With the Champions League draw for 2020-21 announced and FIFA 21 release around the corner, why don’t we have a look at the odds from the best online sportsbook and how the favorites to win the tournament stack up against each other in the new FIFA.
FIFA 21 launches on October 9 and the 2020-21 Champions League group stage starts on October 20.
Manchester City
● Odds to Win: +450
● FIFA 21 Rating: 85
Manchester City comes into the launch of FIFA 21 tied for the best rating overall and into the 2020-21 Champions League tied for the best odds to win. Manchester City’s depth in the midfield helps them score the best midfield rating in FIFA 21 (86 overall) and will be critical for the club having success in the tournament.
Manchester City’s draw in the tournament is favourable and part of the reason they tie with the reigning champs for the best odds. They should also be a popular choice in FIFA 21 with nine players with ratings of 85 or better.
Bayern Munich
● Odds to Win: +450
● FIFA 21 Rating: 84
The reigning champs come into to 2020-21 UEFA Champions League tournament tied for the best odds to win but sit behind three other clubs with an overall rating of 84. The club lost Spanish midfielder Thiago to Liverpool but added Leroy Sane, who is coming off an ACL tear in his final season with Manchester United.
Bayern Munich’s scores high points in FIFA 21 for attack. The game gives them a 91 overall in this category – the best for any club at launch. The overall depth of Munich lineup and Robert Lewandowski – who may be the best goal scorer in the world right now – make this club a good bet to repeat as winners in 2021.
Liverpool
● Odds to Win: +500
● FIFA 21 Rating: 85
After finally winning an English Premier League title and posting the second-most points in league history (99), Liverpool launches as the top club overall in FIFA 21, slightly edging out the two other 85 overall clubs. Liverpool is coming off a collapse in last year’s Champions League, losing a one-goal lead in extra to Athletico Madrid. Still, the club made a few moves in the transfer market and is poised for a better result in this year’s tournament. Liverpool is also the only club in FIFA 21 with four players with 90-overall ratings, meaning they should be a top choice for many FIFA players.
Paris Saint-Germain
● Odds to Win: +1100
● FIFA 21 Rating: 83
Despite the lowest rating in FIFA of all the clubs listed on this page, PSG is ahead of some clubs in odds to win the 2020-21 Champions League. While PSG is oozing with talent, this group has yet to win anything outside of three straight Ligue 1 titles.
While bookmakers and the people behind FIFA 21 like PSG, the draw for the 2020-21 Champions League is not an easy one. PSG plays in this year’s “Group of Death.” PSG is in a group with Manchester United and RB Leipzig, making it the only group in this year’s tournament with three clubs with 80 or better ratings in FIFA. It will be a tough path for PSG to return to the Finals in 2021. “REAL MADRID” by Nathan Congleton is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Real Madrid
● Odds to Win: +1200
● FIFA 21 Rating: 85
If you like balance in FIFA and pedigree in the Champions League, then Real Madrid is the club for you. Real Madrid’s overall rating of 85 is due to the fact the club has a rating of 85 in attack, midfield, and defence.
Real Madrid owns the most Champions League titles in history – 13 overall – and most recently won three in a row from 2016 to 2018. They should have success again in the tournament, as the draw gives them an easy path to the top seed in the knockout stage.
FC Barcelona
● Odds to Win: +1400
● FIFA 21 Rating: 84
Barcelona launches in FIFA 21 as one of the three clubs with an 84 overall rating the high-rated player – Lionel Messi 93 overall. Despite all the success during the Messi era – especially in La Liga – the club has not won the Champions League since 2015.
FIFA 21 gives a Barcelona an 84 in attack and defence, and an 83 in midfield. They also face Juventus in the group stage – making those two clubs the only two listed on this page in the same group. It seems like it is better to be a Real Madrid fan over Barcelona this season.
Juventus
● Odds to Win: +1400
● FIFA 21 Rating: 84
It is year three for the Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo marriage, and fans of the team hope this is the year for success in the Champions League. FIFA 21 gives Juventus a 90 attack rating – second highest in the game.
Juventus needs that attack to show up if they are to have success in the Champions League. The club has not made it passed the quarter-finals with Ronaldo, and Juventus is the owner of the most runner-up finishes (seven) in the history of the tournament.