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Champions League predictions, latest betting and odds for winners & finalists for 2025/26 season | Sporting News United Kingdom

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, August 26th 2025 at 7:42 GMT by Sporting News
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Champions League Betting Landscape 2023‑24: Who’s Favored to Win, Who’s Likely to Reach the Final, and How the Bookmakers are Pricing the Action

The 2023‑24 UEFA Champions League has been a masterclass in tactical intrigue and individual brilliance. As clubs march through the group stages and into the knockout rounds, the betting world has responded with a dizzying array of odds, predictions, and betting markets. Sporting News’s in‑depth breakdown of the Champions League betting scene pulls together the latest bookmaker lines, expert analyses, and key take‑aways for punters looking to hedge or bet boldly on the next big European clash.

1. The “Favorite” – Who’s on the Short List to Lift the Trophy?

At the heart of the article is a comprehensive list of the clubs currently favored to win the Champions League, with odds taken from the three biggest bookmakers in the UK: Bet365, Betway, and FanDuel. The rankings, which are constantly shifting as the competition progresses, are as follows:

The article explains that Real Madrid’s “home‑ground advantage” and a solid defensive setup under Carlo Ancelotti keep the Spanish giants at the top of the odds. Bayern Munich’s depth and a 2023‑24 form that includes a late‑season resurgence in the Bundesliga give them the second‑tier odds. Manchester City’s “Premier League‑quality” squad is priced a bit higher, reflecting the uncertainty in the knockout phase.

2. Finalists: Which Pairs Are the Most Likely to Make It to the Last Four?

Sporting News doesn’t stop at single‑team odds. The article offers a side‑by‑side view of duo odds for each possible final pairing, derived from the bookmakers’ combined “finalist” lines. The most plausible final is presented as:

• Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich – 6.80 odds (Bet365), 6.60 (Betway), 6.70 (FanDuel)

Other likely pairings, in descending order of probability, include:

• Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (7.90–8.10)
• Bayern Munich vs. Liverpool (8.30–8.50)
• Manchester City vs. Liverpool (9.00–9.20)
• Barcelona vs. PSG (11.50–11.80)

The article emphasises that these pairings are not purely statistical; they incorporate real‑time factors such as squad rotation, injuries, and the clubs’ recent form. For example, Liverpool’s recent injury crisis in the attacking midfield positions makes a “Liverpool vs. Barcelona” final less likely.

3. The Final Match: Odds and Betting Markets

Once the finalists are identified, the bookmaking world quickly turns to the Champions League Final itself. Sporting News lists the most popular betting markets, which include:

• Match Result (1X2): The odds for the two finalists as the home side, away side, and draw.
• Total Goals: Over/under lines (e.g., Over 2.5 Goals at 1.90, Under 2.5 at 1.90).
• Corners: Over/under corners (e.g., Over 9.5 corners at 1.85, Under 9.5 at 2.00).
• First Half Goals: The odds for the first half to end in a draw or be decided.
• Exact Score: Exotic odds for the exact final scoreline.

In addition to the standard markets, the article highlights a “Winner of the Champions League” bet, which is priced at the same odds as the final result but covers the entire tournament. This bet allows punters to win a single stake if their chosen club wins the final, regardless of whether they reach the final at all.

4. Analytical Insights: Why These Odds Make Sense

The article’s writers dig into the underlying data that justifies the bookmakers’ lines. Key take‑aways include:

1. Real Madrid’s Dominance in the Group Stage: Their 1‑1 draw in the group stage was a single goal away from a clean sheet, reinforcing the bookmaker’s confidence in their defensive solidity.
2. Bayern’s Recent Recovery: After a 2‑0 loss to Bayern in the previous season’s final, the German side had a 5‑0 win against a top Premier League side in the group stages, suggesting a strong psychological edge.
3. Manchester City’s Injury Concerns: The article cites the fact that City’s central defenders and key attacking midfielders have all missed at least one match in the last five weeks.
4. Liverpool’s Defensive Instability: The Blues have conceded more than 1.5 goals per game over the last six matches, a statistic that’s factored into their higher odds.

The article also pulls in data from the UEFA club coefficients and the ELO rating system to compare historical performance against current form.

5. Betting Strategies for the 2024 Champions League

Sporting News offers a short “betting playbook” for punters who want to maximise their odds:

• Arbitrage Bets: Combine Bet365 and Betway lines to guarantee a small profit on both teams reaching the final.
• In‑Play Markets: The article highlights that in‑play markets for “next goal scorer” or “corner” bets are often mispriced early in the match, presenting a prime opportunity.
• Value Bets: The most value appears in the “over 2.5 goals” market when a historically high‑scoring team faces a defensive stalwart.
• Hedging: If a favourite team drops out due to injury, hedging a bet on a lesser‑favoured team’s win can lock in a profit.

6. Follow‑Up Links and Resources

The article links to several additional sources that deepen the analysis:

• UEFA’s Official Match Statistics (https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/)
• Bet365 Champions League Odds (https://www.bet365.com/#/M=TO6/)
• FanDuel Betting Guides (https://www.fanduel.com/)
• Elo Ratings for European Clubs (https://www.eloratings.net/)
• Previous Champions League Final Highlights (https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/soccer/news/2018-champions-league-final/...)

These links provide real‑time updates and historical context that help readers cross‑reference the odds and predictions presented in the article.

Bottom Line

Sporting News’s Champions League betting guide offers a comprehensive, data‑driven snapshot of the current betting landscape for the 2023‑24 season. Real Madrid’s early lead in the odds, Bayern Munich’s robust comeback, and Manchester City’s intriguing underdog status all make for an exciting betting season. The article’s detailed breakdown of finalist odds, final‑match markets, and suggested betting strategies equips both seasoned punters and newcomers with the information they need to navigate the betting market’s dynamic terrain.

Whether you’re hoping to back your favourite club to lift the trophy or looking to exploit value in the final match’s ancillary markets, the guide serves as an indispensable resource. It reminds us that, in football betting, data, timing, and a bit of instinct are the truest allies in chasing that elusive payout.