PSG are favourites for a Champions League three-peat, but Barcelona's blistering form has punters piling on at Oddschecker.
Paris Saint-Germain go into the new Champions League season chasing an unprecedented third straight title, but the bookmakers aren't convinced it's a foregone conclusion. Arsenal, fresh off last year's runners-up finish, headline a five-strong Premier League contingent with eyes on the trophy, while Barcelona's electric start to the campaign has punters taking notice. With the league phase underway and Madrid's Metropolitano hosting the final on 5 June, here's where the smart money's landing.
Champions League Winner Odds
Who are the favourites to win the Champions League?
PSG remain the team to beat on paper, and Luis Enrique's squad still boasts Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Ousmane Dembélé in searing form, but a winless start to their Ligue 1 campaign, including a Trophée des Champions defeat to Lens, has left a few cracks showing. That's opened the door for a chasing pack.
Arsenal have emerged as many pundits' pick to go one better than last season's final defeat. Their meanest defence in Europe and a favourable-looking draw, avoiding some of the tournament's toughest sides while landing Sabah and Slovan Bratislava, two of the competition's weakest, have shortened their odds. Bayern Munich are being talked up too, with Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz forming arguably the most dangerous front three left in the competition after last season's semi-final heartbreak against PSG.
Barcelona's case is building fastest of all. Four wins from four to open the season, an eye-catching 17-2 aggregate goal difference, and the free-transfer capture of Rodri to shore up their leaky midfield have turned Hansi Flick's side into a force to be reckoned with. Real Madrid, now under Jose Mourinho, and Manchester City, rebuilding after Pep Guardiola's departure, make up the next tier - both talented enough to go deep, but carrying more questions than the teams above them.
Champions League Betting
Public money tells a different story to the bookmakers' own pricing. Of winner bets logged on Oddschecker in the last seven days, Barcelona are running away with backing:
- Barcelona — 24.4% of bets
- PSG — 10.6% of bets
- Arsenal — 8.75% of bets
- Real Madrid — 7.5% of bets
- Bayern Munich — 6.9% of bets
- Man City — 5.6% of bets
- Liverpool — 5% of bets
That's a striking gap — Barcelona are attracting roughly one in every four winner bets placed, more than double the backing PSG are getting despite the French side sitting shorter in the betting. The remaining bets are scattered across the rest of the 36-team field.
