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Is Dortmund a Better Bet Than Bayern to Win Champions League 2019?

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in Soccer News

Updated Jan 4, 2023 · 6:12 AM PST

Marco Reus
Marco Reus has a combined seven goals in Champions League and Bundesliga play as Dortmund are flying in both competitions. By Ultraslansi (Wiki Commons) [CC License]
  • Do Bayern Munich still deserve to be one of the favorites to win Champions League?
  • Can Borussia Dortmund continue their impressive start to their campaign?
  • Could BVB be the better bet among German clubs to win the tournament?

When you think about favorites to win Champions League, the German giants from Bayern Munich likely come to mind.

Yet after a so-so start to their campaign, mixed with an impressive start from their rivals Borussia Dortmund, are BVB the better bet to win the Champions League?

You can see the vast discrepancy in odds between the German clubs in the Champions League odds for Bundesliga teams below.

2019 Champions League Odds

While Bayern currently have +930 average odds to win the Champions League, Dortmund’s are still much longer at +3300.

Champions League Odds

Team Odds
Manchester City +350
Barcelona +500
Juventus +550
Bayern Munich +900
Liverpool +1000
Borussia Dortmund +3300

Does Bayern Deserve The Shorter Odds?

After a semi-finals appearance last year, Bayern have justifiably earned themselves a spot among the favorites.

Bayern Munich are the class of Germany. The perrenial champions, Bayern have won each of the past six Bundesliga titles. They own 28 total titles compared to Dortmund’s eight.

While Bayern are currently tops in Champions League Group E on ten points, they’ve not looked much like their typical dominant selves.

They can have no complaints defensively with only one goal conceded in four, but only seven scored will leave them wanting more.

A 1-1 home draw to Ajax was also an unexpected result.

Domestically is where fans are likely more concerned right now. Bayern sit third in the Bundesliga at 6-2-2 and have only won two of their past six matches.

Bayern sit third in the Bundesliga at 6-2-2 and have only won two of their past six matches.

Manager Niko Kovač not only has the results on the pitch to worry about, but also must control the reported locker room unrest and internal leaks of team information to the media by a reported “mole”.

Are BVB Undervalued?

Dortmund may be far behind their rivals in titles, but they are the last team to top the table not named Bayern Munich by winning Bundesliga twice from 2010-2012.

As far as Champions League titles go, Bayern also hold the edge 6-1 and actually defeated Dortmund in the all-German final in 2013.

Dortmund vs Bayern Champions League Stats

Dortmund
VS
Bayern
3-0-1 Record (W-D-L) 3-1-0
9 PTS 10
8 GF 7
2 GA 1
+6 DIFF +6

Dortmund’s odds may also reflect their embarrassing performance in Champions League play last year when they were eliminated in the Group Stage with a 0-2-4 record.

But Dortmund have been the surprise package in European soccer this season. They reside in first place in Champions League Group A with nine points alongside Atlético Madrid.

After a commanding 4-0 home win over the Spanish side on Matchday 3, they did fall 2-0 in the rematch in Spain on Tuesday.

Yet that loss was the club’s first in any competition this season. In Bundesliga play, Dortmund are the current table-toppers with a 7-3-0 record.

Dortmund Looking Too Good To Pass Up

Listen, Champions League isn’t usually the tournament where someone outside of the biggest clubs can win.

Yet, the more I’ve looked at this, the more value I see on BVB. Putting four past Atlético’s typically stingy defense was eye-opening. Yet even Atlético as a “second tier” type team have Champions League odds of +1400.

BVB have as good a record as any of the top teams in any other the five major European leauges and are scoring for fun with 30 Bundesliga goals in ten matches.

What I find even more impressive is that Paco Alcacer, Marco Reus, and Jadon Sancho have a combined 17 goals in Bundesliga play but only three in the Champions League. Meaning Dortmund have scoring threats all over their roster.

With average odds of +3300, taking a position on Dortmund will also present some outstanding hedging opportunities should they advance through a couple more rounds.

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