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Remind me next time

The UEFA Champions League draw has been made and the tournament's group stage is set to kick off on September 6 with the first group stage matchday.

Thirty-two teams will contest the group stage of the UEFA Champions League from September to November. This year's group stage is a sprint as the FIFA World Cup will take place in November and December. Top European teams playing in the UCL will have a large number of matches packed into a short window.

Champions League betting is popular with football bettors. The tournament features many of the best players, top clubs, and the smartest managers in the game. While league football is the bread and butter for many punters, Champions League betting gives you the chance to wager on massive European Cup fixtures each midweek.

This year's tournament could throw up some surprises with the World Cup being played in November and December. The short timeframe in which teams will play a number of league and cup matches could see an unfancied team or dark horse lift the European Cup.

Champions League Betting Odds

odds

As has been the case for many years, Manchester City are the bookies pre-Champions League favourite to win the tournament. Last season, Man City were eliminated by Real Madrid in the semifinals.

Can Pep Guardiola's team reach the final in 2023? Here is a look at the top 10 teams' Champions League winner odds.

Who Are the Favourites?

Manchester City are once again the favourites to win the UCL. Despite being favourites in nearly every season since Guardiola arrived, Man City have failed to win the Champions League.

The difference this season could be Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has started the Premier League season well in front of goal.

Paris Saint Germain have also started the new season well. The Parisians are another favourite to win the competition. Yet, like Man City, Paris Saint Germain have struggled in the competition over the years. New coach Christophe Galtier provides Paris with something they haven't had previously, discipline.

Last season, the trio of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe couldn't propel Paris Saint Germain to the UCL title. This season could be different with a new manager in town.

The likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid will be fancied by many punters to reach the final again. After both teams gave so much a season ago, it will be difficult for them to repeate those feats.

Dark Horses

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona are all four dark horses to reach the final of the tournament. All four clubs have fine players and managers, yet recent history and form tell us these teams are outsiders to win the competition.

Barcelona are certainly a dark horse despite their big spend this summer. If Barcelona can win the tournament, it would mean their financial moves, such as selling off a number of club assets, were worth it.

Chelsea won the UCL just two seasons ago. A slow start to this Premier League season and along with being in a transition phase means the tournament may be a step too far.

Chelsea were eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarterfinals last season in a tie the Blues should not have lost. Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea are built to win the UCL rather than the Premier League.

Long Shots

If you are looking for a long shot to back to win the UCL, then one of the four Italian clubs could be your best bet. No Italian club has won the UCL since 2010 when Jose Mourinho led Inter Milan to the trophy.

AC Milan, the reigning Serie A winners, are at odds of 66/1 to win the tournament. Inter Milan, the last Serie A UCL winner, are at winner odds of 50/1.

Meanwhile, Juventus, the most recent Serie A team to reach the tournament's final, are at winner odds of 40/1. Serie A's final team in the tournament, Napoli, is at odds of 150/1.

Champions League Teams

Thirty-two teams will contest the UCL group stage. Here is a look at all 32 clubs competing in this season's UCL group stage.

  • Ajax

  • Liverpool

  • Napoli

  • Rangers

  • FC Porto

  • Atletico Madrid

  • Bayer Leverkusen

  • Club Brugge

  • Bayern Munich

  • Barcelona

  • Inter Milan

  • Viktoria Plzen

  • Eintracht Frankfurt

  • Tottenham Hotspur

  • Sporting CP

  • Marseille

  • AC Milan

  • Chelsea

  • Red Bull Salzburg

  • Dinamo Zagreb

  • Real Madrid

  • RB Leipzig

  • Shakhtar Donetsk

  • Celtic

  • Manchester City

  • Sevilla

  • Borussia Dortmund

  • FC Copenhagen

  • Paris Saint Germain

  • Juventus

  • Benfica

  • Maccabi Haifa

Champions League Groups

The UCL's 32 teams are split into eight groups of four teams. Matches will be played home and away for a total of six matches in each group. The top two teams advance to the round of 16, while the third place teams in each group go into the Europa League last 16 playoffs.

Here are the odds to win each group.

Group A

  • Ajax 13/2

  • Liverpool 2/7

  • Napoli 13/2

  • Rangers 14/1

View all Group A odds.

Group B

  • FC Porto 3/1

  • Atletico Madrid 10/11

  • Bayer Leverkusen 3/1

  • Club Brugge 12/1

View all Group B odds.

Group C

  • Bayern Munich 8/13

  • Barcelona 7/4

  • Inter Milan 8/1

  • Viktoria Plzen 100/1

View all Group C odds.

Group D

  • Eintracht Frankfurt 11/2

  • Tottenham Hotspur 1/2

  • Sporting CP 7/1

  • Marseille 11/2

View all Group D odds.

Group E

  • AC Milan 10/3

  • Chelsea 1/3

  • Red Bull Salzburg 10/1

  • Dinamo Zagreb 50/1

View all Group E odds.

Group F

  • Real Madrid 1/5

  • RB Leipzig 5/1

  • Shakhtar Donetsk 50/1

  • Celtic 14/1

View all Group F odds.

