Champions League 2023-24 Outright predictions: Real ready to roar back
- Real Madrid have won the Champions League four times since 2014
- Real Madrid have made at least the semi-final in each of the last three seasons
- Recommended bet: Real Madrid to win the Champions League
Manchester City had already secured five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four EFL Cups in the Pep Guardiola era, but they have now added the Champions League trophy they so desperately desired after Saturday’s victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Not only did City become the sixth English side to win the European Cup, but that 1-0 success over the Serie A side in Saturday's final saw them emulate the 1999 achievements of fierce rivals Manchester United with a historic treble.
Having now got the monkey off their back, City could become the dominant force on the European scene and they are warm favourites at 9/4 with LiveScore Bet to retain their trophy next season.
German giants Bayern Munich, who were swatted aside by City 4-1 on aggregate in the quarter-final, French stalwarts Paris Saint-Germain and La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid are those most expected to serve up the challenge.
Bayern are 5/1 with LiveScore Bet to win next season's Champions League, Barca and PSG are 10/1.
However, there could be a strong Premier League defiance next season as Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle join City amongst Europe’s elite.
Italian football also appears to be in a healthy place at present after Inter’s run to the final and they will be back for more, along with Napoli, Milan and Lazio.
Real look determined to strengthen
Real were no match for City in this season's semi-final and after being embarrassed 5-1 on aggregate, Los Blancos will be determined to come back stronger.
Seeing Karim Benzema depart for the Saudi Pro League means they are in need of adding a focal point to their attack, but the headline arrival of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund shows serious intent.
That adds plenty of dynamism to what had looked like an ageing midfield and provided they get the right replacement for Benzema, then they should be even more competitive.
Even so, it is impossible to ever rule Real out in Europe, especially given they have won the Champions League on 14 occasions, which includes five times since 2014.
The 2022 Kings of Europe eased past Liverpool and Chelsea before bumping into a star-studded City in the last four, which means only twice in the last 13 seasons have they failed to make the semi-final stage, showing they can never be discounted.
Some luck is always needed with the draw but Real are unlikely to falter early and are sure to respond after a mixed 2022-23 campaign.
No reason Napoli cannot continue to progress
Having beaten Liverpool to top spot in Group A and then waltzed past Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 on aggregate in the last-16, many felt Napoli had what it takes to challenge for Champions League supremacy.
The Partenopei were eventually ground down by Milan in the quarter-final but given that they won the Serie A title by 16 points, they look by some way the best of the Italian crop.
Keeping hold of star striker Victor Osimhen and highly-touted winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may prove difficult, but Napoli have excelled in replacing their best assets in recent seasons and there is no reason why they can continue to do so.
Given Italy had three of their four representatives in this year's quarter-finals and they also had a finalist in the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, it suggests their stock is again on the rise.
Napoli will need a new manager after Luciano Spalletti's decision to take a year out of the game, but they can continue to progress and may have been underestimated in the market, as they are available to back at 16/1 with LiveScore Bet to win the 2023/24 Champions League.
