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Last season's Champions League campaign may forever rank as one of the most entertaining and unpredictable in recent years, as fans were treated to an array of spectacular games over the course of the competition.
After two stunning semi-finals encounters, the competition's most successful team, Real Madrid and six-time winners Liverpool were set for a rematch of their 2018 Champions League contest in an eagerly anticipated final matchup.
Liverpool played exceptionally well in the final but could not breach past Belgium international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who displayed one of the finest goalkeeping performances in European football history.
Madrid was able to snatch home the victory thanks to a belter from their talented Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. in the second half, with the full-time whistle sounding a little while later.
The victory ensured that 'Los Blancos' would claim an incredible 14th European Cup trophy, which leaves them well clear at the top of the most successful Continental European club.
Heading into the 2022/23 season, fans are already clamouring for who they believe will be the favourites to knock Madrid off their pedestal and reign supreme as European champions, or whether Madrid will once again hold their grip over European football.
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These are the top favourited teams to win the Champions League this year from the latest Betway odds as one potential underdog that could cause a major upset in the competition this season:
- Manchester City:
After a shocking collapse in their semi-final clash against the eventual Champions Real Madrid last season, the Citizens are still on the hunt for their first ever taste of European glory and have once again responded to this defeat with another hefty summer of spending.
City already have an impressive squad that has seemingly dominated over the Premier League in recent years with star names such as Kevin De Bruyne, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Ederson, Rodri and Phil Foden all being recognised as some of the world's most elite talents.
Yet the 2022 summer window saw City introduce the Premier League and European cups to their new marquee striker Erling Haaland who has already proven to be an incredible acquisition.
Haaland is now ultimately the most feared striker in world football and has since enjoyed numerous scoring streaks in the Champions League in previous years with RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund respectably, rivalling all major star names across the footballing scene.
Now under the watchful eyes of the experience Pep Guardiola as manager and with a tremendous supporting cast, Haaland and Manchester City as a whole are expected to be firm favourites to win the Champions League this year and finally put an end to their club's European Cup drought.
- Paris Saint-Germain:
Much like City, PSG are still waiting for their first European Cup and also enjoy spending lavish amounts of money on players to improve their squad, yet their biggest form of business this summer came in the form of the lucrative new deal handed out to their star talisman Kylan Mbappe.
Despite the calls of the Bernabeu, Mbappe inked a new deal to remain in Paris that will give him greater leverage over who PSG look to buy for transfers as well as earning an extortionate amount of money.
In a formidable duo of Neymar Jr. and Lionel Messi, Mbappe and PSG respectfully remain as firm favourites to lift the Champions League, with their defensive partnerships of Presnel Kimpembe, Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos also set to be a major factor in their potential journey back to the Final.
- Liverpool:
Despite a slow start to their 2022/23 Premier League season, Liverpool still remains a firm contender to win the Champions League this season after finishing as runners-up in last year's competition.
The early warning signs coming from Anfield is that the club may have deeply regretted letting Sadio Mane leave to join German giants Bayern Munich this summer, but they did spend heavily to land Benfica youngster Darwin Nunez as his potential replacement.
Liverpool still bolsters one of the best squads in world football with the likes of Mohammed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker all being amongst the most elite names as well as enjoying the services of Jurgen Klopp as the gaffer.
The reds are still very much in the Champions League conversation and will be looking to claim their seventh European cup in club history with their prior crown coming only a few years ago in 2019.
- Bayern Munich:
The German Champions enjoyed a summer that was highlighted with the arrival of Sadio Mane from the aforementioned Liverpool but unfortunately lost their star striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.
Lewandowski was a major part of Bayern's domestic dominance and the main focal point of their 2020 Champions League winning side with the German giants now looking to steer themselves back into contention with another major European trophy being on the agenda.
Bayern still have the services of their long-time tenured names such as Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer as well as some of the best young talents on the scene today such as left-back Alphonso Davies.
One major team that could cause a stir this season comes in the form of FC Barcelona, who are still struggling with financial issues yet have majorly improved their squad this window and look set to return back to the pinnacle of European football after a lengthy absence.
With the additions of Lewandowski, Kounde, Raphinha and Kessie, Barca are a viable threat to win it all this season.