An ordinary fan blindly follows the achievements of his team without any special analysis or a strategy. However, if you dream of becoming a professional bettor then you definitely should look for and gather information about several clubs at once. Therefore, before placing bets on the Champions League and spending time on 1xBet page, be sure to collect information about all the contenders for victory. This article will help you get started.
Manchester City
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The team’s name has been on everyone’s lips lately due to scandals. However, they are only indirectly related to football and violations of the league’s financial rules. In fact, the club is accused of spending too much. But what about the game?
Current Form
The team is currently at the peak of its form. Players are now on an unbeaten streak, winning 17 games in a row and drawing another eight. However, fans are still unsure about the team’s future. We are talking about Rodri’s departure and possible changes to the squad. But there are two points. The first is that Rodri is so important that he does not have a substitute at a comparable level. And this is now becoming a problem because the player is out before the end of the season.
The second point is that Hernandez may still end up at Real Madrid next summer, where he is actively being called. Even an injury will not stop Perez if the Spaniard goes through rehabilitation well and the doctors give the go-ahead. Ancelotti does not really like Real without Kroos. They need a person like Rodri.
Key Players
Now, the entire football community is talking only about Rodri’s injury. However, fans are missing other important aspects. Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, and Kovacic are getting old. Everyone is already in the “thirty plus” category. The loss of Rodri definitely has a strong impact on the championship fight in the Premier League. Arsenal and Liverpool understand that the main favorites of the season have lost a player who was responsible for the system as a whole. They learned to play without De Bruyne last season when Kevin was injured.
Haaland was given Doku and Savinho for passes from the flank. And if Grealish and Foden are in shape, Erling will score after their passes. But Rodri is a special person for Manchester City. His injury is a blow to the gut. At the same time, it is a reason to think two steps ahead. If Hernandez no longer wants to live in Manchester, he will choose sunny Madrid. Then Manchester City lost its leader not until the end of the season but forever.
Real Madrid
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Real Madrid is another clear contender for victory. This team has proven itself to be a dangerous opponent. But how are things this season?
Champions League History
The Royal Club is one of the most decorated football teams in the world. But how many times has Real won the Champions League? Since playing in the first final in 1956, Real Madrid has won the Champions League 15 times, which is the best result for any club. In the last eleven years (2013-2024), they have won the Champions League six times, including three titles in a row (2016-2018).
Squad Depth
Ancelotti got the best scorer in world football for the last 5–7 years in Mbappe, and Endrik also joined the squad. Add to this Vinicius, Rodrygo, Brahim, and Guler, as well as the loss of Kroos, and the conclusion is obvious – unlike last season, the main line of Real Madrid 2024/25 will be the attack, the qualities of which Carlo will try to maximize.
To a greater extent, this concerns Mbappe specifically. If you have acquired a player capable of scoring at least 40 goals per season, then it is logical to adapt to his needs and build everything in such a way that Kylian gets the maximum number of opportunities up front.
Mbappe and Vinicius are the main strengths of Real Madrid, and all other mechanisms of the team’s work will be aimed at providing the most comfortable conditions for the two superstars in the game with the ball. The interaction between Kylian and Vini will be similar to the combination of Vinicius and Benzema: the Frenchman will move a little deeper and bounce to the flank in order to combine with the Brazilian and break into the penalty area together.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
Experts do not predict victory for PSG, although it is a strong team. But why is this happening? Let’s figure it out.
Strength in Attack
This team showed itself poorly in the first match of the second round. PSG fans were clearly sad, watching the match of their team with Arsenal. Already in the first half, the Parisians conceded two unanswered goals. Both goals are on the conscience of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Immediately after the Italian’s blunders, social networks pounced on him with criticism. And at the same time, they remembered that Gigi has a Russian substitute Matvey Safonov. Now they are demanding that he be released onto the field immediately. Everyone understands that despite the strength of the attacking lineup, their own goal also needs to be defended.
