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Barcelona & Real Madrid Going in Opposite Directions in Champions League Odds

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in Soccer News

Updated Jan 4, 2023 · 6:03 AM PST

Lionel Messi
With five goals in two games from Lionel Messi, Barcelona are currently undefeated and one of the favorites to win the Champions League. Photo By L.F.Salas (Wiki Commons) [CC License]
  • After two opening wins, how have Barcelona’s odds adjusted in the tournament?
  • Will Madrid rebound after a surprising midweek defeat in Russia?
  • After two games, which side looks the best value to win the Champions League?

After two games of the Champions League Group Stage, two of the tournament’s heavyweights have seen their odds adjust in opposite directions.

Spanish giants and rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid now have average odds of +500 and +930, respectively.

2019 UEFA Champions League Odds

You’ll find Barcelona in the top three contenders tab, while you’ll have to look to the top eight to find Real Madrid’s 2019 UEFA Champions League odds movement.

Barcelona Looking Dominate Early

The Catalan club have wasted little time in establing themselves as a tournament favorite. After the Group Stage draw, Barca’s average odds were +600 and have since shortened with two wins in the competition.

2019 Champions League Odds

Team Odds to Win the Champions League
Manchester City +450
Barcelona +500
Juventus +600
Liverpool +800
Bayern Munich +800
Real Madrid +900

Barcelona opened the tournament by brushing aside Dutch side PSV 4-0, aided by a hat trick from Lionel Messi. Though three of their goals came late on in the match, the end result was to be expected.

On Wednesday, they travelled to Wembley to face a Spurs club and the result was much the same in a 4-2 win. Tottenham were missing some bodies due to injury, but Barcelona was able to jump ahead 2-0 only 28 minutes into the match.

Messi added two goals to bring his total to five in the tournament.

Group B Standings

Team W D L GF GA GD PTS
Barcelona 2 0 0 8 2 6 6
Inter Milan 2 0 0 4 2 2 6
Tottenham 0 0 2 3 6 -3 0
PSV 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0

Though Barca have looked good to start the tournament, domestically they have been struggling of late. Despite occupying first in La Liga, they have failed to win any of their past three games. Two of these were home draws and one was a road defeat to the previously winless Leganés.

Despite occupying first in La Liga, [Barcelona] have failed to win any of their past three games.

That said, Barcelona are still fair value as one of the top favorites in this tournament.

They once again have one of the strongest teams and one of the world’s best players in their lineup. They were knocked out of the quarter-finals last year only on road goals and have looked as good as anyone so far.

Can Madrid Rebound From Surprise Defeat?

While Madrid still sit comfortably near the top of the La Liga standings, as well as second in Group G in Champions League, their play of late must be causing some concerns for fans of the capital club.

With a shock 1-0 defeat to CSKA midweek in Champions League play, Los Blancos have seen their average odds drift out to +930 to win the tournament.

Group G Standings

Team W D L GF GA GD PTS
CSKA Moscow 1 1 0 3 2 1 4
Real Madrid 1 0 1 3 1 2 3
Roma 1 0 1 5 3 2 3
FC Viktoria Plzeň 0 1 1 2 7 -5 1

Madrid made quick work at home of Roma in their first match controlling the game and winning 3-0. The results were different on their travels Tuesday as they went down early in the second minute and were unable to recover.

Despite 26 shots, no Madrid player was able to find the back of the net, a problem likely amplified with the absence of both Gareth Bale and Isco – two players who scored in their first match. Bale suffered a minor thigh injury last weekend and Isco is recoving from appendicitis surgery.

Although tied in first with Barcelona in La Liga (second on goal difference), Madrid are also struggling recently, having won once in their past four matches and still getting used to life post-Ronaldo.

This is still the team that has won the past three Champions Leagues and should be expected to make another deep run. However, after their loss in Russia, a match in Rome on November 27 could decide their fate in Group G.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid Stats

Barcelona
VS
Real Madrid
2-0-0 Record 1-0-1
6 Points 4
8 GF 3
2 GA 1
+6 Goal Differential +2
34 (17) Shots (On Target) 56 (15)
1 Clean Sheets 1

Can Someone Break Madrid’s Title Streak?

Champions League is not the tournament to search too deep for value.

After all, only nine different teams have won in the past 20 years. Madrid have won four of the past five and I’d struggle to make an argument for anyone past Atletico Madrid at +1100.

Italian giants Juventus could be a good bet at +600.

They haven’t won since 1996, but always have a strong defense and, with the addition of Ronaldo, now have one of the world’s top attacking threats as well. They are also the only club from the major European leagues who have yet to lose a match in any competition this season.

Best Bet: Juventus +600

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