Who Has the Best Chances to Win UEFA Champions League 2024-25?

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The 2024-25 season of the leading European football competition has unsurprisingly stirred aficionados, leaving them guessing who will take the coveted silver cup home. Here’s a top contenders UEFA Champions League review, with their winning potential and odds revealed.

Key Factors That Determine Champions League Success

Before we jump to analyzing the Champions League 2024-25 favorites, let’s pinpoint the ingredients of success and what exactly it takes to become the winner of the tournament.

Squad strength. Like in all team sports, a lot depends on who is on the roster. A well-knit squad of physically and mentally strong players has higher odds of winning. A dream team is one with sufficient collective experience and boasting stellar individuals.

Managerial expertise. Who is at the helm is no less important because tactical masterminds are behind all major successes. The right decision made by an astute manager at the last moment can lead the club to victory in the tournament.

Form and injuries. Even with a star-spangled lineup, a squad is not guaranteed a win. The crucial factors are the physical condition in which a club enters the competition, whether players have had injuries, and how they have performed recently.

Historical performance. Past experiences are not too indicative, but they do count toward future achievements. A club with many years of experience in the League, an impressive track record, and a number of champion titles is more likely to repeat its success.

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Top Contenders for the 2024-25 Title

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League edition has brought a brand-new format with a field expanding to 36 teams instead of the previous 32 contenders. Participants will play four home and four away matches each in the newly introduced league phase, replacing the group stage.

Currently, you can bet on matches of the league phase at the best bookies football 1xbet site, which has the hottest odds offerings. And here is the list of elite clubs vying for the principal European soccer title who are, by all odds, the 2024-25 season frontrunners.

Manchester City

Beyond any doubt, Man City leads the pack this season. Even though the Citizens bagged only one UEFA Champions League trophy in their history in 2023, they have a good chance to lift the second silverware, especially since the current Premier League champions are in great shape.

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The elite English club performed remarkably in the 2023-24 season, defending its domestic title for the third consecutive time. Its secret weapon arsenal includes Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne. To top it all, Pep Guardiola, a tactical powerhouse, is at the club’s head.

The first four games of the league phase of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League ended with two wins, one tie, and one loss for the Blues, with ten goals scored and four conceded in total.

Real Madrid

The legends of the sport and reigning champions of the League couldn’t but hit our list of top contenders. The Spanish club won its first continental title in 1956, then confirmed it four times in a row, and eventually became the all-time record holder with a staggering fifteen victories.

Los Blancos had a thriving 2023-24 campaign, coming out victorious on the continent and at home. The team has recently bolstered its attack by signing rising talents Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, and Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching experience and flexibility are worth relying on.

Like its main competitor, Manchester City, Real Madrid won two of the initial four matches of the league phase. However, the Spanish side lost two games and conceded seven goals overall.

Bayern Munich

The 2023-24 season was unsuccessful, not to say disappointing, for the Bavarians. They lost their domestic title to Bayer Leverkusen, which was the club’s first defeat in the Bundesliga after a winning streak spanning eleven years. Nevertheless, Bayern Munich should not be dismissed.

With brilliant goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, newly signed prodigy Michael Olise, and the world’s top goalscorer Harry Kane, the squad is likely to reenact its prior triumphs in the League. Moreover, the new head coach, Vincent Kompany, and his fresh perspective on tactics inspire optimism.

Bayern Munich kicked off decently in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League edition. The club had two victories in the first four matches, scoring a total of eleven goals, five by Harry Kane.

Other Dark Horses

The season’s denouement may come as a surprise and produce a winner other than the above headliners. The current tournament features plenty of dark horses who could become the next European champions. Here are three more high-potential clubs capable of coming from behind.

⚽ Arsenal. Although second place was their biggest achievement in the League in 2006, the Gunners’ chances this year are high enough. Recently, Mikel Arteta’s side has played consistently well both at home and in Europe, showcasing excellent depth.

⚽ Paris Saint-German. Losing its superstar player, Kylian Mbappé, may seem a bad sign for PSG, but the squad is still star-filled. With the combined efforts of the likes of Bradley Barcola, Fabián Ruiz, and Ousmane Dembélé, the club’s victory is a probable outcome.

⚽ Inter Milan. Italian sides haven’t been crowned since 2010, and Inter stands a chance to bring the cup home again. The reigning domestic champions, guided by Simone Inzaghi, made a good start in the league phase by drawing with Man City and beating Arsenal.

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Tactical Analysis of the Tournament

Like the previous group stage, the league phase of the current competition is followed by knockouts. In the updated format, the eight clubs with the best results in the league phase will automatically advance to the round of 16, while the rest will have to play off to hit the round.

Most likely, each of the top-tier title challengers we highlighted above will end up in the last 16, either automatically or through the knockout phase play-offs. Then, a real fight between the strongest will break out, requiring players and coaches to go the extra mile to beat their rivals.

To emerge victorious, clubs will likely unleash their full potential, leveraging their brightest talents. Contenders will pit squad depth, morale, and tactical prowess against each other. Playing on the home field and garnering extensive support from fans may contribute to victory.

Key Players to Watch in the 2024-25 Season

The 2024-25 edition of the UEFA Champions League promises a slew of memorable matches thanks to the soccer phenoms participating in the tournament. They will undoubtedly delight the fans, wow the crowd at the stadium, and highly likely be instrumental in their teams’ successes.

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The following are must-watch players expected to make football history in the current season: