Who is your money on winning the Champions League?
Chelsea start their defence of the Champions League trophy this week but with giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and AC Milan all desperate to be champions of Europe again, can the Blues hold on to the greatest prize in European trophy?
A few weeks ago we ran an article on who a selection of our writers and Predict the Premier League pundits thought would waltz off with the Champions League trophy in May 2013 - Who will win the Champions League? - but that was before the draw for the group stage was made. Their views may have changed since then, but by the look of it the bookies haven't.
Four-time Champions League winners Barcelona were the favourites for the crown back a month ago and they remain the team to beat. Francesc Vilanova's men have made a winning start to their La Liga campaign and should walk their group. They kick off on Wednesday against Spartak Moscow before facing Benfica and Celtic. A host of bookies including Coral, Paddy Power and Bet365 are offering odds of 5/2 on Messi, Xavi and Inesita lifting their fourth Champions League crown in seven years.
Their nearest challengers for the trophy are, unsurprisingly, their Spanish rivals Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho's men, who - like Barcelona - bowed out at the semi-final stage last season, are 9/2 at Coral and Bet365 to go on and win it this season. The Special One has already won the trophy with Porto and Inter Milan and would love to bring the cup back to the Bernabeu after an absence of 11 years. They are in a tricky group full of domestic league winners in Man City, Borrusia Dortmund and Ajax, but with Ronaldo, Ozil, Alonso and Casillas, they should have enough to progress.
Manchester United are the pick of the bunch as far as it goes for English teams, despite being knocked out of the group stages last season. For all of their dominance domestically, Sir Alex Ferguson would have loved to lifted the Champions League more than twice. The Red Devils should progress from their group quite comfortably - Galatasary, Cluj and Braga - but then they thought that last year. Bet Victor is offering odds of 10/1.
English champions Manchester City are also at 10/1 at Bet365 and Paddy Power, but they face a huge challenge to get out of the group stages. They're in the same pool as Real Madrid, Borrusia Dortmund and Ajax - all three have won the coveted crown in their time. Manchester City have some of the biggest names in world football at their disposal, but can they go one better than last season and get through to the knockout stages?
Last season's beaten finalists Bayern Munich are 14/1 at Stan James and Bet Victor. Will the German giants be able to bounce back from their penalty heartbreak to win the trophy for the first time in 12 years?
Chelsea have it all to prove. No club has managed to win back-to-back Champions Leagues since the competition changed its format in 1992. Roberto Di Matteo's team had Lady Luck on their side as they beat Barcelona over two legs and saw off Bayern Munich on penalties at the Allianz Arena. Is she still on his side? With a group of Juventus, Shaktar and Nordsjaelland, Chelsea should have enough to progress.
The Blues will not give up the trophy they fought so hard to win and with the likes of Hazard, Oscar, Mata and Torres, Di Matteo has enough guile, skill and craft to win any game. If you think Di Matteo can make history again as Chelsea boss you can get odds of 16/1 at Bet Victor.
Italian aces Juventus are 18/1 followed by French moneybags PSG before we get to Arsenal. The Gunners have made a great start to the new campaign and will be full of confidence after destroying Southampton on Saturday. If you think the beaten 2006 finalists can end their trophy drought by landing the big one, Bet Victor and Stan James are currently offering odds of 25/1.
Here is a list of the best prices available on this market:
Barcelona 5/2
Real Madrid 9/2
Manchester United 10/1
Manchester City 10/1
Bayern Munich 14/1
Chelsea 16/1
Juventus 18/1
PSG 20/1
Arsenal 25/1
AC Milan 33/1
Borrusia Dortmund 40/1
Zenit St Petersburg 80/1
Porto 80/1
Valencia 80/1
Malaga 125/1
Benfica 125/1
Schalke 150/1
Shaktar Donestsk 200/1
Braga 200/1
Galatasary 250/1
Lille 300/1
Spartak Moscow 300/1
Ajax 300/1
Montpeiller 300/1
Dynamo Kiev 300/1
Olympiacos 350/1
Anderlecht 400/1
Celtic 500/1
Dinamo Zagreb 750/1
Cluj 750/1
Boristov 750/1
FC Nordsjaelland 1000/1
So there are the odds, who is your money on?
