Who Will Win This Seasons Champions League?

The transfer activity of the summer has been volatile at the top of the game. Certainly the chances of Barcelona retaining their champion’s league title look to be smaller with the recent transfer surge from teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United. As always this European competition catches the imagination of football fans across the globe and fans are already considering what bets to place on the competition. Can anyone beat Real Madrid? Let’s take a look at the current betting market and discuss the top team’s chances of winning the competition.

bwin.com are offering Real Madrid at 4.00, and it is very difficult to look beyond them to do very well in this competition due to the amazing acquisition of some of the best individual players. Their summer recruitment campaign sees Real boasting Ronaldo, Ribery, Kaka, and Benzema added to their already strong squad. The question remains whether these individual players can play well together as a team or whether their own skills will be diluted by having to share the ball with their illustrious team mates. They will be very heavy favourites in their group matches against much weaker teams. You would expect that when Real Madrid play well there could be many high scoring victories so the 4.00 on offer may shorten if they perform excellently in the group stages.

Barcelona are priced at 5.25 currently and they always seem do well in the competition. Without a host of massive names players like Henry, Messi and others contribute to a solid team. They won well against Manchester United in the 2008/2009 final and are a solid enough unit to trouble every side they play against. Not a team to look too far beyond, but currently there are more attractive bets available in my opinion. They were not expected to win last season so this bet may yet hold some attraction to the punter.

Chelsea are given the odds of 7.50 which I find surprising considering there is major speculation John Terry may leave for Manchester City. If Terry does leave this would leave a major void in the club and their likelihood of winning would decrease. Should he stay, I believe this price to be about right as they have been so close but not quite good enough for so long now since the days of Jose Mourinho. Players like Lampard, Ballack and Drogba are now into their thirties and whilst all are still world class performers Chelsea are now quite predictable and their success in the competition will depend on how they proceed under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester United are priced at 8.50 and this is at first glance attractive. They have, however, lost their star player Cristiano Ronaldo who scored 67 goals in the last two seasons and the signings of Valencia from Wigan and Michael Owen on a free transfer are good signings but not of the world class level Ferguson hoped to acquire. Owen scored on his debut, but has had a tough time at Newcastle since 2005 and has a lot to prove that his youthful class is something that will carry through to the end of his career. Whether you want a punt at 8.50 depends on whether you think Ryan Giggs has one more top level season in him, whether you believe Wayne Rooney can score the goals in Ronaldo’s absence and whether Michael Owen can find form from years gone by. Traditionally Manchester United are close to the Champions league title most years and have a knack of winning trophies. I believe the 8.50 has more to do with Real Madrid’s expectation to win rather than a belief that Manchester United cannot win it. Expect this price to shorten also.

The rest of the field contain Liverpool at 10.50, Inter Milan at 12.00, Arsenal and AC Milan at 17.00 and Bayern Munich at 26.00. Liverpool always seem to do well in the competition and with the right draw could go all the way like back in 2005. Arsenal have lost Adebayor to Manchester City so could be weak up front, but may sign Obafemi Martins from relegated Newcastle United. It is unlikely they will not strengthen their forward line before the start of the season. Any of these teams have a chance so look at their early group form and make an early bet before prices shorten.