We’re now into 2017, and there’s a little over a month to go before the business end of the Champions League- the premier club football tournament that every elite European team aspires to win. There’s no room for hiding here- it’s knockout time and pits Europe’s sixteen best club teams against each other.
For the last three years, the trophy has been won by a team from Spain. And bar the 2013 all German final between Bayern and Dortmund, it’s always been a club from either Spain, England or Italy which has walked away winners in the last decade.
Here is the Round of 16 draw and potential favourites to go all the way (and their current odds)
Barcelona: (+300 or 3/1) to win the Champions League
Barcelona, winners of the Champions League in 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2014-15 and the European Cup in 1991-92, are many pundits and bookmakers’ picks (3/1 at Bovada to quote an example) to win the 2016/17 Champions League. The heavyweight reputations of the MSN trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar will always ensure they go into any game as favourites, although this season hasn’t been smooth sailing for Luis Enrique’s side, with new signings failing to adapt to the systems used by the gaffer.
The Spanish side topped Group C by six points despite losing 3-1 to Man City. That trio of goals, plus one in a 2-1 away win at Borussia Monchengladbach, were the only goals the Catalan giants conceded during the group stage.
Paris St. Germain (+3300 or 33/1 to win the Champions League) await Barcelona in the Round of 16 with the first of two legs taking place on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, in France. Barcelona are +105 (21/20) to win that game and are -350 (29/100) to qualify for the next round.
Barca’s Argentine talisman Lionel Messi already has 10 Champions League goals this term with Paris’ Edinson Cavani his nearest rival (with six goals). The striker is almost a shoo-in to win top goal scorer honours.
Bayern Munich: (+400 or 4/1) to win the Champions League
Bayern Munich have won the Champions League, in its current guise, twice, the last time being in the 2012-13 season. The German champions are second favourites to win this season’s tournament. This year’s final is taking place at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, and the last time the final was held in the UK, it was Bayern who won the tournament (beating Dortmund in the all-German final at Wembley)
Munich have only dropped points in four of their 16 league games, losing only once. However, they lost two of their six Champions League games in Group D.
The Germans seems to play football that is perfect for tournaments and they should ramp up their style going into the knockout stages where they face Arsenal. Bayern are at 1/2 to win the first leg of this fixture and 33/100 to qualify, great odds considering Arsenal have fallen in the Round of 16 in each of the previous six seasons and have a poor record in recent times against the Bavarian giants.
Real Madrid: +450 (or 9/2) to win the Champions League
Reigning champions Real Madrid are the third favourites to win this year’s competition. Madrid are flying in their domestic league and are unbeaten through the first 15 games of the campaign.
In the Champions League, however, Madrid faltered in the group stages, winning and drawing three matches in Group F, which was seen as one of the easier groups.
Madrid’s reward for finishing second in Group F is a two-legged tie against Napoli, a team they should expect to beat. Napoli are a dangerous team, but like Bayern for Arsenal, one gets the feeling this might be a step too far for the Partenopei. It’s reflected in the odds (-225 or 11/25) on Madrid winning the first leg in Spain and -550 (or 9/50) to qualify.
Manchester City: +1000 or 10/1 to win the Champions League
Manchester City are a frustrating team to watch. They should, on paper, be brushing opposing teams aside and bulldozing their way to the Champions League final, but their domestic form has been erratic and their Champions League group stage form was comparably poor (two wins, three draws and one defeat). Claudio Bravo is prone to make big mistakes and City haven’t yet proved their pedigree at this level. They also have the genius of Pep Guardiola sitting in the manager’s seat.
If, and it is a big if, manager Pep Guardiola can fix his shaky defence, they could be an outside chance for winning the Champions League this season. They’ve been given a good draw against Monaco, a team they should expect to beat.