Champions League 2021/22: Outright betting preview

Listen to the Champions League Betting Blueprint

Inform your predictions ahead of this season's Champions League with Pinnacle Podcast's Champions League Betting Blueprint, featuring host James Gregg alongside soccer expert Andrew Beasley and Infogol's Jake Osagathorpe.

Champions League 2021/22: Who are the favourites?

Team	Odds	2020/21 performance
PSG	3.760*	Semi-finals
Manchester City	4.520*	Runners-up
Bayern Munich	8.020*	Quarter-finals
Chelsea	9.020*	Winners
Liverpool	10.030*	Quarter-finals
Manchester United	10.770*	Group stage
Real Madrid	15.040*	Semi-finals
Barcelona	21.060*	Round of 16
Juventus	21.060*	Round of 16

Champions League 2021/22: Schedule

Champions League 2021/22: Teams

Group	Teams
Group A	Manchester City, PSG, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge
Group B	Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan
Group C	Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas
Group D	Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff Tiraspol
Group E	Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv
Group F	Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys
Group G	Lille, Sevilla, RB Salzburg, Wolfsburg
Group H	Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit, Malmo

Champions League 2021/22: Who will win this season’s Champions League?

After what will surely go down as the most remarkable transfer window in soccer history, perhaps unsurprisingly PSG (3.760*) have been installed as the outright favourites. The 2020 runners-up have sensationally added Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi, Georgino Wijnaldum, and Nuno Mendes to their ranks, while retaining the services of Kylian Mbappe despite intense interest from Real Madrid.

PSG can boast what is arguably the strongest squad in world soccer, although they will face an immediate test via a difficult group featuring Manchester City and RB Leipzig. If Mauricio Pochettino can instil a consistent tactical identity and strong teamwork among a truly world-class team, then naturally the French side will be very difficult to beat.

Chelsea's impressive defence conceded just four goals in 13 Champions League matches during their victorious run last season.

Manchester City (4.520*) have been consistently among the outright favourites for the Champions League since Pep Guardiola became manager at the club. Last season their attempts to lift the trophy for the first time fell at the last hurdle as they were defeated in the final by Chelsea, and they have since responded by signing Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a record British transfer fee.

City possess a squad firmly capable of winning the Champions League, although in recent seasons their efforts in the knockout stages have been plagued by questionable tactical decisions by Guardiola, such as in last season’s final when he opted to start the match without a recognised defensive midfielder. If the Spaniard can overcome his tendency to ‘overthink’ on the continental stage, this may very well prove to be City’s year.

Bayern Munich (8.020*) enter this season’s competition amidst a period of transition, with a new manager at the helm in the form of Julian Nagelsmann and having witnessed stalwarts David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, and Javi Martinez all leave the club this summer. Nagelsmann’s stint as manager has commenced with a somewhat unconvincing start, although if he can mould his intense and fierce style of play onto what remains a highly talented squad, the six-time winners can be expected to appear in the tournament’s latter stages.

Defending champions Chelsea (9.020*) appear to have maintained the imperious form they concluded last season with. Thomas Tuchel’s team edged Villarreal in this season’s UEFA Super Cup before enjoying an unbeaten start to their Premier League season, and they have also added Romelu Lukaku and Saul to a squad that now possesses immense strength in depth.

Chelsea have earned a deserved reputation for being defensively resilient under Tuchel, as highlighted by the fact that they conceded just four goals in 13 matches during their victorious run last season. With Lukaku primed to offer an extra dimension to their attack this time round, it would be no surprise to witness Tuchel’s tactical acumen assert Chelsea among the contenders once again.

2019 winners Liverpool (10.030*) will be hoping for a more productive season after large parts of their 2020/21 campaign were disrupted by injuries and many teams will be hoping they don’t have to encounter Jurgen Klopp’s pressing-led tactics. The long-awaited return of Virgil van Dijk has restored some much-needed confidence to the Liverpool defence, although a lack of reliable attacking options beyond their first team may prove to be their downfall.

Manchester United (10.770*) have also turned heads in the transfer window courtesy of acquiring Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, and most notably, the Champions League’s all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. While their squad will be eyeing up honours, they will have to overcome the consistent underperformance they have exhibited in European competitions during recent years, which included a disappointing group stage exit in last season’s tournament. A repeat of this year’s Europa League final against Villarreal lies in wait in Group F.

Conversely, Real Madrid’s (15.040*) transfer window endured the disappointments of failing to sign Mbappe and losing their primary central defensive partnership of Ramos and Varane. However, the 13-time winners have consistently proved themselves as a team that cannot be underestimated in the Champions League and exceeded expectations to reach last season’s semi-finals. Manager and three-time winner Carlo Ancelotti’s experience could also prove crucial for their efforts in the competition.

Champions League 2021/22: Teams to look out for

While they have lost Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus (21.060*) have also rehired Max Allegri as manager. The 54-year-old led Juventus to two Champions League finals during his last stint at the club and can call upon an impressive record in European competitions. Their Serie A campaign has got underway with a sluggish start, but Allegri’s ability to craft balanced teams that are difficult to play against may prove to be a cause of concern for their opponents.

Sevilla have reasons to feel confident about winning Group G.

RB Leipzig (51.140*) will be taking on an unenviable challenge in attempting to qualify from Group A, but they triumphed in similar circumstances last season when they progressed from a group containing PSG and Manchester United. Leipzig have been recently weakened courtesy of losing Nagelsmann, Dayot Upamecano, and Marcel Sabitzer to Bayern Munich, but they appear to relish the Champions League and are certainly capable of troubling their Group A opponents.

Sevilla (51.140*) have won the Europa League four times since 2014 and were unfortunate to miss out on last season’s quarter-finals following a closely contested Round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund. Julen Lopetegui’s team possess the quality to top what appears to be the relatively unchallenging Group G, and a favourable knockout draw could ensure that an appearance in the quarter-finals or further this season is by no means out of reach.

Don't forget to also check out our outright betting preview for this season's Europa League.