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Bayern Munich dominated Barcelona 8-2 and then beat Neymar and Paris St-Germain 1-0 to secure the 2020 UEFA Champions League trophy. That match happened on August 23. Bayern and PSG have short turnarounds to defend their placings in the Champions League because the new season starts on October 20. Check out an update on qualifying round play before a deep dive into the upcoming 2020 – 2021 Season so you can make your bets against their Champions League odds!

UEFA Champions 2020/2021 Calendar : What to Expect this Next Championship

When: Oct. 20, 2020 – May 29, 2021

Qualifying Round matches in September and October

Currently, teams are fighting for a spot in the Champions League Tournament. Although a team could qualify and then upset the top squads in the Champions League, the chances of that happening aren’t great.

Since 2010, just six teams have won the Champions League trophy, Inter Milan in 2010, Barcelona in 2011, Chelsea in 2012, Bayern in 2013, Real Madrid in 2014, and Liverpool in 2019. Real Madrid added the Champions League title in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Barcelona won in 2015. Bayern took the championship in August. Since 2015, only Liverpool broke up the Barcelona – Bayern – Real Madrid triumvirate.

Will Barca, Real, and Bayern dominate in 2020 – 2021?

That’s the biggest question heading into this season’s UEFA Champions League tournament. Bayern drubbed Barca, yes, but it happened in a quarterfinals match. Real Madrid lost in the Round of 16.

After the UCL beat down, Barcelona ditched their coach and general manager. For a moment, it appeared as if Messi might jump ship to Manchester City to play for Pep Guardiola. That didn’t happen.

With Messi back in the fold and a new outlook, Barcelona could go back to their dominating ways. The jury is still out on Barca’s La Liga rival, Real Madrid, though.

Real is a good team, but they lost 2-4 against Manchester City in the Round of 16. City is the current Champions League favorite on MyBookie while Real’s odds make them close to an underdog.

Is this Paris St-Germain’s season?

Up until the 2020 Champions League Finals match, Bayern had dominated. In the Round of 16, they beat Chelsea 7-1. We already mentioned the 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona. Then in the semis, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Mueller and the rest beat Lyon 3-0.

PSG entered the finals an underdog versus Bayern. They hung with Munich losing 0-1. Could this be the season Paris St-Germain finally wins the coveted UCL trophy? PSG has never won a Champions League trophy. They didn’t even win it when it was called the European Cup when the league started in 1955.

Paris St-Germain should be better this season. They added Mauro Icardi in 2020. Some claim Icardi is the most reliable number 9, or center-striker, in the world. If Neymar stays healthy and Icardi continues to dominate, who knows?

Bayern, Man City, Liverpool are top contenders

It remains to be seen if anyone can beat Bayern Munich. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is the best in the world. Jerome Boateng and Thiago are there to help Mueller and Lewandowski.

Liverpool and Manchester City have the best chances to beat Bayern. Man City is the favorite. From one perspective it doesn’t make sense. Manchester City failed to challenge Liverpool in the English Premier League.

But they did dominate Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Also, Guardiola said that Man City will play much better this season. As long as Kevin De Bruyne plays for Manchester City, the Sky Blues should be tough.

Liverpool will also challenge. Pool dominated the EPL. They couldn’t hang with Atletico Madrid in an upset loss. The Reds took the Champions League in 2019, though. It’s not difficult to see them doing enough to beat their rivals in 2021.

So, consider Liverpool a real contender. If you’re looking for an underdog, think Manchester United. The squad is young but has a lot of talent.