With matches in 11 of the 12 months in a year, there are countless Champions League betting opportunities. As the most watched club competition in the world, no other tournament offers punters more excitement and choice. Check out our handy, one-stop guide to everything you need to know!
- Champions League Fixtures & Results
- How Is the Champions League Structured?
- Champions League Group Standings
- Best Champions League Betting Sites
- Champions League Betting Odds
- Champions League Betting Tips & Predictions
- Important Dates for 2022/23 Champions League Betting
- Champions League Betting Statistics
- Most Popular Champions League Betting Markets
- New Champions League Betting Markets To Try
- Champions League Betting – In-Play Markets
- Best Champions League Betting Offers
- History of the Champions League
- Past Champions League Winners
- Our Favourite Champions League Games Ever
- Champions League Betting – Key Facts
- Champions League Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Champions League Fixtures & Results
| Quarter-finals | ||
|---|---|---|
| 20:00 (BST) |
Benfica Inter |
- - |
| 20:00 (BST) |
Manchester City FC Bayern München |
- - |
How Is the Champions League Structured?
Teams can qualify for the Champions Leagues in two ways. Teams who win their respective leagues qualify through the Champions route, whilst second-, third-, and possibly fourth-placed teams in selected leagues will qualify through the League route.
The leagues which have more potential Champions League qualifying places, as well those which are able to qualify directly to the Group Stages and those which have to play in a qualifier, are determined by the league’s overall coefficient score. Teams who perform better at the European level will earn a higher coefficient score for their country, and can result in more teams from their league qualifying for the Champions League.
Once the various qualifying rounds are completed, 32 teams will end up in the Group Stages (which for most people, is where the real competition begins). All teams are then randomly split into eight groups of four teams each, where each team will play against each other twice (once at home and once away from home). The top two teams in each group will qualify for the Round of 16 knockout round.
Teams who placed third in their respective group still get a chance for European success by entering the UEFA Europa League. The same occurs for third-place Europa League teams, who enter the UEFA Conference League.
Once again, the remaining 16 Champions league teams are randomly drawn against each other and play two matches, with the losing team getting eliminated. The winners of this will progress to the quarter-finals followed by the semi-finals; the last two teams will face off in the final (which is a stand-alone match) to be crowned Champions League winners.
Nations Allocation
26 teams automatically qualify for the group stages.
| Country | Number of Teams |
|---|---|
| England | 4 |
| Spain | 4 |
| Italy | 4 |
| Germany | 4 |
| France | 3 |
| Russia | 2 |
| Ukraine | 1 |
| Portugal | 1 |
| Turkey | 1 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Belgium | 1 |
Champions League Group Standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Napoli | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 15 |
| 2. | Liverpool | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 15 |
| 3. | Ajax | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 6 |
| 4. | Rangers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 22 | -20 | 0 |
| 1. | Porto | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 2. | Club Brugge | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 3. | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 5 |
| 4. | Atlético Madrid | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 5 |
| 1. | FC Bayern München | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 18 |
| 2. | Inter | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 3. | FC Barcelona | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| 4. | Viktoria Plzeň | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 24 | -19 | 0 |
| 1. | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 2. | Eintracht Frankfurt | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 3. | Sporting CP | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 7 |
| 4. | Olympique Marseille | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| 1. | Chelsea | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 2. | Milan | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 10 |
| 3. | Salzburg | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 6 |
| 4. | Dinamo Zagreb | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
| 1. | Real Madrid | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 13 |
| 2. | RB Leipzig | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 12 |
| 3. | Shakhtar Donetsk | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 6 |
| 4. | Celtic | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 2 |
| 1. | Manchester City | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 14 |
| 2. | Borussia Dortmund | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| 3. | Sevilla | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 5 |
| 4. | København | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 3 |
| 1. | Benfica | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 14 |
| 2. | Paris Saint Germain | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 14 |
| 3. | Juventus | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 3 |
| 4. | Maccabi Haifa | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 3 |
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Champions League Betting Odds
Champions League Betting Odds – Winner
Unsurprisingly, the biggest favourites in this season’s edition of the UEFA Champions league are Manchester City and PSG. Both have been losing finalists in the last few seasons and will be eager to go one better and win the tournament. This will certainly make for a season full of excitement in the lead-up to Champions League final betting.
