The Champions League draw for this season, held yesterday, gave us some mouthwatering pairings to anticipate in the group stages of the competition this year.
All is now in shape for another sensational season of Champions League football.
Current holders Chelsea, for a fact, made the biggest signings (both in terms of quality and quantity) last summer, but it did not immediately click for them domestically and in Europe. Interestingly, as soon as they signed German tactician Thomas Tuchel, the squad started to live up to its potential, and they eventually, deservingly won the Champions League.
So, in this article, is NetBet Nigeria’s power rankings for teams we think are top favourites to win the Champions League this season.
We put into consideration their signings and departures this summer, their recent past record in the competition, and the acumen of the team’s manager.
- Inter (50/1 chance to win)
The Italian Serie A champions have seen some of the influential figures that guided them to league glory leave in the course of the summer – from manager Antonio Conte to flying right-back Achraf Hakimi. As if that wasn’t enough blows for one summer, the poster boy of their title-winning campaign Romelu Lukaku opted to reunite with Chelsea for a record fee. In their defence, they have admittedly gotten decent replacements in manager Simone Inzaghi and striker Edin Dzeko.
Hopefully, they can focus more on European football this time and do better than the group stage exit they got under Conte last season. Notably, they got a slightly fairer draw this time in the Group D ‘reunion’. They’ve drawn both Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk again, but you would Sheriff Tiraspol (in place of Borrusia Monchengladbach which they got last year) are an easier opposition.
- Barcelona (20/1)
The Catalan side will be missing the influence of their talisman Leo Messi this season. Many big sides would not fear them as much, and that they could use to their advantage.
- Liverpool (9/1)
Jurgen Klopp’s side have not been as exciting in Europe since they won the title in 2019. Considering the fact that they haven’t made big-money signings recently as well, one cannot see them as top favourites for the title this season.
- Real Madrid (14/1)
The Los Blancos have lost their captain Sergio Ramos and his center-back partner Raphael Varane this summer. It would be hard for them to challenge. But if they could succeed in swooping for Kylian Mbappe before the close of the summer window, it wouldn’t be a matter of asking too much to say Carlo Ancelotti should go all out for the UCL title this season.
- Atletico Madrid (25/1)
The LaLiga champions are known for grinding out results in somewhat less exciting fashion on Champions League nights. Could this be the time Diego Simeone’s dark tactics get them their first title in the competition?
- Man United (12/1)
Ole Solskjaer has got a much-improved squad on his hands at United this season. Now it’s left to him to use to his advantage the great experience Varane provides and the productivity of Jadon Sancho.
- Chelsea (8/1)
The Blues were the team to beat last season, now they are even a better side with a brilliant out-and-out striker in Romelu Lukaku. But it’s always not easy to win the Champions League in back-to-back seasons, except, of course, your name is Real Madrid.
- Bayern Munich (15/2)
The Bavarians have been a side every team hopes to avoid in the Champions League in recent times. It will be no different this season. In newly appointed manager Julian Nagelsmann, they have a brilliant young coach who has proven he can do so much with so little. If they can keep Robert Lewandowski fit, they have a good chance at winning their 7th Champions League title this season.
- Paris Saint-Germain (3/1)
The Paris giants have had the summer for the ages this year. If Mauricio Pochettino can manage his deeply talented squad efficiently, there hardly is any team that can stop them from clinching the title for the first time ever.
- Man City (7/2)
Pep Guardiola’s Man City have come quite close in recent years. Now with the competition’s record scorer Cristiano Ronaldo set to join them in coming days, the ingredients could now be complete. They will be stacked in every department, and they’ve got a great coach too!
There you have it – our top-ten power rankings for the Champions League this season. Which team, in your opinion, is favourite to clinch the title this season? In any case, you should make the most out of your prediction skills as you bet on Champions League games and all other games in lesser European club competitions this season.
