Can Manchester City break their Champions League duck?
Few elusive trophies fill as many column inches within the sporting world as Manchester City’s ‘failure’ to win a Champions League.
Despite seemingly endless riches, multiple domestic honours and a myriad of incredible players coming through the doors at the Etihad Stadium, the UEFA Champions League continues to be the stick rival fans use to beat City with.
Pep Guardiola has heralded an incredible era at City, winning three Premier League titles from 5 years in charge, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup on multiple occasions too and the brand of football he has brought to the English game, will be emulated for seasons to come.
However, for all his success in the English game, he is yet to lift the biggest trophy in European club football.
Under his tenure, City’s best run in the Champions League came last year, as they beat Paris Saint Germain and Borussia Dortmund to reach their maiden Champions League final.
However, Chelsea had too much for the blues on the day, but City have bounced back this term to reach the last 4, knocking out the likes of Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon along the way.
Next up for City in the semifinals is Real Madrid, the side that beat City in their debut run to the semi-finals back in 2016.
As a club, Manchester City have been breaking ground ever since Sheikh Mansour took over and they will fancy their chances of reaching back-to-back Champions League finals.
The blues are 5/4 to win their maiden Champions League title and they know they will have to be at their best for the three games that stand between them and footballing folklore.
With a Premier League title race ongoing too, Liverpool are the protagonists in chief currently for Manchester City, as Jurgen Klopp’s side chase an unprecedented quadruple.
They have already won the Carabao Cup and remain in contention in the other three competitions and confidence within the Anfield camp is high.
Next up for the reds in the Champions League is Villarreal, an experienced outfit that won the Europa League last season, but Liverpool certainly start as the strong favourites.
At 6/5, Liverpool are the marginal favourites to win the Champions League, for what would be an incredible 7 th time in their history, based on the sports betting offerings.
One of the only sides to have a greater Champions League winning haul than Liverpool is Real Madrid, who know they will have to be at their best to stop Manchester City over two games in the semi-finals.
Carlo Ancelotti is as shrewd as they come though and he will be looking to orchestrate yet another European triumph, having already all-but wrapped up the La Liga title in Spain this year.
Real Madrid are chasing an incredible 14 th Champions League trophy and with the likes of Luka Modric and Karim Benzema in their side, they will believe that anything is possible.
At 6/1 to lift the trophy, the enormity of having to beat Manchester City then Liverpool or Villarreal is clearly off putting for some punters, but Real Madrid can never be discarded.
In a similar vein, Villarreal are a side that were unfancied at the start of the tournament yet find themselves in the last 4.
Beating Liverpool over two legs will be tough, but they managed to beat Bayern Munich in the last round and at 20/1 to go all the way, they will revel in their role as underdogs.