| Team | Odds* | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 13/8 | bet365 |
| Bayern Munich | 32/5 | SBK |
| Liverpool | 44/5 | SBK |
| PSG | 9/1 | SBK |
| Real Madrid | 27/2 | SBK |
| Napoli | 12/1 | bet365 |
| Chelsea | 37/2 | SBK |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 16/1 | bet365 |
| Benefica | 25/1 | bet365 |
| Inter Milan | 33/1 | bet365 |
*Subject to change
Champions League Betting Odds – Top Goalscorer
A favourite for punters everywhere, guessing the top scorer of any tournament is tricky, let alone for the biggest club competition in Europe. With the decline of Messi’s and Ronaldo’s relentless goal scoring, the fight for top goal scorer has become much more competitive.
To emphasise this point, the likes of Haaland and Mbappé are now overtaking experienced players Benzema and Lewandowski, further proving the situation as one to be contested between the young and old.
| Player | Odds* | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Erling Braut Haaland | 15/8 | bet365 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 9/4 | bet365 |
| Mohamed Salah | 7/2 | Unibet |
| Lionel Messi | 25/1 | bet365 |
| Leroy Sane | 33/1 | bet365 |
| Sadio Mane | 40/1 | Unibet |
| Olivier Giroud | 40/1 | bet365 |
*Subject to change
Champions League Betting Tips & Predictions
The round of 16 is one of the most exciting points in the season for Champions League betting, with the first leg taking place over the 14th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd of February, 2023. The second leg will take place over the 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th of March, 2023. Kick-offs are scheduled for 21:00 CET.
It is important to note that the away goals rule has been removed, and ties level after 180 minutes will go into extra time – regardless of the number of goals that each team has scored, both home and away. The tie will go to a penalty shoot-out if the teams still cannot be separated after the extra 30 minutes.
With the upcoming Round of 16 Fixtures in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, we take a look below at the various matchup predictions to give you an idea of what to expect in terms of betting tips for this exciting stage of the season.
RB Leipzig vs Manchester City
Manchester City were dominant in Group G of this year's UEFA Champions League and went unbeaten throughout the group stages. They will face off against a Leipzig team that came in second in Group F while losing twice during the group stages. While the players for Leipzig can feel good about their victory over Madrid, Manchester City present a formidable challenge that they are unlikely to be able to overcome.
Champions League Betting Odds: RB Leipzig 9/2 vs Manchester City 4/7 – bet365
Liverpool vs Real Madrid
Liverpool vs Real Madrid represents what might just be the most intriguing matchup in the Round of 16 Fixtures for the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool will be looking to avenge their loss in the Champions League finals from last year, but have suffered from erratic play this season. On the other side of the matchup, Real Madrid came out on top of Group F while putting in some great performances with the help of outstanding play from Vinicius Jr. All in all, you can expect Los Blancos to come out on top, given the inconsistent play from Liverpool all season long.
Champions League Betting Odds: Liverpool 5/6 vs Real Madrid 3/1 – bet365
Club Brugge vs Benefica
In a surprise result, Benefica came out on top in Group H over PSG. They faced off against a Club Brugge team that was second in Group B and only fell short the top of the group by a single point. Making a definite call in this one is difficult as it could get either way.
Champions League Betting Odds: Club Brugge 12/5 vs Benefica 11/10 – bet365
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli
Eintracht Frankfurt have made a good showing in the UEFA Champions League this year with a second-place finish in Group D. They face a Napoli team that came out on top of Group A. The team from Frankfurt has looked good this season, but you can expect Napoli to come out on top.
Champions League Betting Odds: Eintracht Frankfort 21/10 vs Napoli 5/4 – bet365
AC Milan vs Tottenham
AC Milan enter the Round of 16 after coming in second in Group E. They face a Tottenham club that finished on top of the pack in Group D, making for one of the most even matchups for Champions League betting in the Round of 16. We recommend keeping an eye on the lines throughout the lead-up to this one, as it is tough to make a confident call at this time.
Champions League Betting Odds: AC Milan 29/20 vs Tottenham 15/8 – bet365
Dortmund vs Chelsea
Dortmund will enter the Round of 16 after a disappointing season last year. Given their inconsistent play this year and the questions surrounding the managerial situation at Chelsea, this could be a bit of a loose cannon. When looking at this subjectively, Chelsea should have the advantage here, but Dortmund could represent a decent underdog pick.
