Can Juventus Stop Atletico Madrid: Champions League Group A Betting Odds

Check out the participants of this season’s Champions League Group A, and choose the best betting odds on the winners.

While major European football seasons have already commenced with some interesting games and betting opportunities, the 2014/2015 UEFA Champions League season will kick off with the group stage next week. Punters have already had the chance to bet on qualification rounds and play-offs under British gambling laws, but this is when the real deal starts.

The draw has been made, the groups’ line-up is known, now it’s time to speculate about prospect group winners and the ultimate outright winner at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday 6 June 2015. The first group matches are scheduled to take place next Tuesday, September 16, so there’s plenty of time to select the most rewarding odds at online sportsbooks in the United Kingdom.

Champions League Group A participants and betting

Champions League Group A trivia and betting odds

• Online sportsbooks in the UK provide widespread betting offers on the group

• The group is comprised of respective football leagues champions only

• Atletico Madrid, the Spanish champions, are favored to win the group

This year, Group A is comprised of the current Spanish champions, Atletico Madrid, and Italian champions Juventus. The other two teams are Swedish champions Malmo FF, and Greek champions Olympiacos FC. As you can see this is truly a champions’ group, making all the upcoming matches that more interesting to watch and bet on.

Atletico Madrid have of course produced far better results in the European Cups over the last few years than their group rivals. They were the Champions League runners-up last season, and have won both the Europa League and the Super Cup in 2012. No surprise that they are favored to place on top of Group A after all matches are played with 2.00 odds from Betway.

Juventus on the other hand have failed to show the same dominance they have at home at the European stage during the last seasons, bowing out of the Champions League at group stage last time around and only reaching Europa League semis thereafter. Juve will naturally try and put in a much better performance this season. They got almost the same odds as Atletico Madrid to win Group A – 2.10.

Naturally, having last season’s runners-up in the group, may very well mean that Juventus will only be able to fight for the second place in the group with Olympiacos and Malmo. Juventus got 1.15 odds to qualify, while Atletico enjoys very short line of 1.08 to make it to the knock-out stages. Olympiacos chances of qualifying are valued at 4.50, while the underdogs Malmo received a line of 12.00 to make it to the next stage of Champions League.

Last season, Olympiacos managed to finish above Benfica in their group and reached the knockouts. This means that the line of 4.50 on them qualifying again, and 12.00 winning the group may not seem that much out of place, and will definitely provide loyal punters with some great rewards should the Greek champions come through. Olympiacos were very close to upsetting Manchester United in the last 16, but failed to capitalize on 2-0 lead before the away leg.

As for Malmo, they are back among the European teams’ elite for the first time since the competition was named Champions League. Their last attempt in 2011/12 season was ended at play-offs stage, allowing them to progress into Europa League, but they failed to qualify from the groups there as well. Naturally, the Swedish champions are regarded as underdogs here, and even the line of 12.00 on them qualifying seems in order, not to mention the giant 41.00 odds on them winning Group A.

Betting on the first matches in Group A

Both Group A opening matches will take place next Tuesday at 20.25 CET. Juventus will be hosting Malmo and are of course huge favorites to win the match with all those who bet on sports in the United Kingdom. Juve got a short line of 1.15 to grab the first 3 points, while Malmo received long odds of 13.00 to produce the first major upset of the group. The tie is valued at 7.50, meaning it’s highly unlikely too.

As for the correct score during that game, 2-0 in favor of Juventus seems to be the optimal bet, paying at 6.00. But a 3-0 win for the Italian champions is even more likely and pays at even shorter line of 5.50. Should Malmo stun Juventus with a 1-0 win, they payout is already huge 25.00.

Atletico Madrid will commence their Champions League campaign with an away match in Greece. However, the Spanish champions are still the favorites to win there with 1.90 line compared to 4.00 odds for hosts Olympiacos and a 3.30 line for the tie result.

Yes, Atletico is expected to win, but the bookies are only expecting a small goal difference, thus 1-0 win in their favor is the most anticipated result paying at 5.00. 3-0 win is much less likely with a line of 16.00. On the other hand, should Olympiacos use the home turf advantage properly and win 1-0, the payout will be a nice 7.50, but for 2-0 success their punters will be receiving winnings at 16.00 odds.

~ Read more about Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Group G, and Group H betting odds ~