Real Madrid Favorites to Defend Champions League Title

After being crowned European champions last season for a record tenth time, Real Madrid is primed to win the trophy once again in 2015.



It has been a long and arduous battle for the most successful European club in their efforts to win “La Decima.” Before being crowned champions last year, they have struggled for 12 seasons to regain their former glory which has catapulted them in another sphere by commanding the most Champions League titles out all the European heavyweights.



Now the pressure no longer exists to satisfy the immense hunger for the greatest trophy in football. Nevertheless, many mobile betting providers have tipped them to achieve what no other club has managed to do since the new format took place in 1992, to win back-to-back titles of the Champions League.

Real boasts an impressive squad

• Real maintains a complete squad to face big opponents


• Bayern and Barcelona the only other serious candidates for


• Carlo Ancelloti is the man behind Real’s recent success in Champions League

The Spanish giants have a formidable group of players within their ranks. Despite selling Angel Di Maria, who was one of their most outstanding players last season, they have managed to buy an adequate replacement in Colombian signing James Rodriguez. The young fast-paced winger has impressed in the initial outings as a Galactico player.



Real didn’t stop with Rodriguez, as they also decided to bolster their squad with midfielder Toni Kroos. It has been estimated that they paid around EUR 30 million for his services to the Bavarian giants Bayern Munich. Goalie Keylor Navas was also added to the ranks after sealing a switch from Levante for around EUR 10 million.



Although the summer transfer recruits are impressive, Real would still have a world class team without them. Ronaldo is the main attacking threat, who averages over 50 goals per season, while Bale offers his pace and support across the opposite flank. Benzema still relishes in his role as imposing striker and continues to bag loads of goals.



With all of these players comprising the team, it is easy to see why online sportsbooks in Spain and other nations across Europe are touting them to lift the trophy once again. Bet365 has given Real Madrid odds of 4.50 (7/2), which makes them prime favorites to win outright, while Bayern 5.00 (4/1) and Barcelona 7.00 (6/1) hold second and third places respectively.

The Spanish side is enjoying a strong momentum

In the domestic competition, La Liga, Real Madrid sit fourth on the table with only 15 points, while in the Champions League their stats are quite enviable. They have been drawn in the same group as FC Basel, Liverpool and Ludogorets Razgrad, and so far they have done a splendid job with their two outings in Europe’s prime competition.



In their first match against Basel they crushed the Swiss opponents with a staggering 5 goals and have only let in one. After Basel had let in an own goal, all of Real’s main attackers scored a goal in almost successive intervals. Bale led the charge in the 30th minute, while Ronaldo added another instantly and later Rodriguez and Benzema contributed theirs.



The visit to Ludogorets proved to be somewhat more difficult than expected after the Spanish side conceded an early goal by Marcelinho. However soon afterwards Ronaldo was once again the player that served the crushing blow to the Bulgarian opposition by equalizing. Benzema sealed the win after scoring late in the game to make it 1-2.



Manager Carlo Ancelotti is undoubtedly the man behind their success as pervious manager Jose Mourinho couldn’t deliver the trophy that was so craved after in his three-year spell. Considering their current stats they will surely finish as group leaders and will then look to win against any team that comes their way in the knockout stages, gambling news reports.



Some football experts might point to the fact that once Real Madrid proceeds to the next round, then they will truly be tested. It is normal for the best teams in Europe to emerge from the group phase and then battle other heavyweights for Champions League glory. The knockout stage of the competition is what really matter as no team can allow to slip up.



There are a host of big clubs that the Galacticos may face in the next round, but Bet365 doesn’t give them very high odds for success. PSG 13.00 (12/1), Bayern Munich 7.00 (6/1), Chelsea 7.00 (6/1), Manchester City 21.00 (20/1) , Juventus 26.00 (25/1) and some other threats are among the potential candidates to face the defending champions.



All of the aforementioned teams have immense talents in their squads, however realistically none have it like Real Madrid. That is why the ten-time champions will most likely once again lift the crown and make history by becoming the only team to win consecutive Champions League titles in its modern format.