Champions League Betting Odds: Dortmund 7/4 vs Chelsea 7/5 – bet365
PSG vs Bayern
PSG v Bayern is another matchup that is tough to call, but we think the safer money is on PSG due to the outstanding football played this season by Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
Champions League Betting Odds: PSG 5/4 vs Bayern 9/5 – bet365
Inter vs Porto
Inter have put on some quality performances in this year’s UEFA Champions League, though they failed to win their group. Although they face a strong Porto team that topped their group over Club Brugge, and which also have a strong history of pulling upsets in this particular tournament, we don’t expect one here. Therefore, we expect Inter to go through this one.
Champions League Betting Odds: Inter 1/1 vs Porto 13/5 – bet365
Important Dates for 2022/23 Champions League Betting
Here are the most important dates to keep in mind for your Champions League bets.
- Round of 16 – 14th February – 15th March 2023
- Quarter-finals and semi-finals draw - 17th March 2023
- Quarter-finals - 11th April – 19th April 2023
- Semi-finals - 9th May – 17th May 2023
- Final - 10th June 2023
Champions League Betting Statistics
- There are lots of factors that go into great Champions League betting. Your hunch and base knowledge obviously play a role, but to take your predictions to the next level, you need to start analysing relevant stats.
- Although it can be a bit dry, investing a small amount of time into this could be the difference between winning and losing a bet. For instance, before placing an under/over goal bet, you should look at both team’s defensive record. Two sides that are strong at the back are likely to play out a low-scoring game, making a bet of Under 1.5 Goals more viable. However, more attacking teams will likely result in more goals.
- Analysing football statistics is particularly important in the early stages of the Champions League. The competition features teams from across the continent, so only true European football obsessives will have strong knowledge about every side.
- An easy way to get a feel of how a lesser-known club may get on is by carrying out statistical analysis. Looking at things like their expected goals for and against, possession, and pressing stats can give you an idea of whether they stand a chance against some of the stronger teams in the competition.
Most Popular Champions League Betting Markets
Champions League Betting on Favourites (Even if They Fall Behind)
The Champions League is the pinnacle of European football and football betting in general. All of the top clubs involved take it very seriously and will do whatever it takes to win. For this reason, putting a Champions League bet on the favourites to qualify can be especially reliable.
An important thing to note here is the mention of the phrase favourite to qualify. If a team wins the first leg of a group stage comfortably and already looks set to advance to the next, they might field a weaker side – especially during a busy fixture period. Although this could result in tactically drawing or losing a match, they would still go through.
Looking at past years, it is quite common to see the semi-finals and much of the quarter-finals featuring almost all of the teams that were expected to reach these stages. Given all that is at stake in the competition, it is also not uncommon to see favourites coming back from behind and going on to win or tie.
- Best Champions League betting site for betting on favourites - bet365
Champions League Betting on Many Goals
The Champions League brings out the best in teams and is known for the many goals that are scored. Whilst this obviously cannot be applied to each and every match, more often than not, UCL matches do end up with an above-average number of goals scored.
So much so, that in the last five seasons, over 56.5% of matches saw at least three goals scored, whilst a third of matches had at least four. In fact, the 2019/20 season broke records with an average of 3.3 goals scored per game in the fourth matchday of the group stages.
This average of 56.88% is significantly higher than most other domestic European leagues (52.18% in the Premier League), with only the German Bundesliga having more (59.76%). Wagering an over/under or a total team goals bet is a great way of accurately predicting the amount of goals in a game.
- Best Champions League betting site for Many Goals - BetVictor
Outright Champions League Betting
Predicting the winner of any tournament from very early on is never easy – especially for one which features some of the greatest teams in the game.
That said, however, in the last 10 years of the Champions League, there have only been five different winners, with only a very select few teams considered to be actual title contenders. Many teams often prove reliable throughout the early stages of the competition only to consistently slip up in the quarter or semi-finals.
Betting on the winner is not the only outright market available for Champions League bettors. Another popular choice is Top Goalscorer. When making your pick, it is best to choose a player who plays for a team that is likely to go the distance in the competition. This means they will have more games to add to their game tally.