Managerial Impact
The club’s management has become even more centralized in recent years. At the same time, its members include such famous names as Victoriano Melero, Marc Armstrong, and Fabien Allègre. Of course, these people are involved in general issues of brand development. The team’s future strategies depend on them.
Bayern Munich
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And how are things going with the Bavarian team? The club now has a new head coach, so fans are eagerly awaiting the results.
Defensive Stability
Bayern Munich have always been known for their defense. However, it is not only about the back four. If you look at Bayern, who became champions for 11 years in a row, they not only had great defenders, but they pressed very well as a team. If the team manages to balance the attack and defense this season, they have a good chance.
Offensive Prowess
The new coach has set a course for strengthening the balanced game. The team has always been famous for its excellent balance of attack and defense, and now the management plans to develop this trend. At the beginning of the second stage of the Champions League, experts assume that the team will be among the top three.
Barcelona
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Of course, we can’t forget about such a famous team as Barcelona. Let’s find out what they are ready to surprise us with this season.
Young Talents
Barcelona’s main academy star is currently Gavi. The midfielder broke into the starting lineup in the 2021/2022 season, having played 47 matches in all competitions. Gavi can play both in the center of the field and on the left flank of the attack (more often under Xavi). Another academy product integrated into the squad already under Xavi is defender Alejandro Balde. The 19-year-old is the “heir” of Jordi Alba. Balde has similar playing characteristics to the famous Spaniard, who left the club with peace of mind at the end of the 2022/2023 season.
Tactical Adjustments
“Barça” under Xavi was also a bold team – they practiced different models of pressing, from zonal to completely personal. For Flick’s football, pressing is an even more important component, and at this stage, the German is more dogmatic – zonal pressing is mandatory and organized in one specific way. We could observe this in the match against Valencia.
In Flick’s model, the wingers get a lot of work. They must position themselves in such a way that they can cover both the central defenders and the opponent’s fullbacks. This allows more players to concentrate in the center of the field – there is a striker (Lewandowski), a ten (Rafinha), and another midfielder (Casado).
Atletico Madrid
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Atletico Madrid is another Spanish team on the list of favorites. This club is well-known to fans who have high hopes for it.
Consistency in La Liga
The team currently occupies third place in the Spanish National League standings. Atletico has shown stable results in this regard and is only 2 points behind Real, which occupies second place.
Champions League Struggles
The club’s biggest problem in recent days has nothing to do with football. The weak point has been the fans, who caused trouble during the game against Real Madrid. Although this match is not part of the Champions League, it is difficult to start the second round in the midst of a scandal.
Arsenal
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Arsenal started the second stage with a crushing victory over PSG. Although some fans may argue that the reason is the unprofessionalism of the French goalkeeper, we cannot help but acknowledge the skill of the English.
Recent Performances in Europe
In 2024, the Gunners have played 32 games in all competitions, keeping 17 clean sheets. This is the best result among Premier League clubs. Among the teams in the top 5 leagues, only Real Madrid have kept more clean sheets in this period – 18. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement, based on the excellent form of the team and the excellent work of the coaches.
Squad Development
It can be said that under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have regained their hope and ambition to challenge for the top spot. Recognizing the need to address the depth issue that proved to be a weakness in the battle against Manchester City, the club invested in it heavily last summer. They focused on acquiring talented and experienced young players, with Arteta’s convincing ability to be instrumental in securing a deal for Kai Havertz, while talks for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are also very close to being completed in the club’s favor.
Napoli
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This season has not been a successful one for the Italian club. For the first time in the last 14 years, it will not participate in European cups.
Underdog Status
After an unsuccessful season, the club management changed the coach. Now the team is led by Antonio Conte. For now, Napoli remains an underdog. Even fans are cautious in their predictions. In general, the latest changes in the lineup and the change in strategy can bring the team to its previous level.
Key Matches Ahead
With the team not in the Champions League, they can focus on upcoming matches against Como, Empoli, Lecce, and Milan. The club’s primary goal now is to restore its position in the national league.
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