The UEFA Champions League returns for a new season in an intriguing new format for the 2024/25 season, with reigning champions Real Madrid looking to defend the crown they for a 15th time when they beat Borussia Dortmund in June..
The new format has seen the group stages abolished and a new extended league phase implemented which means extra games and more clashes between the big teams, which should make for an exciting spectacle for fans and give bettors a better idea of what is to come in the latter rounds.
We’ll look at the new format, break down which teams are most likely to succeed in the tournament and provide you with our best free soccer betting picks in the process.
Learn more about how to bet on the UEFA Champions League here.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 information
- League Phase: 17th September 2024 – 29th January 2025
- Knockout Phase Play-offs: 11th February 2025 – 19th February 2025
- Round of 16: 4th March 2025 – 12th March 2025
- Quarter-Finals: 8th April 2025 – 16th April 2025
- Semi-Finals: 29th April 2025 – 7th May 2025
- Final: 31st May 2025 – Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 New Format Explained
There are 36 teams in the tournament this year, four more than usual. Each team will play eight matches in the extended league phase, with a league standings to sort each side.
The top eight ranked teams after all the fixtures have been played will receive a bye to the round of 16. The teams ranked from 9th to 24th will contest the knockout phase play-offs, with the teams ranked from 9th to 16th seeded for the draw. Teams ranked from 25th to 36th are eliminated and will not drop down into the Europa League, as was the case in previous seasons.
There will then be a round-robin draw after the completion of the play-offs, to set up a bracket for the remainder of the knockout stage of the competition where teams will play each other home and away before a one-legged final.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 favorites
Below you’ll find a list of favorites to win the UEFA Champions League 2024/25.
Manchester City – (+225)
The 2022/23 winners of this tournament and the reigning champions of the English Premier League, Man City are the favorites to lift this trophy once again this year.
Erling Haaland has started the season in sensational form for the Pep Guardiola’s team, and the return of Ilkay Gundogan after spending a year in Barcelona makes them stronger in midfield too despite the sale of Julian Alvarez in a club-record deal to Atletico Madrid.
A favorable draw in the league phase should see them qualify without much trouble, and in a two-legged clash against any team in Europe they will be the favorites because of their possession-based style of play and the quality of their squad, plus the fact they have Pep Guardiola in their dugout.
Their history in the tournament isn't the best though, having only won the competition once before, and there isn't excellent value in backing them at this early stage. However, the deeper they get into the tournament the more the odds will drop, so this could be their best price all year.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
Real Madrid – (+350)
The current reigning champions and the record-holders are among the favorites as usual, and with good reason too for the upcoming campaign.
The 15-time champions remain the only team in history to have won the tournament in consecutive seasons, and after winning the final last year in London they have since added superstar Kylian Mbappe to their squad alongside young phenom Endrick.
Carlo Ancelotti is still at the helm and their eight league phase fixtures are favorable to them, meaning progression to the knockout rounds with a bye is highly likely. From then on, they will be favorites for each tie and have got great recent history against Man City too.
They have already won the UEFA Super Cup this season but they have been less than convincing in their domestic league as they search for balance in their new-look attack. At +350 there is solid value in them claiming the trophy again, although it would be a bit of a surprise at this stage.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
Arsenal – (+800)
After running Man City close in each of the last two seasons in the Premier League, Arsenal are now ready to really compete on the continental stage and could become surprise winners this season.
Mikel Arteta has built a super strong squad and added Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling this summer. On their day they can beat absolutely anyone and the squad is perfectly poised to lift a trophy for the first time in five seasons.
Their league phase fixtures should see them qualify in the top eight, and from there anything can happen. Last year they were in the mix before losing out to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals on aggregate. They certainly have the quality and depth to beat any opposition, and at +800 the value is fantastic. This is definitely worth a punt.