- Best Champions League betting site for outrights - Paddy Power
Bet Builders & Champions League Betting
Bet builders are a great way of enjoying Champions League football, with the vast majority of premier bookmakers offering this feature for punters. bet365 are the pioneers in this regard, being the first to automate this feature back in 2018, causing many of their peers to swiftly follow suit.
With games in this competition often being so tight in the latter stages, it may be tough to decipher a match victor – especially when ties are competed over two legs. Thus, bet builders gift punters the opportunity to utilise a multitude of markets and create high-value bets without having to pick a winner.
This feature is also handy when the disparity between favourite and underdog is so large that the match result market isn’t worth taking on. Such contests are becoming more and more common in the group stages of the Champions League.
- Best Champions League betting site for bet builders – bet365
New Champions League Betting Markets To Try
The possibilities of these one-off markets are endless. Some previous examples include sportsbooks offering odds on the nationalities of each of the finalists, as well as which English team will progress furthest in the competition. Operators may also offer special combi bets on especially big games. These sorts of markets will become increasingly prominent when the knockout stages get underway.
- Best Champions League betting site for special markets - Parimatch
Despite this, an increasingly popular market with punters is attempting to predict the quantity of certain in-game events. This can include betting on the amount of yellow cards, betting on football corners or free kicks a game will have.
Before placing your bet, analysing the Champions league statistics can be helpful. If a team is renowned for lacking discipline, then you would expect a high number of cards, for instance. Additionally, a team who is likely to spend less time in possession will naturally commit more fouls.
- Best Champions League betting site for in-game events - SBK
If you want to bet on the underdogs but do not want to risk losing your money in outright markets, Asian Handicap and European Handicap are ideal bets. Here, odds are weighted, so backing an underdog entails betting on them not losing by a certain number of goals.
In practice, this gives you a rare opportunity to bet on the less-fancied team in a Champions League group tie and still have a high chance of winning.
- Best Champions League betting site for handicap markets - bet365
Champions League Betting – In-Play Markets
During qualification and the group stages of the Champions League, multiple games kick off at the same time. This makes it perfectly suited to in-play betting. Most of the markets detailed above remain open after kick-off, with some additional options also available when things get underway.
Below are some of the most popular live Champions League betting markets available to punters.
- Next Team to Score
The momentum of Champions League games can swing frequently, making this market an enticing prospect. In order to make informed decisions here, we recommend only betting on games you intend on watching live.
- Next Goalscorer
You can get some very generous odds on the next goalscorer in a Champions League game - no matter what stage of the competition. Checking out which players are in good scoring form beforehand is vital for this market.
- Exact Scoreline
Another possibility for live Champions League betting is trying to predict the exact scoreline. Unlike with over/under goals where you are permitted some leniency, here you must get the score exactly right to win. This bet can be placed at any point of the game, with odds varying depending on how much of the game remains.
Best Champions League Betting Offers
If you are trying out Champions League betting for the first time, you can get a helping hand by claiming a sportsbook offer. Here are some of the most popular bonuses you are likely to come across online.
Free Bets
There are several different ways to earn free bets for the Champions League. Many sportsbooks will include them in their welcome offer, while they can often be earned via loyalty programmes. They are a great way to start off your Champions League betting.
Deposit Bonuses
At some sportsbooks, your first – and possibly your second, third and even fourth – deposits will be subject to a generous boost. A 50% boost on a £20 deposit would give you a total of £30 to bet with. This can be a brilliant way to make your Champions League betting bankroll stretch further.
One-Off Bonuses
As Champions League betting drives a lot of traffic to online bookies, sportsbooks often offer special promotions on particularly big games. During the latter stages of the tournament, competition for punters heats up, leading to an increase in these types of offers. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled from the quarter-finals onwards!
History of the Champions League
The Champions League, formerly known as the European Cup, was first held back in 1955. The tournament initially emerged as one of the many pan-European initiatives to bring the countries of Europe together in an attempt to avoid a repeat of another disastrous war. As strange as it might be to compare them, these initiatives also gave rise to the Eurovision Song Contest one year later.
