As Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley back in June, they became the last side to win the traditional format of the Champions League. UEFA’s premier football tournament, the Madristas lifted the trophy in London for the 16th time, with a new model introduced that has so far proved popular amongst fans and sports betting odds.
Indeed, the new Champions League format follows a “Swiss model” with 36 teams playing eight different opponents in a league-style group stage, replacing the old groups.
It was introduced to increase the number of matches, generate more revenue, and add excitement by ensuring more diverse fixtures. The top 24 teams advance to either the knockout stage or a new play-off round.
The new format has already delivered some great European nights, even in its infancy. From Bayern Munich’s thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb to late drama across the continent, it will be interesting to see if this year will produce any more upsets, or if the usual suspects will reach the latter rounds.
In this article, we take a look at the early favourites for the 2024/25 Champions League and assess who could lift the trophy in Munich’s Allianz Arena next May.
Real Madrid
We begin with the defending champions, who will be looking to retain their title after beating Dortmund convincingly in last season’s final. Despite a fast start from the Germans, Carlo Ancelotti’s side boasted too much experience to ever panic in finals and rode the storm before finishing their chances in emphatic style.
The arrival of Kylian Mbappe, who will be desperate for a maiden Champions League crown having reached the final once before as a Paris Saint-Germain player, will give fresh motivation for the La Liga side, who are expected to have to work hard domestically in a title race with Barcelona alongside their European responsibility.
Manchester City
Champions in 2023, Manchester City were dumped out of Europe by Madrid on penalties last term but will look for a second Champions League title under Pep Guardiola in what could be his final season as City manager.
With the club’s legal proceedings threatening to overshadow the legacy Guardiola has built since arriving in 2016 – reaching two Champions League finals already – he will want to remind the footballing world of how good his side is, although the injury to Rodri, who is facing a year on the sidelines with ligament damage, could prove to unravel their plans.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena will host this season’s Champions League final, and new manager Vincent Kompany will be hoping his side can lift their seventh European crown on home soil in the Belgian’s first year in Bavaria.
Harry Kane has been in red hot form in front of goal, and alongside an exciting attacking trio of Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sane, the Bundesliga side will be looking to win back the league title from Bayer Leverkusen as well as pursue European success.
Bayern reached the last Champions League final to be played at the Allianz back in 2012 but were beaten in their own back yard by Chelsea against the odds. Die Roten will be hoping to put the past behind them in this season’s campaign.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan showcased in their goalless draw with Manchester City that they can perform with the elite teams in Europe. Beaten by City in the 2023 final in Istanbul, they made up for it by winning the Scudetto last season and have always given the big teams great games on their day.
In Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have a great tactician in the dugout, and while they have started slowly domestically – fourth in the Serie A table at the time of writing – they should be able to win enough group games to reach the business end of the Champions League.
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Source: Streetinsider.co.uk
