Spanish clubs are always in the hunt when it comes to the UEFA Champions League. One only needs to take a look at the pedigree of record champions Real Madrid for proof of that, with Los Blancos’ almighty haul of 15 crowns more than twice that of the next best in the competition. However, in recent campaigns, La Liga’s finest have struggled somewhat on the continental stage.
Last season, the aforementioned Real Madrid suffered their earliest exit in five years as they were dumped out in the quarter-finals after losing home and away to Arsenal. Barcelona were also left empty-handed, having capitulated in the San Siro, surrendering an 87th-minute 3-2 lead to somehow lose in extra time.
This year, things haven’t gone much better, with the recent matchday four one of Spain’s worst continental nights in recent memory. Real were toothless in a 1-0 defeat away at Liverpool, while Barcelona were somewhat lucky to claim a 3-3 draw away against Club Brugge. Villareal endured arguably their worst ever continental result as they were beaten 1-0 by Cypriot minnows Paphos, with Atletico Madrid being the sole Spanish side to pick up all three points.
So, what has the recent round of results done to the betting odds? Do the bookies think a Spanish side can win the Champions League this term? Let’s take a look.
As ever, it’s the Clasico rivals of Real Madrid and Barcelona who are considered Spain’s best hope. However, neither of them is close to being considered outright favorites with online betting sites. The latest online sports betting at Bovada odds currently list current Premier League table toppers Arsenal as the 9/2 frontrunner, with four more teams sandwiched between the Gunners and Spain’s best hopes.
Both Los Blancos and the Blaugrana are priced as 9/1 shots, indicating that both have a genuine hope of glory, but there is certainly more work to be done. The Madridistas had been flying in Europe up until their recent trip to Anfield, with victories against Marseille, Kairat Almaty, and Juventus securing them a perfect record of three wins from three. However, the toothless display against a Liverpool side mired in crisis certainly set alarm bells ringing at the Bernabeu.
Barca, meanwhile, have endured a less-than-convincing start to the 2025/26 UCL campaign. While they have beaten Newcastle United away from home, a 2-1 defeat at home to an injury-riddled PSG without any of its fearsome Ousmane Dembele-Khvicha Kvaratskhelia-Desire Doue attacking trident left a lot to be desired. Add to that a 3-3 draw with lowly Club Brugge, a team that has already been thumped by Bayern Munich, and it’s clear that the Blaugrana must improve if they are to end their 11-year Champions League drought.
While they’re unfancied this season, both Atletico Madrid and Villarreal have plenty of UEFA Champions League pedigree. Atleti famously reached two finals in three seasons in 2014 and 2016, losing to cross-city rivals Real Madrid on both occasions. The Yellow Submarine, meanwhile, is a two-time semifinalist, reaching the final four on debut in 2006, as well as beating both Juventus and Bayern Munich en route to the same stage 16 years later.
This season, it is Los Rojiblancos who are thought to have the better chance of the two of them to win a maiden UCL crown. Diego Simeone’s men are currently listed as a 40/1 shot, level with English sides Newcastle and Spurs. They already have two wins under their belt after resounding victories against Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Saint-Gilloise at the Metropolitano, but defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal show that they are behind the frontrunners.
Villareal, meanwhile, are all the way out at 250/1, with that recent reverse at Paphos exasperating their woes. That defeat was their third in four games, having already been beaten by both Manchester City and Spurs. A 2-2 draw against Juventus, a game in which the Bianconeri netted two injury-time goals, represents their only point so far, and the Yellow Submarine has its work cut out in reaching the knockout stages.
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, no Spanish side is listed within the top five in the betting charts. As mentioned earlier, it’s Arsenal who are currently considered the favorites, a somewhat surprising fact considering The Gunners’ penchant for coming up short on the big occasions. Then comes the in-form Bayern Munich, who have won all 16 of their games played so far this term, with their highlight being the 2-1 away victory at reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain on matchday four.
Then we have the reigning champion Parisians, slotted in as third favorites due to their somewhat slow start to the new season after a meteoric 2024/25 campaign. Finally, English giants Liverpool and Manchester City both find themselves with shorter betting odds than Spain’s heavyweights Real Madrid and Barca.
