The 2021/22 Champions League season is reaching its crucial stage and the line ups for the semifinals are starting to take shape. Defending champions Chelsea have it all to do following a 3-1 defeat at home to Real Madrid but the other English sides look to be in good shape.
With Liverpool and Manchester City both winning their first leg quarter final games, could the trophy be heading to England for the third time in four years?
Teams in Command
All four quarter final games are at the half way stage with the first legs having been completed at the start of April. In those opening four matches, there were wins for Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Villarreal.
With both teams having secured 3-1 away victories, both Liverpool and Real Madrid look highly likely to progress to the semifinals. The remaining two games are not so clear cut. Manchester City edged past Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 win while Villarreal beat Bayern Munich by the same scoreline.
It’s all to play for in those quarter finals but what about the overall race for the Champions League trophy? Can we find a neutral verdict in terms of a winning team?
As the Sports Betting Companies see it
Those neutral viewpoints can usually be found at sports betting companies who provide a host of markets for all European football competitions. Currently, all of the Champions League bookmakers linked to Asiabet have listed Liverpool and Manchester City as the joint favourites to win the title in 2022.
Close behind are Real Madrid and Bayern Munich while the remaining four teams – Villarreal, Chelsea, Benfica and Atletico Madrid are the outsiders. When the second legs are completed, the list of teams will shorten to four and those markets will be updated.
Asiabet will be there at every stage to reflect on new market odds as they come in. While they are here, readers can also take in some news and opinion articles relating to the Champions League and to football in general.
There’s plenty of information to digest and readers can also put that knowledge into use if they wish. Each of the bookmakers that are referenced on the website are set up to accept new registrations. In return for signing up with the operator, there are generous welcome packages in most places.
A range of funding methods can get the account moving while customer services are on hand at every stage. As a registered customer, it’s also possible to access mobile betting plus a host of other sporting markets.
It’s one of the best sites to follow as the Champions League develops but are those odds likely to be justified by the favorites?
Who will win the 2022 Champions League Final?
Liverpool and Manchester City are engaged in a tight battle for the English Premier League title. There is little to choose between the two teams and we should get a clearer picture of a likely winner when they meet at Anfield in April.
Bayern Munich have a deficit to make up from their first leg, but the Germans are favorites to progress. As winners of the Champions League in 2020, Bayern will offer a stiff test to any side moving forward.
Of the teams most likely to take their place in the semifinals, Real Madrid seem to be the most underrated. They’ve lost Cristian Ronaldo while Gareth Bale seems to be permanently playing under an injury cloud, but they remain a powerful force. With Karim Benzema in prolific goal scoring form, it seems strange that many pundits are ruling Real out.
In numerical terms, English teams have the advantage. The Premier league has three clubs in the quarter finals while Liverpool and Manchester City look certain to be taking their place in the last four.
As they will be kept separate in that semifinal stage, it’s even possible that we might see Liverpool and Manchester City compete in another all-English UCL final. That would be the third time that this has happened in four seasons and the remaining teams in this year’s competition have it all to do to prevent the trophy from heading to England yet again.
