Real Madrid Favored at -125 Odds to Win Champions League Group A

• Real Madrid emerged as a -125 favorite to finish atop the Champions League Group A table after a favorable draw alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Brugge, and Galatasaray
• Los Blancos look to rebound after a stunning Round of 16 exit from last season’s tournament
• PSG sit as +100 second favorites to win Group A, but most overcome an injury to Kylian Mbappe and the off-pitch drama surrounding Neymar’s status with the club

Fortune smiled on Real Madrid at this week’s UEFA Champions League group stage draw. Los Blancos avoided drawing into a group of death, and have emerged as strong -125 favorites to finish atop the Group A table on the Champions League futures odds.

Odds to Win UEFA Champions League Group A

*Odds taken 08/30/19

Real Looks to Atone for Last Season’s Early Exit

Real have a lot to prove this season after making an uncharacteristically early exit from Champions League action last season, suffering a stunning 5-3 aggregate loss to AFC Ajax in the Round of 16, ending a string of three straight UCL titles.

The club has yet to overcome last spring’s season ending swoon across all competitions. In addition to their early ouster from the Champions League, Real also tallied wins in just three of their final nine La Liga matches to fall to third on the league table.

Real’s middling play has carried over into the new season. Los Blancos dominated in a season-opening 3-1 win over Celta de Vigo but were unable to capitalize on Real Valladolid’s lacklustre performance while settling for a 1-1 draw in last weekend’s home opener. However, Los Blancos remain an attractive +800 bet to win it all on the Champions League odds.

Favorable Draw Sets Up Dates with Galatasaray, Brugge

Real looks well positioned to reach the Round of 16 for a 23rd straight year after drawing in alongside Galatasaray S.K. and Club Brugge KV, who are pegged at +1600 and +6600, respectively, to finish atop the Group A table.

The club has a lengthy track record of success against Galatasaray, posting wins in six of seven meetings across all competitions, and outgunned the Turkish side by a wide 10-2 margin in a pair of group stage matches the last time they met in Champions League action back in 2013/2014. Real has never faced Club Brugge, who are undefeated through four UCL contests this season, but have never advanced past the group stage in Champions League play.

Matchup with PSG Key to First-Place Finish

However, Real can expect to face a tough test from the other European powerhouse in group A, Paris Saint-Germain.

Like Real, PSG return to the Champions League with plenty to prove after being eliminated in the Round of 16 in each of the past three years. However, the Parisians have enjoyed regular success in group stage action over the past two years, edging Liverpool to claim first place last season after topping Bayern Munich to claim the top of the table in 2017/2018.

PSG have also kept clean sheets in their first two Ligue 1 contests on home turf. However, the club has been plagued by personnel issues both on and off the pitch. The ongoing drama surrounding Neymar, and his possible transfer to Barcelona, remains a major distraction.

Official, due to injury, PSG announced that:
•Cavani is out for 3 weeks.
•Mbappé is out for 4 weeks.
———-
Neymar moving to Barca is complicated now! pic.twitter.com/ySsuotk0YX

— GoalsTV⚽️ (@goalstv3) August 26, 2019

Further complicating matters is a hamstring injury suffered by Kylian Mbappe earlier this week that will sideline last season’s Ligue 1 top goalscorer for up to four weeks, and likely force him to miss PSG’s Champions League clash with Real at Parc des Princes on September 18.

The Parisians remain a short -1000 bet to get past the group stage, but after going winless in four previous Champions League clashes with Real, and just two wins in their past five UCL contests on home turf, Los Blancos remain a solid value bet to claim top spot on this season’s Group A table.

Pick: Real Madrid (-125)