To be exact the 2019 UEFA Champions League is down to its final eight teams with quarterfinal action starting on April 9. And Manchester City opened as the favorite to win the title at +220. Following that is Juventus at +270, Barcelona +380, Liverpool +390, Manchester United +1600, Tottenham +2500, Ajax +3100 and Porto at +9500. The Final will be played June 1, 2019 at the Wanda Metropolitan in Madrid.
Real Madrid
Fashion the one team that is not on the soccer betting odds board. Real Madrid, winner of last three UEFA Champions League tournaments, was eliminated by Ajax in a stunning upset. In fact, Real Madrid was gunning for their fourth consecutive UEFA Champions League title. Further a Spanish team has been the winner every year since 2014 with Barcelona breaking up Real Madrid’s dominance in 2015.
Manchester City
A clear difference can be seen by gamblers when it comes to Manchester City and the soccer betting odds. Consider the way that Manchester City annihilated Schalke 04 in their last match 7-0. Domination would be an inadequate word for the victory as Man City had a 72% possession rate and Sergio Aguero added two goals. Group F action saw Manchester City post a record of four wins, one draw and one loss with a goal differential of plus 10. Following that was a knockout phase sweep of Germany’s Schalke 04 by scores of 3-2 and 7-0.
Barcelona
Also impressing everyone has been the second sportsbook choice Barcelona. Group B was owned by Barcelona’s record of four wins, two draws, and no losses with a goal differential of plus nine. Knockout phase action saw them score a 0-0 draw followed by a 5-0 win against Lyon.
Liverpool
Liverpool will draw their own share of soccer betting odds action. On the whole it is interesting to note that Liverpool finished behind Paris Saint Germain in Group C. Their record was three wins with three losses and a goal differential of plus two. But in the knockout phase Liverpool upset German powerhouse Bayern Munich with a 3-1 win in the second match after a scoreless draw in game one.
Stats to Consider
Compared to most any other franchise in professional sports Manchester United is a marquee world brand. But since the retirement of famed manager Alex Ferguson things have not been the same. Man United finished second behind Juventus in Group H with a record of three wins, one draw and two losses. Their goal differential was plus three. Following a 0-2 loss to Paris Saint Germain Man United scored a 3-1 win in the second match to win the knockout phase.
Tottenham Hotspur
Starting with a record of two wins, two draws and two losses did Tottenham Hotspur give a lethargic look in Group B. However, in the knockout phase they swept Borussia Dortmund 3-0 and 1-0.
Lionel Messi
Definitely Barcelona will boast the top player in the tournament with Lionel Messi. Concurrently Messi shares the lead in goals scored with Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich. Messi and Lewandowski have each scored eight goals. With Lewandowski’s team eliminated Messi is a virtual lock for the Golden Boot.
Games to Come
Next, Quarter Final action opens April 9 with Liverpool vs. Porto and Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City. On April 10 Ajax takes on Juventus and Manchester United will face Barcelona. Second leg matches will take place April 16 and 17.