The Champions League has a new format this season. 36 teams begin in the same group, each playing eight games in a league format. This has ensured that there are some tasty games to look forward to in the group stages.
Once the competition reaches the last 16, it will revert to a knockout format. Many of the biggest clubs in Europe were in support of a refresh in the structure of the competition. They have been given some tough tests early in the tournament.
Manchester City To Face Inter and PSG
English champions Manchester City top the Champions League betting odds at +275 to prevail in the 2024/25 campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated the Premier League over the last four seasons, but they have won the leading European competition just once in that period.
City have made an excellent start to the defense of their Premier League crown, winning all their opening three matches. They have scored nine goals in those three games in what has been an impressive start.
Guardiola’s team has regularly reached the business end of the Champions League during the Spaniard’s era. They lifted the European trophy two seasons ago when Ilkay Gundogan was their captain. The German has now returned to the club after completing a free transfer from Barcelona.
Manchester City will face Inter Milan and PSG in the group stage. They both won their respective leagues last season, so it will be a tough test against the Italian and French champions.
Real Madrid To Travel To Anfield
Spanish giants Real Madrid won their second Champions League trophy in the last three years when they defeated Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley last season. They had victories over Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the knockout stages of the competition.
Real Madrid strengthened their squad during the summer with the signing of Kylian Mbappe. The French superstar adds another dynamic to their impressive forward line. One of the reasons the 25-year-old opted to move to Madrid was to win the Champions League.
The last team to defend the Champions League title was Real Madrid in 2017. The 15-times winners of the European Cup/Champions League will take on Liverpool, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund in the opening stage of this year’s tournament. Their trip to Liverpool in late November is one of the standout matches from the opening stages of the competition.
Bayern Munich’s Credentials Will Be Tested Against Barcelona and PSG
Only two clubs in history have won the European Cup/Champions League more times than Bayern Munich. The German club will be hoping they can complete a seventh success this season. They will be tested against Barcelona and PSG in the group stage.
Bayern lost a close semi-final 3-4 (two legs) to Real Madrid last season. They had wins over Lazio and Arsenal before that last-four encounter. The 2020 winners are now managed by former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany who took over the job in the summer.
In Harry Kane, Bayern Munich has one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe. The England captain scored 44 goals in all competitions last season in what was his debut campaign in Germany.
Bayern’s biggest signing during the summer transfer window was the deal for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha. They spent just over £47.4 million on the Portuguese midfielder. With a strong squad to work with, Kompany has a great chance of winning the competition in his first season at the club.
The 2024/25 Champions League final takes place on the 31st of May at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
