Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Ranking the favourites to win the Champions League ahead of quarter-final draw

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

This season’s Champions League quarter-finalists have all been decided following the conclusion of the round of 16 this week.

Many of the favourites at the start of the competition remain in with a chance of winning it, with the draw for the remaining eight set to take place on Friday.

Here are the favoruites from first to last to win the trophy according to the odds…

Manchester City – 7/4

Pep Guardiola’s side remain favourites to take home the trophy once again. The reigning European champions sailed through to the last eight with a convincing 6-2 aggregate win over FC Copenhagen in the round of 16 having won every single game in the group stage.

With star duo Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland fit and firing once again and the team in imperious form of late, they will take some stopping if they are to be denied a second Champions League trophy on the bounce.

Real Madrid – 5/1

Madrid might not have been that convincing in their round of 16 tie with RB Leipzig, creeping through to the last eight despite a nervy 1-1 second leg draw in which Carlo Ancelotto’s side were well off their best.

But the Spanish giants have the experience and the individual quality that lends itself perfectly to knockout football. Jude Bellingham has enjoyed an astonishing first season at the club and Vinicius Jr can turn a game in his side’s favour in a split second. They might not be at their best but they are an incredibly dangerous opposition in this competition.

Arsenal – 5/1

The Gunners edged into the quarter-finals after beating Porto on penalties at the Emirates Stadium following a 1-1 aggregate draw with the Portuguese side. It was a frustrating two legs for Mikel Arteta’s side who struggled to deal with Porto’s defensive gameplan and efforts to slow down the game and will need to improve if they are to keep progressing.

It is this young Arsenal group’s first time in the competition and despite what happens from now, it has already been a valuable experience for Arteta’s squad. But considering the free-scoring form they have been on in the Premier League of late, fans have every reason to feel confident that they can make it into the semi-finals whoever they draw.

Bayern Munich – 7/1

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Despite an underwhelming domestic campaign and round of 16 first-leg defeat to Lazio, turning it around to win 3-1 on aggregate, they are still fourth favourites to win the competition according to the bookies.

Of course, they are still blessed with the individual talent in Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and more that are capable of beating any team in the world, but they are yet to show the consistency this season that suggests they can win it all. Thomas Tuchel has won this competition before, however, and has a point to prove, with the German set to be on the job market in the summer.

PSG – 12/1

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The wait for PSG’s first Champions League trophy goes on, but could this finally be their year? They smashed Real Sociedad 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 and have one of, if not the best, players in the world right now in Kylian Mbappe.

In his final year at the club, it would be a fitting end for Mbappe to leave having won the club’s first ever Champions League trophy, with plenty of young talent around him too in the likes of Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery. Discipline has always been a problem for PSG in this competition but if they can keep it, they will be a difficult opposition to beat.

Barcelona – 16/1

A club who not too long ago would have been right at the top of this list. A disappointing league campaign which sees them sit third behind Girona and bitter rivals Real Madrid has led to boss Xavi’s exit at the end of the season and they simply do not look as strong as some of the other sides left in the competition.

They beat a Napoli side who are enduring their own struggles this season in the round of 16 and suffered defeats to Shakthar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp in the group stages despite coming top. Having one of the greatest strikers and best midfielders in the world in Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan respectively means they cannot be written off completely though.

Atletico Madrid – 20/1

Diego Simeone’s side are not the European force they once were but nonetheless are a difficult opponent for any side because of their ability to frustrate the opposition. It took a penalty shoot-out win over last season’s finalists Inter Milan to make it this far and they deserved it based on their second leg showing in a 2-1 win.

Antoine Griezmann is a problem for any side having scored six goals in eight games in this Champions League campaign, making him joint top scorer with Erling Haaland, Kane and Mbappe. But they are lacking quality in comparison with the other sides left in the competition.

Borussia Dortmund – 28/1

After coming so close to winning the Bundesliga last season, Dortmund have struggled to build on what was a strong campaign following the loss of Jude Bellingham and look the weakest side left in the competition despite topping a difficult group which included PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle United.

Their 3-1 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16 creates more optimism that they can cause an upset in the quarter-finals but it’s going to be incredibly difficult for them whoever they draw.

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