We look into the odds and betting patterns for the key Champions League markets.
The wait is almost over, the Champions League returns to our screens this week!
Liverpool triumphed over Spurs in last year’s all-English final and shrewd punters could have backed them at 12/1 to win at this stage. It pays to pick up the prices now so read carefully!
Will Manchester City finally break their Champions League curse? Could defending champions Liverpool reach their third final in a row? Can Spurs go one better than 2018? How will Europa League winners Chelsea fare under Frank Lampard?
We look at the chances the bookies are giving each English team this time round and where punters are putting their money since the draw.
Read on to find out who punters are backing in the main markets ahead of matchday 1. We also break down the chances of each English club in the group stages.
Bookies favourites and the most backed by punters… Manchester City. Sound familiar? The 7/2 favourites are the most backed with 18% of bets. Pep is once again expected to go all the way, but will he? City crashed out in the quarters last year and the pressure will be on for the Premier League champions to do better in Europe this year.
Maurizio Sarri won the Europa League with Chelsea and his new club are the second most backed to win this competition. Juventus have accrued 13% of bets since the draw, priced way out at 12/1, behind PSG.
Despite winning last year’s competition, a sixth success on the biggest stage, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are third favourites at 15/2. 9% of bets makes them the third most backed.
Barcelona embarrassingly let go of a 3-0 advantage against Liverpool in the 2018 semi-final. The Catalan giants haven’t suffered in this year’s pre-tournament market, they’re the 11/2 second favourites. However, punters aren’t so convinced, with just 8% of bets going their way.
It may come as a surprise that the most backed since the draw in this market is a 22/1 shot… Harry Kane. The Spurs star, who’s scored three goals in five Premier League games so far, has accrued 20% of bets.
As expected, last year’s top scorer Lionel Messi is a popular choice. 19% of bets have gone on the 6/1 joint-favourite. Meanwhile, the other 6/1 favourite Cristiano Ronaldo has attracted 11%. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (13/1) is fourth with 7%.
As mentioned, Manchester City are topping the pre-tournament charts with bookies and punters. Their draw might have something to do with it. City face Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group C. Priced at 1/6 to win the group, they’ve accrued 57% of bets since the draw, ahead of 100/1 outsiders Dinamo Zagreb with 24%.
The defending champions will face Napoli once again, with RB Salzburg and Genk making up the rest of Group E. Liverpool are odds-on favourites to win the group at 4/9 and dominate the betting too with 67%.
They got all the way to the final last year, when priced at 28/1 to win the competition at this point. Tottenham are even further out in the market this time at 33/1. Poch and co. have a relatively favourable draw, facing Bayern Munich, Olympiacos and Crvena Zvezda in Group B. They’re 7/4 second favourites to win the group, and trail Bayern with punters too, accruing 36% of bets to their 64%.
After winning the Europa League and finishing third in the Premier League, Chelsea have a shot at the Champions League this year. New manager Frank Lampard faces a difficult task, with last year’s tournament sweethearts Ajax, Lille and Valencia joining Chelsea in Group H. Bookies still make them favourites to win the group at 6/4 and punters fancy them too, with 37% of bets making them the most backed.
