to win the UCL and that can sometimes lead to desperation.
Knowing what it takes to get over the line in the biggest competitions could just work in Liverpool’s and Bayern’s favour.
Much will also depend on the makeup of those sides next term. The transfer window is open around Europe and each of those teams is looking to strengthen their squads in the close season.
The Chasing Pack
It’s strange to see Real Madrid at the head of the chasing pack. They are the defending champions and Champions League record holders but the sportsbooks are giving them little chance next season.
Real are also looking to make changes to their playing staff but they will always be a threat and we shouldn’t write them off. Other teams at similar odds to Los Blancos include Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
Outsider Challengers
There are relatively few shocks in world football and they are especially rare in the Champions League. The outsiders have a tough test in store but could any of them go deep into the competition in 2022/23?
Behind the chasing pack, the outsiders include Tottenham Hotspur who made it through to the 2019 UCL final. Others in this section are AC Milan, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Marseille.
All of those teams are successful in their domestic divisions, but it would take a big step up in order to secure Champions League glory. Those are the teams in contention, but the stronger clubs are going to be very tough to beat.
Manchester City, Liverpool, PSG and Bayern Munich may be favourites but very few pundits would be surprised to see Real Madrid successfully defend their trophy