Group G

  • Manchester City 2/9

  • Sevilla 9/1

  • Borussia Dortmund 11/2

  • FC Copenhagen 40/1

View all Group G odds.

Group H

  • Paris Saint Germain 2/5

  • Juventus 5/2

  • Benfica 11/1

  • Maccabi Haifa 150/1

View all Group H odds.

Champions League Dates

The UCL will begin with the group stage on September 6. The group stage will conclude on November 2. The knockout stages will start after the New Year. The round of 16 kicks off on February 14.

  • Group Stage: September 6 to November 2

  • Round of 16: February 14 to March 15

  • Quarterfinals: April 11 to April 19

  • Semifinals: May 9 to May 17

  • Final: June 10

When is the Champions League Final?

The UEFA Champions League Final 2023 will be held on Saturday, June 10 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.

Who is hosting the 2022/23 Champions League Final?

The 2022-23 Champions League Final will be played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. The venue is the current home of Turkey Super Lig team Fatih Karagümrük.

The venue was the previous home of Galatasaray, Istanbul Basaksehir, and Besiktas. However, since 2020, it has been the exclusive home of Fatih Karagümrük.

The Ataturk Stadium hosted one of the greatest UCL Finals of all time in 2005. The venue was the scene for the Miracle of Istanbul as Liverpool came from three goals down to draw AC Milan 3-3 before winning the match on penalties.

Who Won the Champions League Last Season?

The 2021-22 Champions League Final was won by Real Madrid. Los Blancos defeated Liverpool 1-0 in Paris.

Liverpool were the favourites to win the Champions League Final in 2022, but Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid shocked the football world with a win to nil.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was the man of the match after making timely saves to prevent Liverpool from coming from behind.

Most Champions League Wins

Real Madrid have won the most Champions League trophies with 14. Los Blancos picked up their 14th European Cup last season, defeating Liverpool.

AC Milan have secured the second most UCL trophies with seven. However, the Rossoneri have not won the tournament since 2007.

Liverpool and Bayern Munich are tied for third in UCL wins with six apiece.

Manager With the Most Champions League Wins

After Real Madrid's won last season's competition, manager Carlo Ancelotti became the manager with the most wins in the tournament. Ancelotti has won four UCL trophies with two different teams (AC Milan, Madrid).

Former Liverpool manager Bob Paisley and ex-Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane are tied for second place with three UCL trophies apiece.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has recorded two trophies, both with Barcelona. Jose Mourinho has won the competition twice with FC Porto and Inter Milan.

Champions League Winners

The modern UCL was established in 1992-93. Prior to the tournament, it was known as the European Cup. Here is a look at the previous Champions League winners from 1992-93.

  • Real Madrid 2022

  • Chelsea 2021

  • Bayern Munich 2020

  • Liverpool 2019

  • Real Madrid 2018

  • Real Madrid 2017

  • Real Madrid 2016

  • Barcelona 2015

  • Real Madrid 2014

  • Bayern Munich 2013

  • Chelsea 2012

  • Barcelona 2011

  • Inter Milan 2010

  • Barcelona 2009

  • Manchester United 2008

  • AC Milan 2007

  • Barcelona 2006

  • Liverpool 2005

  • FC Porto 2004

  • AC Milan 2003

  • Real Madrid 2002

  • Bayern Munich 2001

  • Real Madrid 2000

  • Manchester United 1999

  • Real Madrid 1998

  • Borussia Dortmund 1997

  • Juventus 1996

  • Ajax 1995

  • AC Milan 1994

  • Marseille 1993

Champions League All Time Top Goalscorers

Cristiano Ronaldo is the UCL's all time top goalscorer with 140 goals in the tournament. Here is a look at the top five all time goalscorers in the tournament's history.

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo - 140 goals

  2. Lionel Messi - 125 goals

  3. Robert Lewandowski - 86 goals

  4. Karim Benzema - 86 goals

  5. Raul - 71 goals

View this season's Champions League top goalscorer odds.

Champions League Most Appearances

Ronaldo also leads the UCL in most appearances with 183. Here is a look at the top five most appearances by players in the UCL.

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo - 183 appearances

  2. Iker Casillas - 177 appearances

  3. Lionel Messi - 156 appearances

  4. Xavi - 151 appearances

  5. Raul and Karim Benzema - 142 appearances

Are Russian Teams Competing in the Champions League this Season?

Russian teams are banned from this year's UEFA Champions League due to the war in Ukraine. No Russian teams will compete in European competitions.

The Champions League kicks off on Tuesday, September 6. The tournament offers some of the best betting markets on European football. The UCL is the top club football competition in the world and features some of the best players, clubs, and managers. You won't want to miss this year's competition.

Betting sites such as Bet365, William Hill, and others offer up plenty of great free bet stakes and offers during the group stage. Don't miss out on these free bets and the competitive odds offered by leading betting sites. Good luck with your Champions League betting and don't forget to check back with Easyodds for the latest best betting odds.