The UEFA Champions League is one of the most exciting tournaments in international football. The Groups for the 2022/23 group stage have just been announced, which means predictions have begun to fly. It’s our turn to get in on the fun.
The setup of the Group Stages can have a major impact on which teams make it to the knockout phase. This year looks like it’ll be no different as some of the Groups are far more balanced than others. Before the knockout phase, it can always be a bit tricky to call since we can usually expect an upset or two.
Betting successfully on who’s going to win the Champions League requires both a lot of research and football knowledge, and a lot of luck. The EPL is one of the top betting sports in the United Kingdom and betting on other football tournaments is close behind.
For those who are new to sports betting or who aren’t entirely satisfied with their current sportsbook, this is the perfect time to find the perfect bookmaker. We’re only a few weeks into the EPL season and the Champions League kicks off on the 6th of September. Plenty of time to get into the swing of things!
With that in mind, now is also a great time to start predicting which teams have a good chance of winning the Champions League. Our top five picks are below:
Real Madrid
Last year, Real Madrid won their 14th Champions League Cup, again reminding the world that this tournament seems to be theirs to lose every year. Since 1998, if Real Madrid has made it to the final, they’ve won.
Real Madrid has been drawn in Group F alongside RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic. As good as these teams are, none of them are likely to have a real chance against Real Madrid. Real Madrid has the starting line-up and bench depth to be able to overcome any hurdles they face.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti will also be eager to capitalise on his success last season, when he led the team to a Champions League-La Liga double win. Between the talent on the field and Ancelotti’s combination of tactical adaptability and caring leadership, Real Madrid will be very hard to beat.
Manchester City
Despite being one of the most successful teams in the EPL, Manchester City has had much less success in Europe. They have only made it to the Champions League final once and have never won it. This could very well be their year to change that and add a European cup to their trophy case.
Erling Haaland could be the key to their success. At only 22, this young Norwegian striker is already being hailed as one of the best players in the entire world. He also has previous success in the Champions League — he was the top scorer in the 2020-21 season.
Bayern Munich
For the first time ever, Germany has five teams competing in the Champions League. While it would be great for Eintracht Frankfurt to win the Cup on their debut appearance, Bayern Munich has the best chance of all the German teams competing. They won it in 2020 and are eager to improve their record.
Bayern Munich’s group, however, is one of the toughest groups in the tournament. Barcelona and Inter Milan are going to be incredibly stiff competition and Viktoria Pizen, who round out the group, have been consistently climbing through the ranks in recent years.
Sadio Mané could very well be the piece that has been missing in Bayern Munich’s Champions League puzzle. He is one of the best players in the world and one of the most consistent, making him a powerhouse for the team.
Liverpool
Before this EPL season started, Liverpool would have been an easy bet for potential champions. However, these first three weeks of play have shown a team that has lost their heart. We’ve seen Liverpool turn things around before though, so it’s too early to write them off.
Like Bayern Munich, Liverpool has six Champions League wins to their name. Adding another would tie them with AC Milan for the second most Champions League wins. The main challenge will be overcoming the slow start that may have demoralised the players and has definitely frustrated fans.
Tottenham Hotspur
What’s a list of Champions League predictions without at least one wild card team? Like Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur have yet to win a Champions League cup. This year, they’ll definitely be looking to change that.
There are three things that could work in Spurs’ favour this year. The first is that they’ve landed in one of the easiest groups. Their main competition in Group D will likely be Olympique de Marseille, however, they shouldn’t pose too much of a threat.
The second factor is the captain and vice-captain pair of Huge Lloris and Harry Kane. Lloris is one of the top goalkeepers in the business and Harry Kane makes scoring goals look easy. They’re a powerful pair who also have a talent for inspiring other players.
The third factor is no secret to anyone who follows football — it’s manager Antonio Conte. In his first partial season with Spurs, he led them to a fourth-place EPL finish. He’s one of the best managers in European football and his style melds well with the personalities of his star players.
