The upcoming Champions League 2024/25 season marks a significant departure from tradition with the introduction of a Swiss system.
This change brings unpredictability to the tournament, as teams will face opponents adjacent to them in the standings rather than following a preset schedule.
For those keen on exploring new betting sites this evolving format could present exciting opportunities to engage with the tournament in fresh ways.
Will the new format influence the distribution of places or will the favourites remain the same?
Bookmakers believe that there will be no changes. A certain number of teams fight for the Champions Cup year after year.
However, in the season before last Inter Milan became a finalist rather unexpectedly, and last season Borussia Dortmund became a finalist. Let’s look at the teams’ chances of winning the upcoming tournament.
Every season, the Champions League is a drama that captures the attention of millions of viewers around the world. The upcoming competition will be held in a new format – with the Swiss system instead of the group stage. Here we will look at the best teams and the main favourites according to bookmakers.
Manchester City
Last season, City had a good chance of defending the title, but Lunin produced an overperformance and dragged Real Madrid to the semi-finals.
On the pitch, the Citizens looked far more attractive than the Spaniards, but it wasn’t enough. In the new campaign, Pep Guardiola’s gang will once again be looking to win all the trophies, and the Champions League will not be last on the list.
Real Madrid
The best teams from all over Europe play in the Champions League, and Real Madrid wins. That was the case last season when Madrid won a record 15th trophy. Cream in the playoffs has not always demonstrated a spectacular style, acting more often pragmatically. The upcoming draw could be the penultimate one for Carlo Ancelotti. Will there be another triumph?
Arsenal
In 2023/24, Arsenal unexpectedly shone in the Champions League. The Canaries didn’t just make the playoffs, they reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years. Everything ended at that stage, but Mikel Arteta’s team held their own against the formidable Bayern Munich.
Liverpool
Liverpool, on the other hand, missed out on the Champions League last season. Jurgen Klopp’s men failed miserably in the Europa League, falling to Atalanta in the quarter-finals. Now at the helm of the Reds is Arne Slot, who has no experience of working in such a prestigious team. Will he be able to cope with the pressure?
Bayern
Bayern became another victim of Real in the LC-2023/24. Munich lost to the future title holder in the semi-finals with a score of 3:4 on aggregate of 2 meetings. And in an extremely offensive way, Joselu scored a double at the very end of the last 45 minutes.
Can Vincent Kompany produce a decent debut season as head coach of the German side?
Of the other European teams, some are quite capable of surprises in individual matches and can even make the playoffs. We are talking about RB Leipzig, PSV, Feyenoord. Someone will probably take on last year’s Copenhagen, but the ceiling for them will be the 1/8 finals.