Frank LorenzoThe UEFA Champions League is underway and, already, it seems only a handful of teams (or perhaps even fewer) have a legitimate chance to lift the trophy.
The UEFA Champions League is underway and, already, it seems only a handful of teams (or perhaps even fewer) have a legitimate chance to lift the trophy.
Back in September, we gave you the odds for all 32 teams to hoist the trophy at the end of the year. (Those odds are reposted below.)
How are things playing out so far?
The defending champions, Real Madrid, were at the top of the odds and they have dominated their first three games, posting three wins and a 10-2 goal differential.
Bayern Munich, second in the odds, have also been perfect thus far with three wins and a 9-1 differential. Barcelona, who were second in the odds at the start of the year, have dropped a game (to Paris-Saint Germain). But they still have the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and look poised to finish in the top two of their group.
As for the underdogs, Olympiakos (originally +50000) has surprised. With two wins and one loss, they sit second in Group A ahead of Juventus (whom they beat 1-0 in the last match).
Though the ultimate champion is very likely to come from one of the top five or six teams in the odds, the other place in the finals could go to a dark horse. The last two Champions League finals have featured preseason underdogs: in 2012, Borussia Dortmund managed to get to the final; last season, Atletico Madrid was seconds away from winning the tournament.
Below are the preseason odds for all 32 teams to take home the 2015 Champions League trophy, followed by the pre-season odds for each team to win their group of four. Look for updated odds in the near future.
Championship odds:
- Real Madrid +350
- Bayern Munich +400
- Barcelona +450
- Chelsea +600
- Manchester City +1400
- Paris Saint Germain +1400
- Arsenal +2000
- Atletico Madrid +2000
- Liverpool +2500
- Borussia Dortmund +2500
- Juventus +2500
- AS Roma +5000
- Porto +5000
- Athletic Bilbao +5000
- Bayer Leverkusen +6000
- AS Monaco +6000
- Zenit +8000
- Benfica +8000
- Schalke 04 +10000
- Shakhtar Donetsk +15000
- Galatasaray +20000
- Ajax +25000
- Olympiakos +50000
- CSKA Moscow +50000
- Sporting Lisbon +50000
- Basel +50000
- APOEL Nicosia +100000
- Anderlecht +100000
- Ludogorets Razgrad +100000
- BATE Borisov +100000
- Malmo FF +100000
- Maribor +100000
Preseason group-winner odds:
Group A
- Atletico Madrid -137
- Juventus +135
- Olympiacos +1200
- Malmo FF +5000
Group B
- Real Madrid -450
- Basel +1800
- Liverpool +350
- Ludogorets Razgrad +10000
Group C
- Benfica +250
- Zenit +350
- Bayer Leverkusen +175
- AS Monaco+275
Group D
- Arsenal +105
- Borussia Dortmund +120
- Galatasaray +750
- Anderlecht +2500
Group E
- Bayern Munich -167
- Manchester City +200
- CSKA Moscow +4000
- AS Roma +750
Group F
- Barcelona -200
- Paris Saint Germain +180
- Ajax +1400
- APOEL Nicosia +10000
Group G
- Chelsea -330
- Schalke 04 +400
- Sporting Lisbon +800
- Maribor +5000
Group H
- Porto +125
- Shakhtar Donetsk +330
- Athletic Bilbao +167
- BATE Borisov +2000
