The Champions League has officially entered the round of 16, and this is where the madness truly begins.
After breaking through in the early stages, there are 16 teams remaining, each with a chance, no matter how small, of staking a claim as the best club in Europe. There have already been some unexpected results in the tournament, with stunning eliminations and sneaky contenders. But all Cinderella stories must come to an end, and only one team is going to lift the trophy. Fans on the best betting sites in Canada are wagering heavily on who that team will be.
The Champions League is a huge gambling event that sports bettors love, from Canada to Europe. Every match has huge significance, particularly now that we’ve entered the knockout portion of the bracket. With teams now playing in a two-leg matchup to determine who will move on, oddsmakers have made their picks for the teams most likely to win the league. Let’s look at some of the remaining teams that experts have pegged as the most likely to end the tournament victorious.
Manchester City
While Manchester City doesn’t sit atop the Premier League and is known for disappointing in the Champions League, this year could be different. One of the big reasons why is that they have what might be the best footballer in the world playing for them in Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker has dominated the Premier League and looked just as good in the Champions League, and he has supporting superstars like Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias. They are currently locked into a showdown against Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. This team might have the best chance at giving Pep Guardiola his first Champions League with City.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is always dangerous. They won the Champions League in 2020 and have won the Bundesliga ten years in a row. They are poised for their eleventh title this year. They have a tough matchup right now, playing Paris Saint-Germain, but they are the more disciplined side, and oddsmakers project them to triumph. They have an array of talented players, including Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, and Leroy Sané, with a deep team that can pounce on any opportunity. If they can prevail against Paris Saint-Germain, there is a high likelihood that they will be making a long run in this tournament.
Paris Saint-Germain
On the other side of things is Paris Saint-Germain. They are a massively expensive team, like Bayern, led by world-renowned players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Marquinhos. While this club is first in the Ligue 1, there is always drama that follows them, and they don’t play as a team and with the tactics of Bayern. However, they have the talent to beat anyone in the world, with Lionel Messi fresh off a World Cup victory that shows he still can carry a team to greatness. It is sure to be exciting, no matter what way things go, as it always is with Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool
It is a little surprising the oddsmakers have Liverpool this high, but they played very well on the group stage. They have a tough draw, with Real Madrid on the docket, but this is a talented team. Liverpool has had an unsightly year at the national level and is currently 9th in the Premier League. But with a host of talent that includes players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Nunez, and Roberto Firmino, they have stars that can carry them if everything meshes. However, it will take manager Jurgen Klopp pulling some rabbits out of his hat because this team is not at the level of previous iterations.
Real Madrid
Sleep on Real Madrid at your own peril. Real Madrid has won five Champions Leagues since 2014, including their 2022 victory, and they are the most consistent performers in this tournament. While there have been times this year when they’ve looked less than amazing, let’s not forget that they still have some of the most talent of any club in the world. Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Luka Modric are all driving forces that make this a team no one should be excited to face. Their matchup with Liverpool will be a nail-biter.
Napoli
Every year, it seems like one team surprises onlookers to go on a magic run. Could this year’s team be Napoli? Napolis was not pegged by experts to be a true contender, but they’ve had a fantastic year in Seria A, sitting comfortably at first place on the table. They have a matchup against Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, which is certainly winnable for them, and would push them into the quarterfinals. Napoli has some incredible talent that is elevating them, including Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Piotr Zielinski. It looks like a Serie A title is likely; could they add to it with a Champions League victory?
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