Champions League Winner Odds

Who Will Win the Champions League Final?

Paris Saint-Germain finally lifted the Champions League trophy last year after years of being dismissed as another team trying to “buy entry” into Europe’s elite. Similarly to Manchester City, who finally won the trophy in 2022-23, PSG were able to rubber-stamp their formidable quality with the ultimate seal of approval.

There’s no question that this transforms a team. It establishes that they belong at that level, and the experience of winning arguably the most competitive prize in football is invaluable. What’s more, with the success being so recent and under the same manager, and with most of the same players, the memories of success are fresh.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have never won the UEFA Champions League since its inauguration. It eluded Arsene Wenger’s great Arsenal sides of the late 90s and early 00s, and despite coming close on several occasions, the Gunners have never secured the ultimate prize. However, there’s good reason to believe that this could change this year.

Who Is the Bookmakers’s Favourite to Win the Champions League Final?

It’s no surprise that PSG are the bookies’ favourites to take home the Champions League trophy for a second consecutive year. They’ve all but wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, so are less vulnerable to domestic distractions. Their star-studded squad seemingly cannot stop scoring, and put 7 goals past Bayern Munich across two legs in the semi-finals. Finally, Luis Enrique and his side have been here before, and their imperious swagger shows it.

However, the odds are not entirely one-sided. While PSG are favourites across the board, bookmakers know better than to underestimate this Arsenal side, and the margin is fairly slim between the two teams. If you’re looking for a bigger win on May 30th, it may well be worth backing Arsenal in this exchange.

Assessing Each of the Finalists: Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain

So which team looks better on paper? There is no easy route to the Champions League final, and it’s no surprise that both teams sit at the top of their respective leagues. Here’s what I see when I compare them side-by-side.

Arsenal

Arguably the most important point against Arsenal is that they still face a breakneck struggle to win their domestic league - and there’s a solid argument that winning the Premier League is a much higher priority for them than the Champions League. While they have the advantage over Manchester City, having a Pep Guardiola team chasing you down with 3 games to go is a very uncomfortable place to be. Failing to win the Premier League this season would be catastrophic for Arsenal’s self-confidence and perhaps for Arteta’s tenure. It’s been over 20 years since their last title and the club’s reputation as “bottlers” haunts them.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have faced down every challenge they’ve come up against in the Champions League this season. This includes defeating Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and most recently Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals. They topped the group stage and while their performances in the knockout stages were less dominant, they have shown completeness, fortitude, and relentless defensive discipline.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG haven’t won Ligue 1 yet, but they’re in a much more comfortable spot than Arsenal. They only realistically need 3 points from 3 remaining games to take the title and should cruise home from here.

PSG have been dominant throughout the Champions League knockout stages. Their attack has demolished opposition, and if they’ve sometimes been suspect defensively, they’ve successfully adopted the approach of “we will just score more goals” to counter this. This came after a surprisingly mediocre group stage in which they were frequently held by opposition they’d expect to beat, and they lost to Bayern Munich. It’s worth noting, though, that this didn’t help Munich in the semi-finals, and it’s PSG who are now in the last two.

So Who Will Win the CL Final? Verdict

This is one of those classic cases of “unstoppable force meets immovable object.” Arsenal’s defensive discipline will face its sternest test when it comes up against Kylian Mbappe and company at the Puskás Aréna. Will PSG be able to break them down, and have they been practicing defending corners? PSG are favourites, but this Arsenal side can beat anyone. It’s game on.