The World Cup 2018 has just finished, but the soccer action is just heating up for the new club season. The UEFA Champions League 2018-19 has already kicked off its first qualifying round. The tournament won’t really move into high gear until September when the group stage starts and Europe’s elite soccer clubs join the fray.
With the season is just around the corner, ZCode System takes a look at futures betting and the clubs most likely to lift the European Cup this season.
UEFA Champions League 2018-19
Barcelona +500
It is difficult to look past Barcelona at the beginning of any Champions League campaign. The club boasts one of the two best players in the world in Lionel Messi. The Argentine and Barcelona will be out for redemption as last season saw the club dumped out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals. Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde will need to improve his tactics and get the best out of the team’s stars if he wants to win the Champions League for the first time since 2014-15.
Manchester City +550
Manchester City were eliminated in the quarterfinals of last year’s Champions League by Liverpool. Sportsbooks have installed Pep Guardiola’s team as second favorites despite the club not making a significant improvement in the team as yet. Manchester City needs to be stronger in defense next season if the club wants to claim the tournament’s top prize.
Real Madrid +650
Real Madrid has won four of the last five Champions League tournaments. However, the club’s sale of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo may be Madrid’s biggest blow in attempting to retain the trophy this term. Real Madrid needs to upgrade its squad with the massive £99 million it received for Ronaldo from Juventus. Not only did the club lose Ronaldo, but it had to replace coach Zinedine Zidane with new man Julen Lupetegui. There are more questions than answers at Real Madrid this term.
Bayern Munich +650
Bayern Munich is one of the most solid clubs in European soccer. The club will be led by new manager Niko Kovac. The Croatian coach takes over the club in the biggest management appointment of his career. Although Bayern has world-class players throughout the squad, Kovac has never managed in the Champions League before and it will be a trial by fire.
Paris Saint-Germain +650
Paris Saint-Germain continues to be one of the sportsbooks’ favorites. The club is home to Brazilian star Neymar and French teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe. PSG failed to get past the round of 16 last season and it was partly due to Neymar’s season-ending injury. PSG is filled with star players at every position, but its progression to the final will depend on Neymar’s ability to stay fit.
Juventus +700
Juventus are surprisingly sixth favorite club to win the UEFA Champions League 2018-19, according to sportsbooks. Juventus has already pulled off the transfer of the summer by signing Ronaldo. He led Real Madrid to four Champions League wins in the last five seasons. Juventus should be seen as one of the top two favorites now that Ronaldo is in the starting XI.
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