The UEFA Champions' League is one of the most exciting and prestigious tournaments in soccer, and one of the most-watched and thrilling sporting events worldwide of any kind. As Europe's premier soccer tournament, the Champions' League pits the continent's greatest clubs against each other, with the champions (and in some cases the runners-up) of each country's UEFA National Association meeting in eight groups before the winners go on to the semi-finals.
This year the final will be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, with the winners going on to compete in the 2017 FIFA World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. For the best and most up-to-date odds, visit Wager Daily where the latest odds can be found alongside sports articles, cartoons and much more.
History
The Champions' League was first introduced in 1992, replacing the European Cup, which had been contested since 1955. The new tournament expanded and updated the format, introducing the group stages, among other refinements. Real Madrid is the most successful club in the combined history of the two contests, having won eleven times, including a five-year run as champions in the 1950s and four victories this century. The second most successful club is AC Milan, with seven trophy wins under their belt, but Real Madrid's most serious rivals this year are FC Barcelona. The two Spanish clubs have dominated the tournament in recent years, and Barcelona are hopeful that they'll regain the title they held in 2015 before losing it to Real Madrid last season.
Barcelona
Coach Luis Enrique will be working flat out to ensure that his team regains their title from their rival Spanish side, and the formidable triple threat of Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Brazilian wonder boy Neymar up front they're odds-on favorites for the trophy. Enrique has definitely adopted a more direct, aggressive approach to the game than his predecessor, Pep Guardiola, and it's a tactic that paid off in Barca's 7-0 thrashing of Celtic in the tournament's opening rounds.
Real Madrid
Los Blancos will be determined to hang on to their title, and coach Zinedine Zidane certainly won't want to be responsible for letting it go. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping this season will see him notch up his 100th Champions' League goal.
Bayern Munich
The 2013 tournament winners are actually second favorites to take home the trophy in 2017, with former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti looking to capitalize on new signings Mats Hummels and
Renato Sanches. As 26-time German champions, Munch are the team most likely to break the Spanish stranglehold on the tournament's top spot.
Manchester City
Often considered the best coach in the world, Pep Guardiola is now looking after Manchester City, the favorite English team in the Championship. Other English clubs in the running are Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, while Leicester City are 100/1 outsiders following their surprise win earlier this year in the UK Premier League. The result should be another thrilling tournament with some of the best soccer players in the world going up against each other. Barcelona are looking formidable right now, but there's still plenty of time for things to change so the best advice is to keep watching and don't miss a game.
