Juventus Favored to Top Champions League’s Group D
- Italian giants Juventus favored at -165 to rise to the top of Group D
- Atletico Madrid could offer value at +150 if they can engineer a result in Italy and remain consistent elsewhere in the group
- Pot 3 and 4 teams Bayer Leverkusen (+1200) and Lokomotiv Moscow (+6600) not worth even a longshot
The UEFA Champions League’s group draw took place yesterday, with 32 of Europe’s top clubs discovering their potential path to the knockout round.
Group D is an intriguing one as we discuss Champions League odds, with Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo drawn against former rival Atletico Madrid. Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen and Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow round out the group.
Champions League Group D odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Juventus | -165 |
| Atletico Madrid | +150 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | +1200 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | +6600 |
*Odds from 29/08/19
Group D: Team-by-team
Juventus (-165): Steady defensively with the game-breaking ability of Ronaldo up front, Juve is the favorite to win the group for a reason — and who can forget Ronaldo’s hat-trick to reverse a 2-0 aggregate deficit against Atletico in last year’s knockout round.
Atletico Madrid (+150): Diego Simeone’s team lost some cornerstone pieces and added Joao Felix in the summer, but have not looked the dominant side some expected early in the season. Given last year’s campaign-ending 3-0 loss in Turin, it’s easy to see why most have Atleti penciled in for No. 2 in Group D.
Bayer Leverkusen (+1200): The German outfit was knocked out in the Europa League Round of 32 by Krasnodar last season, and is nearly a player cycle removed from its days as a regular Champions League knockout-round team. They’re fast and like to attack, but have conceded three goals in two games against middling Bundesliga opposition to start the season, so buyer beware.
Lokomotiv Moscow (+6600): If you’re looking for a flyer pick, this ain’t it. The squad reads like a retirement home — Vedran Corluka is captain, with 34-year-old Jefferson Farfan and 31-year-old Eder mainstays — and is unlikely to cause problems for the other three teams in the group.
Who’s the Best Bet?
Ronaldo is still a game-breaker and his supporting cast at Juve is still world-class. On top of that, the opposition has it’s own issues to deal with. Atletico is still trying to fill the leadership gap left by vets this summer, and Leverkusen and Moscow simply can’t hold a candle to the top two teams in the group.
Note: Leverkusen’s English-language Twitter account is one of the best follows around, and the club could offer some upside if (when?) it drops to the Europa League as a third-place finisher in Group D.
Last time we drew Atlético in the UCL… 😂📚 https://t.co/ouYRGGKKpQ
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) August 29, 2019
Beyond social media joking, Group D appears to be as cut-and-dry as they come: Barring a disaster, Juventus and Atletico will advance — likely in that order — with Leverkusen sliding into Europa League in third and Lokomotiv bringing up the rear.
The Pick: Juventus (-165)
Carlos Verde is a sports media professional, with writing featured in a number of outlets, including the Epoch Times, Ottawa Life Magazine and Where is Football. He also served as a broadcast commentator for the United Soccer League's Ottawa Fury FC.
