After Qualifying for Round of 16, Chelsea’s UCL Odds Shorten to +3133; Dortmund Now +5000
- Lampard’s side unseeded in draw for the last 16 on Monday
- Germans are also in the second pot so can meet big guns
- Manchester City favorites ahead of Liverpool and Barcelona
Chelsea were expected to undergo a transitional season under new and inexperienced manager Frank Lampard but they have enjoyed a satisfying first half of the season in Europe and domestically.
Back in the Champions League after winning the Europa League last spring, they reached the last 16 by finishing second behind Valencia in qualifying Group H.
They are ranked only as 10th favorites to win the competition but their average Champions League odds have moved inwards from +3867 to +3133.
UCL 2019-20 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | +300 |
| Liverpool | +400 |
| Barcelona | +600 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | +700 |
| Bayern Munich | +800 |
| Juventus | +1200 |
| Real Madrid | +1600 |
| Atletico Madrid | +2200 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | +2200 |
| Chelsea | +3300 |
| Borussia Dortmund | +5000 |
| Napoli | +5000 |
| Red Bull Leipzig | +5000 |
| Atalanta | +10000 |
| Valencia | +10000 |
| Lyon | +15000 |
Odds taken Dec. 13
Another team to enjoy an even more improved assessment was Borussia Dortmund, who shifted inwards from an average of +7733 to +5000. They were second in Group F behind Barcelona.
Lifted Trophy in 2012
The analysts price Chelsea at +3300 to lift the trophy they won in 2012 but it is correctly a longshot.
One place behind as 11th favorites, Dortmund are rated at +5000 to win the competition in which they triumphed in 1997. They are unlikely victors, too.
Manchester City remain favorites to win the final in Istanbul next May at +300.
They are followed by current holders Liverpool at +400 and Barcelona at +600.
PSG recorded a 3-0 home win against Real Madrid in the qualifying stage as well as a 5-0 victory away at Club Brugge and a 5-0 win at home against Galatasaray.
However, Paris Saint-Germain offer slightly better value at +700 after winning five and drawing one of their fixtures as they finished top of Group A.
✍️ @fikayotomori_ has signed a new Chelsea contract!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 12, 2019
PSG recorded a 3-0 home win against Real Madrid in the qualifying stage as well as a 5-0 victory away at Club Brugge and a 5-0 win at home against Galatasaray.
With 16 fixtures played, they also had a five-point lead at the top of France’s Ligue 1.
After under-achieving in the competition for many seasons, the French champions have shown promise that they can finally make a major impact in 2019-20.
Bayern Munich, too, are well priced at +800. They finished on top of Group B in which they recorded a 7-2 away win against Tottenham Hotspur and a 6-0 away victory against Red Star Belgrade.
However, their domestic form does not match their European exploits.
Bayern Sacked Coach
After 14 games in the Bundesliga, they sat in seventh place – having fired coach Niko Kovacs in November.
He was replaced by Hans-Dieter Flick.
As second-placed finishers, both Chelsea and Dortmund will be unseeded in Monday’s draw for the last 16 knockout phase which will mean tough assignments next spring.
The eight seeded teams as group winners are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Red Bull Leipzig and Valencia.
Chelsea and Dortmund can be drawn against any of those eight teams – but will be pleased to avoid Real Madrid who are in the unseeded pot.
Under 2012 Champions League winner Lampard, Chelsea recently enjoyed a run of six straight wins in the English Premier League.
But they have suffered defeats in three of their last four EPL matches and after 16 games, they were in fourth place – still higher than many expected in Lampard’s first campaign in charge.
English champions Manchester City remain favorites under double-Champions League winning coach Pep Guardiola despite a recent dip in form.
Dortmund were third in the German Bundesliga after 14 games.
English champions Manchester City remain favorites under double-Champions League-winning coach Pep Guardiola despite a recent dip in form.
They have slipped to third place in the EPL and despite finishing winners of UCL Group C, they were held to draws by Atalanta and Shakthar Donetsk on Matchdays 4 and 5 before a 4-1 defeat of Dinamo Zagreb in the final game.
*Deep Breath*
WE ARE THROUGH! pic.twitter.com/94F5VN42sR
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) December 10, 2019
Third favorites and last season’s semifinalists Barcelona were undefeated as winners of Group F with four wins and two draws.
They were winners at home and away against Internazionale of Milan. They also beat Dortmund 3-1 at home at the Nou Camp after a goalless draw in Germany.
Pick: Paris Saint-Germain (+700)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
