By Larry Rupp
The Champions League is where the top soccer clubs in the world come together to battle it out once and for all. This year’s tournament marks the 67th season in which 32 elite squads will go head-to-head in order to be named European champion. The competition is already heating up and set to enter the Round of 16 in mid-February.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the teams that have the best chance to end up as the one true victor. All odds are according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
⚽️2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣⚽️
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 3, 2022
Champions League football this year 🤩 #UCL pic.twitter.com/CeRiqiZsNF
Manchester City (+250)
It shouldn’t come as a shock to see Manchester City with the best odds to come out on top given just how dominant they have looked in the Premier League this year. Manager Pep Guardiola has his squad on a roll given the Sky Blues have won eight of their last nine matches overall. Keep in mind that City played well in the group stage as well, posting a 4-0-2 (W-D-L) record and scoring 18 goals.
The only thing holding this team back seems to be their inability to get the job done when it matters the most. Simply put, Manchester City has built a reputation for choking. They failed to defeat Chelsea in the final last season and have yet to capture a single Champions League trophy. This team plays hungry, though. City is surely determined to prove the doubters wrong.
Bayern Munich (+350)
Bayern Munich always finds a way to be in the conversation when it comes to the Champions League. Of course, this powerhouse club has taken home the trophy six times, including two years ago when they blanked Paris Saint-Germain in the final by a score of 1-0. Manager Julian Nagelsmann has found a lot of success by leaning on Bayern’s unrelenting offensive attack. The Bundesliga leaders posted 22 goals in the group stage round, which topped all other participating teams.
Striker Robert Lewandowski has shown no signs of slowing down and is surrounded by dynamic playmakers including forward Robert Mueller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The depth on Bayern Munich’s roster allows them to play a fast-paced game that regularly exhausts their opponents. That makes them a legitimate threat to win the final match on May 29 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Rest of the Field
The Champions League is by no means top-heavy this season, though. It seems too good to be true that the reigning winners can be found at +700 odds. Yes, Chelsea has looked a bit sloppy as of late and needs to rebuild their previously commanding form. However, they only gave up 4 goals in the group stage round thanks to the efforts of Edouard Mendy. Mendy was named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper for 2021 and gives the Blues a chance every single time.
One long-shot team that’s worth watching is Ajax at +1200 odds. Manager Erik ten Hag’s squad was one of just two teams to finish with a perfect 6-0-0 (W-D-L) group stage record and net at least 20 goals. Specifically, striker Sebastien Haller shined with 10 goals in the Dutch side’s six matches. While people tend to overlook this club, Ajax is the fifth-highest rated team in the world, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Picture Credit: Football.ua
