The UEFA Champions League has reached the quarter-final stage with the draw for the last eight throwing up some fascinating ties, last season’s finalists Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain set to meet in a huge clash.
Liverpool, one of three remaining Premier League teams alongside Manchester City and Chelsea, face Real Madrid in a rematch of the 2018 final, whilst Porto will be hoping to continue upsetting the odds after eliminating Juventus in the last 16.
So for those of you interested in Premier League online bets, here are how the bookies rate each quarter-finalists’ chance of winning the Champions League:
Here are how the bookies rate each quarter-finalists’ chance of winning the Champions League:
Porto – 33/1
Porto are ranked as 33/1 outsiders to be crowned champions of Europe for a third time, the Portuguese side having caused a shock by eliminating Italian champions Juventus on away goals in the first knockout round.
Sergio Conceicao’s side qualified from the group stages comfortably after finishing as runners-up to Manchester City, with defeat at the Etihad their sole loss in six group fixtures in this season’s competition.
Porto, however, are off the pace domestically in the Primeira Liga, sitting second but a huge 10 points adrift of rivals Sporting Lisbon as they bid to defend the title.
The club shocked Europe in 2004 by winning the Champions League under Jose Mourinho, but success in this season’s competition would surpass even that achievement ahead of a quarter-final meeting with Chelsea.
Porto will have no fear heading into the last eight and will hope leading scorer Sergio Oliveira can maintain his excellent form in this season’s competition, though few expect the Portuguese champions to provide a genuine challenge for the trophy.
Borussia Dortmund – 25/1
Borussia Dortmund are priced at slightly shorter odds of 25/1, with the Germans facing a daunting quarter-final challenge against Manchester City.
Dortmund have struggled in the Bundesliga this season and currently sit fifth in the division, with Lucien Favre’s side facing an uphill battle just to secure qualification to next season’s Champions League.
Winners of the competition in 1997 and finalists as recently as 2013, Dortmund edged past Sevilla in the previous round, though the 5-4 aggregate success highlighted the defensive deficiencies that could be exposed in the latter stages.
Dortmund do, however, hold a trump card in the presence of Erling Haaland, the leading scorer in this season’s competition and a player who has made a mockery of Champions League records in his fledgling career to date.
The 20-year-old has scored 10 goals in the Champions League this season and a staggering 20 in just 14 career appearances in the competition, the forward a formidable prospect for even the continent’s best defences.
Real Madrid – 10/1
The last decade has brought a golden period for Real Madrid on this stage with four trophies in the past seven competitions, the Spanish champions extending their record as the most successful side in the Champions League history.
Crowned champions of Europe in 2014 before winning three consecutive trophies between 2016 and 2018, this season’s competition is the first time Los Blancos have reached the last eight since that latter final victory over Liverpool.
Liverpool will be the side Zinedine Zidane’s side need to overcome to reach the last four, and the bookmakers view the Spanish champions as only an outside bet to reclaim the Champions League this season.
The strength of La Liga has been questioned following meek exits by both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid from continental competition, and Real remain a side in transition following a glittering period of success.
There remains an over-reliance on the 33-year-old Karim Benzema for goals, whilst several other key figures – including Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos – are also into the twilights of their careers.
Real undoubtedly have the talent to trouble sides, but they are far from the force of old.
Paris Saint-Germain – 8/1
Runners-up last season, Paris Saint-Germain‘s odds have lengthened after being drawn to face the side that conquered them in last season’s final.
Bayern Munich will pose a formidable obstacle to the Parisian’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals, though the French champions are one of the few sides in world football with the firepower to beat any side when at their best.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side obliterated Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 meeting with Kylian Mbappe scoring a scintillating hat-trick in the Camp Nou, and the forward will be key to PSG’s hopes of progressing past the holders in the last eight.
Much may depend on whether Neymar can return to full fitness ahead of the clash with the prospect of the Brazilian superstar and Mbappe a nightmarish one for any side, and if the two can inspire a quarter-final victory then PSG will fancy their chances of ending their Champions League wait.
Liverpool – 6/1
Liverpool’s chances are perhaps the most difficult to assess ahead of the quarter-finals, the bookmakers pricing the Premier League champions as 6/1 fourth favourites.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have endured a disastrous domestic season in a disappointing title defence, though their form in the Champions League has remained consistent including a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win over RB Leipzig in the last 16.
Liverpool’s depleted defensive options has seen Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, leaving winter window arrival Ozan Kabak and the previously untested Nathaniel Phillips as the Reds’ first-choice centre-back pairing.
Kabak is just 20-years-old and remains raw despite improving following a shaky start, whilst Phillips’ Champions League debut came during the second leg against Leipzig.
Liverpool do, however, have huge experience at this level after reaching successive finals in 2018 and 2019, whilst the club have lost just one two-legged European tie since Klopp’s arrival as manager in 2015.
Real Madrid await in the last eight before a potential semi-final with either Chelsea or Porto, the draw having provided Liverpool with reasonable chance of reaching a third final in four seasons.
Chelsea – 9/2
Thomas Tuchel’s reign as Chelsea manager continues to deliver results with the west London side going from strength to strength in recent weeks, remaining unbeaten in all competitions since the German’s arrival at Stamford Bridge in January.
That run includes a huge 11 clean sheets in just 13 fixtures, keeping shut-outs in both legs of the club’s last-16 win over Spanish league leaders Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea’s defensive record has improved hugely following a move to a back three formation and the club’s defensive strength could provide the foundation for a Champions League challenge.
Chelsea’s odds have shortened to 9/2 after being handed arguably the most favourable quarter-final draw in Porto, whilst Liverpool or Real Madrid await in the last four for a side in confident mood.
Tuchel reached the final of the competition with PSG last season and is now in a great position to repeat the feat, the German having inherited a talented squad with expectations beginning to increase.
Bayern Munich – 7/2
Bayern Munich are regarded as only 7/2 second favourites to retain the trophy this season, despite their imperious form in the Champions League that has seen the holders compile an unbeaten run of 19 games in the competition – the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record a goalless draw at Atletico Madrid.
Hansi Flick’s side remain the best side in the competition and have arguably the world’s finest footballer spearheading their charge, Robert Lewandowski having scored a staggering 42 goals in all competitions already this season, including a mind-boggling 35 in just 25 Bundesliga appearances.
Bayern’s odds of 7/2 are reflective of the tough draw the Bavarians have been handed, meeting last season’s beaten finalists PSG in the quarter-finals before a semi-final clash against either Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund.
If Bayern are to become just the second team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era then they will have to do it the hard way, though there are few teams better equipped than the German champions.
Manchester City – 9/4
Manchester City are the bookmaker’s favourites to win a first ever Champions League this season, as the club look to end their long wait for a European crown.
Despite dominating domestically over the past decade the Premier League side have struggled to make an impression amongst Europe’s elite, a solitary semi-final appearance their best ever run in the competition.
Pep Guardiola’s reign has also been blighted by early exits with the Spaniard yet to guide City beyond the quarter-finals, suffering surprise eliminations to Monaco, Liverpool, Tottenham and Lyon ahead of this season’s clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Conceding costly goals in clusters has been a repeated error for City in recent seasons, though their improved defensive record offers hopes this season with Ruben Dias and John Stones having enjoyed excellent campaigns.
Comfortably clear at the top of the Premier League, City can afford to concentrate on the Champions League as the tournament favourites chase an unprecedented quadruple of major trophies.
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