The tournament originally only featured 16 teams (including giants Real Madrid and AC Milan), who won their respective leagues. The tournament was played as a simple knockout cup competition up until the 1992/93 season, when it was rebranded as the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Further developments allowing for the introduction of the Group Stages – as well as the entry of non-champions in the tournament – proved to be highly lucrative, and thus the competition we all know and love today was born.
Past Champions League Winners
Past Champions League Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Runners-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Real Madrid | 1-0 | Liverpool |
| 2020-21 | Chelsea | 1-0 | Manchester City |
| 2019-20 | Bayern Munich | 1-0 | PSG |
| 2018-19 | Liverpool | 2-0 | Tottenham |
| 2017-18 | Real Madrid | 3-1 | Liverpool |
| 2016-17 | Real Madrid | 4-1 | Juventus |
| 2015-16 | Real Madrid | 1-1 *(5-3p) | Atletico Madrid |
| 2014-15 | Barcelona | 3-1 | Juventus |
| 2013-14 | Real Madrid | 4-1 *aet | Atletico Madrid |
| 2012-13 | Bayern Munich | 2-1 | Dortmund |
| 2011-12 | Chelsea | 1-1 *(4-3p) | Bayern Munich |
| 2010-11 | Barcelona | 3-1 | Man United |
| 2009-10 | Inter | 2-0 | Bayern Munich |
| 2008-09 | Barcelona | 2-0 | Man United |
| 2007-08 | Man United | 1-1 *(6-5p) | Chelsea |
| 2006-07 | Milan | 2-1 | Liverpool |
| 2005-06 | Barcelona | 2-1 | Arsenal |
| 2004-05 | Liverpool | 3-3 *(2-3p) | AC Milan |
| 2003-04 | Porto | 3-0 | Monaco |
| 2002-03 | Milan | 0-0 *(3-2p) | Juventus |
| 2001-02 | Real Madrid | 2-1 | Leverkusen |
| 2000-01 | Bayern Munich | 1-1 *(5-4p) | Valencia |
| 1999-00 | Real Madrid | 3-0 | Valencia |
| 1998-99 | Man United | 2-1 | Bayern Munich |
| 1997-98 | Real Madrid | 1-0 | Juventus |
| 1996-97 | Borussia Dortmund | 3-1 | Juventus |
| 1995-96 | Juventus | 1-1 *(4-2p) | Ajax |
| 1994-95 | Ajax | 1-0 | AC Milan |
| 1993-94 | Milan | 4-0 | Barcelona |
| 1992-93 | Marseille | 1-0 | AC Milan |
Who Has Won the Most Champions League Titles?
| Club | Titles | Runners-Up | Last Season Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 14 | 3 | 2022 |
| Milan | 7 | 4 | 2007 |
| Bayern Munich | 6 | 5 | 2020 |
| Liverpool | 6 | 4 | 2019 |
| Barcelona | 5 | 3 | 2015 |
| Ajax | 4 | 2 | 1995 |
| Internazionale | 3 | 2 | 2010 |
| Man United | 3 | 2 | 2008 |
| Juventus | 2 | 7 | 1996 |
| Benfica | 2 | 5 | 1962 |
Champions League All-Time Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 | 183 |
| Lionel Messi | 129 | 160 |
| Robert Lewandowski | 91 | 109 |
| Karim Benzema | 86 | 145 |
| Raul | 71 | 142 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | 56 | 73 |
| Thomas Muller | 52 | 134 |
| Thierry Henry | 50 | 112 |
| Alfredo di Stefano | 49 | 58 |
| Andriy Shevchenko | 48 | 100 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 48 | 124 |
Our Favourite Champions League Games Ever
Whenever the Champions League is on, Tuesday and Wednesday nights become the most exciting slots of the week for football fans. With nearly 70 years of history to choose from, selecting our three favourite games from the competition was a tough task – but we have given it a go anyway.
Milan 3-3 Liverpool, 2004/2005 Final
This is likely the best climax to any football competition in history. Known as the Miracle of Istanbul, underdogs Liverpool incredibly managed to overturn a 3-0 deficit, taking the game to extra time before winning on penalties.
To say this was a shock would be an understatement. In the first half, Milan had been absolutely sensational, with Paolo Maldini netting early on before Hernan Crespo bagged a quickfire brace.
The turning point was the introduction of Didi Hamann at half-time, who gave the Reds added control in midfield. What followed was the most dramatic six minutes in the club’s history, with Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso all scoring to level things up.
