The 2024/25 elite European football season has reached its business end and the time to claim silverware is just around the corner. In England, Liverpool look set to pick up the Premier League title and currently hold a mighty 12-point lead over second-place Arsenal with just a handful of games remaining. In Germany, Bayern Munich are on the brink of reclaiming the Meisterschale after shockingly missing out on the title to Bayer Leverkusen last term for the first time in 12 years.
In Spain and Italy though, we have genuine title races on our hands. In the former, the two giants from the capital along with Barcelona look set to battle it out in a three-way clash for the ages. In the latter, we have another Mexican standoff, with Inter looking to fend off Antonio Conte's Napoli and last season's Europa League winners Atalanta. Then, we have the small matter of the UEFA Champions League.
The greatest club competition on earth has reached its quarter-final stage, and several mouthwatering clashes are just around the corner. With just eight games remaining, the bookies have Paris Saint-Germain as the narrow favorites to claim a maiden title. But who are the favorites to play out the May 31st final in Munich's Allianz Arena? Let's find out.
Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain
While online sportsbooks offer traditional bets such as betting on the tournament winner, they also offer a "Name the Finalists" market, similar to a forecast in horse racing betting. The favorite to win that market with the popular Bodog Sportsbook is a Barcelona - Paris Saint Germain final, with the selection being priced at +450. And it's the favorite for good reason.
Both teams have been on fire so far this term. The Blaugrana currently sit at the top of La Liga thanks to the menacing strikeforce of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha. PSG have their own fearsome attacking trident in the form of new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, youngster Bradley Barcola, and perhaps the continent's most in-form player Ousmane Dembele.
Both teams will already feel that they have one foot in the semifinal. The French side will face English underdogs Aston Villa in the quarters, while the Catalonians battle Borussia Dortmund. The two teams sit in ninth place in the Premier League and 11th in the Bundesliga respectively, and it would be a major shock to see them progress at PSG or Barca's expense.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
A first-ever El Clasico UEFA Champions League final is priced at +550, and what a showdown it would be on the grandest stage. The two sides have never met in the biggest game in European football before, perhaps the one untold chapter in the legendary rivalry shared between them. Both are battling it out domestically in a bid to be crowned the champions of Spain, but seeing them walk out opposite each other in a continental final would be one of those "where were you" moments.
We have spoken of Barcelona's attack, but what of Real Madrid? Los Blancos won the tournament for a record-extending 15th time last term. But rather than resting on their laurels, they brought in the best player on the planet, Kylian Mbappe, partnering him with the brilliant Vinicius Junior and talismanic Jude Bellingham. While the side from the Spanish capital has faltered somewhat in the league this term, they have been as sensational as ever on the continent.
Real have already eliminated Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, as well as cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid this season. Next up is Arsenal, and if they send the Gunners packing as well, it would take a brave punter to bet against them going all the way for a 16th time and a seventh time in the last 12 years.
Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint Germain
The bookies think a potential rematch from the 2020 final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain could be on the cards again half a decade later, pricing the possible final as a +600 shot. Back then, it was the Bavarians that emerged victorious, winning thanks to Kingsley Coman's second-half header. However, both teams look much different this year than they did five years ago, as does the footballing world as a whole, with that Lisbon showdown taking place in front of no fans due to global events.
Back then, Bayern had Robert Lewandowski leading the line, fed by deep-lying playmaker Thiago Alcantara and anchored by David Alaba. The Parisians, meanwhile, had a strike force of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Angel Di Maria, with captain Thiago Silva mopping up at the back. All of those have since moved on to new pastures.
But despite that, both teams remain contenders. England captain Harry Kane is now Bayern's main man, while Barcelona's former treble-winning boss Luis Enrique has made PSG finally look like a team after a decade of superstar players playing like strangers. A rematch between the two would certainly be worth watching, especially with the final set to take place in Bayern's own Allianz Arena home.