The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League is about to commence and, as always, there is a lot of speculation and chatter about who could potentially be crowned the winners of one of football’s biggest competitions.
The continental club tournament is renowned around the world and continues to attract millions of viewers globally. Many will watch their favorite team take to the pitch as they compete in the Group Stage, while millions more will watch as a neutral and enjoy the best the sport has to offer.
Aside from the group stage, millions around the globe will tune into the final, as they want to see the action between the two finalists and see who comes out on top. Last year saw Manchester City triumph over Inter Milan, with Rodri scoring the only goal of the game.
Will Manchester City retain their title?
With the 23/24 UCL Group Stages having already been drawn, talk about who the favorites to win the competition has continued to increase. As a result, the bookies have gone with Manchester City to be the favorite, and this is possible if you visit the following web page, where a list of the most reputable and safest sportsbooks can be found.
The Cityzens were drawn alongside FK Crvena zvezda, Red Bull Leipzig, and BSC Young Boys in Group G. Many believe the English Premier League champions have been given a favorable draw and one that they should get through without any relative problems, hence why they are the favorite.
However, football can be a game of cliches and one that is unpredictable at times. Pep Guardiola’s side will know there are no easy games in the UCL, while they will guard against complacency as they are the current champions, thus meaning they have a target on their back.
Additionally, it is important to remember that winning back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles is something that is vary rare. In fact, since 1991 when the competition was changed to the name it goes by today from the European Cup, only Real Madrid have been successful in defending their title the year after. They did this in 2016/17 season when they defeated Juventus 4-1, before winning it for a third time in a row a year later when they beat Liverpool 3-1.
If not Man City, who?
With the history books against the idea of a City win (although never say never), there will be some questioning which other teams have the squad and capabilities of being able to win the greatest club prize in football.
Many bookmakers have identified Bayern Munich as a potential candidate following their acquisition of Harry Kane. The Bundesliga champions have already been enjoying the English forward’s contributions since his initial €100 million move from Tottenham and he will be desperate to win the big one.
Naturally, it is also always impossible to rule out Real Madrid as a contender. Even if Los Blancos are not performing as well as they should in La Liga at times, they appear to go into overdrive in the UCL and take everyone they come across as prisoners.
As a result, it would not be a surprise if one of the three teams mentioned were to win at Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024, although where football is concerned, it can be anyone’s depending on the day.
