Champions League 2024/25: Early predictions as the UCL takes shape

The revamped format for the 2024/25 Champions League was met with widespread scepticism when it was first announced, but the early signs look promising.

The opening ‘league phase’ looks set to add a new sense of jeopardy given that only eight clubs are guaranteed an automatic place in the last-16.

An additional play-off round should serve to keep more clubs in contention to progress to the next phase, which makes the tournament more competitive.

With that in mind, read on as we offer some early predictions on the 2024/25 Champions League, starting with one of the competition’s big-hitters.

Manchester City can top the EPL quartet

Boasting a team that collectively cost more than the top 10 online casino biggest wins, it is little wonder that Manchester City are one of the favourites to win the Champions League.

They have drifted slightly in the outright betting after picking up four points from their opening two games, but remain a popular pick with sports bettors.

City make plenty of appeal at odds of 11/10 to be the top Premier League team at the end of the league phase given they have several favourable fixtures to come.

Although Pep Guardiola’s side face trips to Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, they have enough quality in their squad to finish ahead of their English top-flight rivals.

Juventus should finish in the top eight

Juventus were priced at around 5/2 to qualify automatically for the last-16 before a ball was kicked and they have made an impressive start to the league phase.

Victories over PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig have fired the Serie A giants into the top eight and they look a good bet to stay there.

Odds of 6/4 still represent good value given their performances to date and will likely be cut further if they defeat Stuttgart in their third outing.

Games against Aston Villa (A) and Man City (H) are their toughest tests, but Juventus are strongly fancied to progress automatically to the last-16.

New format could produce surprises

With only eight teams guaranteed a place in the last-16, there is a strong possibility of the league phase producing a surprise or two.

The ‘finish 9-24th’ market is worth exploring, particularly given the way results have gone over the first two matchdays in this season’s competition.

Arsenal have picked up four points from their first two matches, but have several tricky fixtures scheduled over the next few months.

Odds of 12/5 for Arsenal to finish between 9-24th look to be a misstep by the bookmakers and could reward punters willing to take a chance.

Young Boys fancied to keep struggling

Eight teams are yet to pick up a point in the Champions League, but that is guaranteed to change over the next few matches.

Young Boys are currently bottom of the standings after heavy defeats against Villa and Barcelona and look well out of their depth at this level.

Most of their remaining fixtures look tricky – a factor which makes odds of 15/2 to finish bottom at the end of the league phase look extremely tempting.

Their final match at home to Red Star Belgrade could determine who collects the wooden spoon, but the Serbian side should have enough about them to avoid that fate.

Liverpool could be dangerous under Slot

Liverpool are one of seven teams still unbeaten after their first two games and are fancied to mount a strong bid to win the competition this season.

They have a tough schedule remaining in the league phase, with home matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid undoubtedly the standout games.

However, the Reds will not fear either of that duo at Anfield and the rest of their fixtures all looking reasonably winnable.

Liverpool are much improved under new manager Arne Slot and odds of 5/1 to reach the final look a tempting proposition for sports bettors.

Matchday 3 multiple can deliver a winning return

There are several banker bets in the next round of matches, some of which are completely unbackable due to how short they are in the betting.

However, there is a tasty five-fold priced at just over 8/1 which could be worth wagering on when the Champions League resumes later this month.

Villa, PSG and Atalanta look good bets to win their respective home matches, while Inter Milan and Liverpool can triumph on the road.

Adding Juventus to the bet boosts the odds to almost 16/1 and may reward ambitious punters with an even bigger return if they are brave enough to take the plunge.

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