Heroics from Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek then saw Liverpool secure their fifth European Cup on penalties, with Andriy Shevchenko missing the decisive spot kick.
Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain, 2016/2017
‘La Remontada’ saw Barcelona come back from a 4-0 first leg defeat to progress into the quarter-finals. Luis Suarez gave us an indication of the carnage to come, netting inside three minutes.
By the hour mark, the Blaugrana had managed to make it 4-3 on aggregate, but their chances were dealt a seemingly fatal blow when Edinson Cavani grabbed a crucial away goal for the visitors.
Then, in a completely bonkers seven-minute spell starting in the 88th minute, Barcelona grabbed three more. This meant they squeezed through in what turned out to be a humiliating night for Unai Emery’s Parisians.
Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich, 2019/2020
The 2019/2020 Champions League was a particularly unique one due to the pandemic that had broken out in early 2020. The second leg of the round of 16 was postponed by 6 months, while the rest of the knockout rounds were single-legged. This quarter-final bout culminated in one of the biggest shock results in the competition's history.
Barcelona were hardly favourites due to financial trouble off the pitch, but still had the likes of Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi in the mix. Thomas Müller opened the scoring 3 minutes in; however, a spectacular own goal by Alaba saw the scores level within seven minutes. Barcelona showed glimpses of class, but were utterly dominated ending the first half 1-4 down.
The second half wasn’t much better for Barca. Luis Suárez scored to make the tie 2-4, but could not make up for mix of bad defending and Bayern brilliance.
The final and most painful nail in the coffin came with the introduction of Philippe Coutinho. Barcelona had spent £124 million on the Brazilian, who flopped at Camp Nou. On loan at Bayern from Barcelona at the time, Coutinho came on in the 75th minute to provide an assist, scoring a further two goals in the last 10 minutes of the game and making the final tally 2-8.
Champions League Betting – Key Facts
- Teams that reach the Round of 16 in the Champions League receive €9.6 million (£8.2 million).
- The team that wins the Champions League will take home an incredible €68.34 million (£58.99 million), which excludes the revenue that is received from television rights. Not too shabby!
- Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo are the most decorated Champions League winners, having won the competition no less than five times. Ronaldo is the only five-time winner to have won the tournament with two teams.
- There have been seven Champions League finals featuring two teams from the same country. Most recently, Chelsea defeated Manchester City in the 2020/21 competition.
- The Champions League final is consistently the highest viewed annual sporting competition on TV, with more than 300m viewers tuning in to watch – that is three times higher than the Super Bowl!
- The biggest modern Champions League wins were 8-0 demolitions between Real Madrid and Malmo in 2015 and Liverpool and Besiktas in 2007. The biggest win in the whole history of the European Cup was an 11-0 smashing between Dinamo București and Crusaders in the 1973/74 season.
- Manchester United hold the record for the longest unbeaten streak in the Champions League, with 25 games starting from the 2007/08 season and ending in a loss during the 2008/09 final against Barcelona.
- Since the introduction of the group stage in 1991/92 season, only eight teams have won all six group stage games. These are AC Milan (92/93), PSG (94/95), Spartak Moscow (95/96), Barcelona (02/03), Ajax (21/22), Liverpool (21/22). Real Madrid (11/12 and 14/15) and Bayern Munich (20/21 and 21/22) are the only teams to have done it twice.
Champions League Betting FAQs
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bet365 is the top betting site that we at ThePuntersPage recommend for all your Champions League betting needs.
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The UEFA Champions League final is on Saturday 10th June, 2023.
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The final will take place at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. The location is famous for hosting the 2005 Champions League final.
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A total of 32 teams take part in the Champions League group stages. These are then narrowed down to 16, 8, 4, and 2, resulting in one final winner.
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Real Madrid is by far the most decorated Champions League team, with a whopping 14 titles. They are also the current reigning champions.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) brings together the greatest football players in the world for a Europe-wide festival of sport, and is undoubtedly the highlight of the global club football calendar.
A tournament filled with agony and ecstasy as the best teams battle it out to be the greatest in the game, it's no wonder that the UCL is watched by millions around the world every night, and why Champions League betting is something that football punters all over the world look forward to!
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
