Champions League Futures: If the 2024 Final was tomorrow

We have some time to breathe this week, as there is no European action to look forward to.

That said, the break in the proceedings gives us some time to reflect on the first 5 weeks of the new Champions League format, while also looking ahead at what might come.

Champions League Betting Analysis

We should say that things are a little more forgiving on the new setup. In the old-style Champions League, half of the teams would be automatically eliminated after 6 games in the group stage.

With the new format, 24 of the 32 teams in the league will survive to fight another day, although only the top 8 will automatically claim a berth on the knockout stage.

To this point, teams have played 5 of the 8 games in the league stage, so there is still a very good chance that we are going to see some changes in the standings before all is said and done.

It’s perhaps not the best tome to start making predictions about the Champions League Final and who might end the season as the winner.

We are going to take a look into the old crystal ball to see if we can figure out how things might go between now and the Champions League Final.

Also, we are going to give 3 potential matchups, starting with something obvious, as well as a couple more that might be long shots matchups, so let’s get to it.

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Champions League Futures Odds provided by MyBookie

Champions League Futures Matchup 1: Liverpool vs Inter

Okay, so we are starting things out by taking a look at the two teams that are currently in the top spots in the league. Liverpool were something of a question mark heading into the new season, as they were making the move to a new manager after seeing Jürgen Klopp retire at the end of last season. They have looked fantastic under Arne Slot, though, and are quickly becoming the favorite to win it all.

They are the only team with a perfect record through the opening 5 games, scoring 12 and surrendering just once, plus they have also built up a big lead at the top of the English Premier League. This team very much looks like the real deal.

The Italian champions are 2nd in the Champions League standings at the moment, sitting 2 points back of Liverpool. Those dropped points come into their opening game of the tournament with a 0-0 draw on the road to Manchester City, which was actually a very decent result. Since then, though, they have won 4 in a row and have now scored 7 goals without giving one up. They are also in the hunt for a Serie A title, so they are doing well on both fronts.

Given the defensive capabilities of these teams, a final featuring them going head-to-head might well be a tight affair where goals are at a premium. In the end, though, I would give the slight edge to Liverpool.

Champions League Futures Matchup 2: Barcelona vs Arsenal

Okay, so for this one, we are going to once again go with a pair of teams sitting in the top 8 of the Champions League standings after 5 games. If you look at the season to this point for both teams, you see some similarities, so let’s get into it.

Barcelona has steadied the ship after losing 2-1 in their opening game against Monaco, winning 4 in a row that moved them up to 3rd in the table, scoring 18 and surrendering 5.

They are, though, going through a slump in La Liga, picking up just 1 point in their last 3 games. It is perhaps a good thing that there is no CL game this week, as it gives them some time to get their current form sorted out.

Arsenal very recently went through a very similar slump in the league, but they appear to have snapped out of it in a big way. They bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Inter in Matchday 4 of the Champions League to take out Sporting with a dominating 5-1 win.

They then followed that up with another 5-goal salvo, this time against West Ham over the weekend, winning that game 5-2. We are still waiting to see if their slump is truly over, but all signs appear to point to the answer being yes.

While the first matchup we discussed has the possibility of being a defensive struggle, this one would almost certainly be a shootout, as both Barcelona and Arsenal tend to score goals for fun. This one would be a coin flip that I would not want to be forced to predict.

Champions League Futures Matchup 3: Real Madrid vs Manchester City

As mentioned at the top of this piece, the third matchup is reserved for a potential matchup that looks more than a little unlikely at this point. That said, both of these teams have proven over the years that they should not be counted out, so perhaps this one is not as ridiculous as it might seem.

We all just assumed that Real Madrid, the defending champions, would end the league in the top 8, but as it stands now, they are clinging to the final playoff spot down in 24th place. They are showing signs of life in La Liga, winning 3 in a row to get to within a point of Barcelona at the top.

Since losing Ballon D’Or winner, Rodri, to injury, Manchester City has totally collapsed. They have lost 4 in a row in the English Premier League, dropping out of the top 4 in the process, but their play in the Champions League is almost as alarming.

After a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Sporting, City looked to be in control in Matchday 5, going 3-0 up against Feyenoord before losing 3 late goals and being forced to settle for a draw.

Things do not look good for either of these two teams at the moment, but both seem capable of snapping out of it and going on a positive run. If this were the final, it would be another coin flip matchup.

Champions League Futures Odds to Win – 2024/25

Liverpool FC +450
Manchester City +500
Barcelona +600
Arsenal FC +650
Real Madrid +650
Bayern +700
Inter +1575
Leverkusen +2200
Atalanta +3900
Dortmund +4000

Haaland ⚖️
Gyökeres ⚖️
Raphinha ⚖️
Wirtz ⚖️
Kane ⚖️

Lewandowski clear 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/TgJzXcqX6z
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 29, 2024