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The five favourites to win the 2019/2020 Champions League

The 2018/19 Champions League season proved to be one of the most thrilling tournaments in recent memory, with shock exits and miraculous comebacks a theme throughout.

Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe for the sixth time in their history, after beating Tottenham in only the second all-English final.

Next season’s competition is set to be as fiercely contested as ever, and for those of you interested in new customer betting offers we’ve decided to take a look at the five favourites to lift the trophy in 2020.

Bayern Munich 9/1

The German’s are perennial contenders for Europe’s biggest prize, though suffered a last-16 exit to eventual winners Liverpool after reaching at least the last four in six of the previous seven seasons.

Niko Kovac’s side will undergo somewhat of a transitional summer, with long-serving wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben leaving after trophy-laden spells at the club.

How Bayern replace their outgoing wide-men may be key to their chances, as they look to supply star forward Robert Lewandowski who finished as the tournament’s second highest goal scorer despite their early exit last season.

Having dominated German football by winning seven consecutive Bundesliga titles, the Bavarian side will be hoping to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time since 2013 next season.

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Real Madrid 8/1

Record 13-times winners, the Spanish giants stranglehold on the European Cup came to an end this season after a humbling last-16 exit to Ajax.

Real had previously won four of the past five tournaments, including three consecutively between 2016 and 2018 under Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane left after that triumph last summer but has since returned as manager, and in true Madrid style the club will respond to a disappointing season in the Spanish capital with an expensive foray into the transfer market.

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic has already arrived in a £62m deal, whilst Chelsea star Eden Hazard has now also been captured.

Having failed to adequately replace Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, Madrid will be better equipped to challenge for the prize they covet the most next season.

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Barcelona 6/1

Lionel Messi and co suffered a second leg capitulation for the second consecutive season last term, blowing a 3-0 first-leg lead at Anfield in the semi-finals.

It followed 2017/18’s comeback defeat to Roma, as the Catalan side’s search for a first Champions League trophy since 2015 continues.

The Spaniard’s remain a formidable team and had breezed into the semi-finals of last season’s tournament, with Messi in typically stunning form finishing as the tournament’s top scorer for a sixth time with 12 goals.

Ernesto Valverde’s side will strengthen this summer, as reports of a move for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann continue to emerge.

Young Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt could also arrive, joining teammate Frenkie de Jong who agreed a £75m move in January.

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Liverpool 11/2

The holders are likely to be at the business end of next season’s tournament, having reached consecutive finals under Jurgen Klopp.

The Merseyside club’s potent front three and style of play make them ideally suited to two-legged European encounters, with the ability to change the momentum of a tie in a moment.

Anfield also remains a huge factor in Europe, as Barcelona found to their peril by surrendering a three-goal advantage in the last four.

The Premier League is the trophy the club’s fans desperately seek, which could be prioritised, though don’t be surprised to see Klopp’s side once again reach the latter stages.

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Man City 5/1

Despite having never won the trophy and not having progressed past the quarter-finals in seven of the past eight seasons, Manchester City are the favourites to be crowned champions of Europe in 2020.

Pep Guardiola’s side have dominated domestically, becoming the first side in history to win English football’s treble in 2017/18.

The Champions League is the trophy their owners crave, with Guardiola set to be backed once again in the transfer market as they bid to win Europe’s biggest prize.

Their greatest threat could be the familiarity of Premier League opposition, having lost at the quarter-final stage in the past two seasons to Liverpool and Tottenham respectively.

City, however, remain well equipped for an assault on the Champions League next term, with their squad depth the envy of Europe.

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