Recent entries in Champions League
Champions League Betting 2009/10: Chelsea have the ammunition to go close this year.
Matthew Walton / 26 August 2009 Free Bet View Market
Any number of reasons could explain the even greater confidence behind the Catalan club:
1. They were simply over-priced last season and so the market has merely re-adjusted itself .
2. This side, with only minor changes - swapping Ibrahimovic for Eto'o for example - has proved it can win the competition and is just as strong this season
3. If anything, their opposition has got weaker over the past 12 months.
The other big movers in the market are Real Madrid, going from [13.5] in August 2008 to just [5.6] in August 2009. The reason being two-fold. Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Maybe three if you include Xabi Alonso. For a side that hasn't even made the semi-finals since 2003, and has changed their manager yet again in the close season, this price seems hard to class as 'value'. Money alone doesn't buy the Champions League trophy.
Just ask Chelsea. The Londoners have been big-spenders in recent seasons but still have no Champions League trophy to show for it. However, for the first time since Jose Mourinho left, they have a manager with a proven pedigree in European club management (which Luis Felipe Scolari, notably, lacked) and with a settled squad, Carlo Ancelotti's side at [7.6], compared to [6.4] this time last year, look a backable proposition.
The same can't necessarily be said about the next team in the market, Manchester United. Their drift from [7.2] to [10.5] is hard to justify in terms of track record. As finalists in each of the last two years, they have the experience but the market reflects their loss of big players such as Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
Inter Milan are Italy's best bet but having been [7.6] at this stage last year the Nerazzurri now trade at [12.5]. This is symptomatic of the fact that Serie A grows weaker year on year, something borne out by Kaka's move to Spain. And losing in the first knock-out round in each of the last three seasons, it's hard to make much of a case for Inter being value to win the competition for the first time since 1964-65.
The same could be said for Bayern Munich. The Germans have moved from [22.0] to [38.0] this year and struggling even to dominate on home soil it's understandable to see them slide. Their last trophy came in 2000-01.
The rest of the teams remain much the same one year on. Each of Liverpool [13.5], Arsenal [14.0] and Juventus [24.0] lie in similar positions in the market - reliable and respected - whilst AC Milan [28.0] fill the spot above fellow Italians AS Roma [29.0].
Viewed collectively, it's interesting to note these top ten clubs made up 89% of the market in 2008-09 and this year that's risen even higher, to 93%. All these sides come from either England, Spain, Italy or Germany and these four countries have provided the winner in nine of the last 10 seasons. The chances are one will do so again this year.
Which one? That question sadly won't be answered until next May.
But in terms of pure value - who to back now - ask yourself who has a better chance of winning than last year, at a bigger price? Chelsea [7.6], maybe surprisingly, look the pick. Twelve months on they have the total package - proven manger, settled side, track record and pedigree, bigger price - whilst other teams are all lacking in one or more areas.
