The Champions League Final is set for Saturday afternoon. Soccer fans around the world will tune in to the biggest match of the year, as Real Madrid and Liverpool take the pitch to determine Europe’s best.
Aside from the World Cup, the Champs League is considered the top soccer event each year. For casual fans, this is essentially the sport’s Super Bowl. Madrid and Liverpool advanced to the final after outlasting all of the other premier European soccer clubs.
As always, bettors can make this matchup even more exciting with a small wager at West Virginia sportsbooks. The online options show Liverpool as a slight favorite heading into the game.
Let’s take a look at how both sides reached the Stade de France for the final and a few of the markets available to bet on.
Champions League Final odds at WV sportsbooks
Soccer matches are more intricate than most sports when it comes to the different ways to bet on a tilt. Currently, DraftKings WV Sportsbook shows Liverpool as the favorite to take the title.
You can take it at +110 to win the game, compared to Real Madrid at +245. The draw is offered at +260.
This market involves the outcome after 90 minutes, though. That makes it possible for you to pick the right team but lose the wager, because the match isn’t decided until after regulation.
Since extra time and penalties are a possibility, sportsbooks also provide additional, more straightforward markets.
DraftKings posts these under its Team Futures section. Here, you can simply take which team will be crowned the champion, with Liverpool at -175 and Madrid’s odds +140.
Of course, it’s more advantageous to put action down on the larger odds; however, these tight contests often go into extras. The last time that occurred was in 2016, when Real faced Atletico Madrid, but the last two seasons were close, with 1-0 finishes in each.
Liverpool essentially coasted its way to the final. The Reds defeated Inter in the first round of the knockout by an aggregate score of 2-1.
Then they beat Benfica 6-4 to get into the semifinals. Liverpool carried a 2-0 lead into the second leg before surrendering two first-half goals to Villarreal to tie things up. The Reds proceeded to score three times within 12 minutes in the second half to claim a 5-2 edge overall.
This is their first Champions League Final since 2019, when they overpowered Tottenham 2-0. Liverpool’s six titles put it on the shortlist of those with at least five. Real Madrid tops everyone else with 13.
Additional Champs League betting markets
It didn’t appear that Madrid would have another chance at earning its 14th title this year. Los Blancos overcame a first-leg deficit to advance past PSG, then needed an extra-time header from Karim Benzema to curb Chelsea’s comeback.
All of that paled in comparison to Madrid’s adventure against Manchester City in the last round. It trailed 5-3 overall in the 90th minute, when it scored three times to miraculously move on to the final.
Benzema’s penalty kick in the 95th minute sealed the deal for a 6-5 win in one of the craziest conclusions ever.
This is Madrid’s first final since 2018, when coincidentally, it saw the same opponent. Benzema starred in that one, too, giving his side the lead with the match’s opening goal. Madrid went on to win 3-1.
There are lots of options at WV sportsbooks aside from betting on which team triumphs.
A popular choice is selecting which player will score a goal. Similar to NFL games and touchdown props, soccer matches allow you to bet on who will score the first goal, last goal, or even an anytime scorer.
To no surprise, Benzema is the favorite to record the first tally. He’s listed at +350 at DraftKings, tied with Liverpool’s Mo Salah. Both feature odds of +125 to beat the keeper at any point in the match.
There’s a lot more at the online sportsbook as well. Bettors can take player parlays, various card props, game props like winning margin, and so much more.
DraftKings also lists a few specials, including one titled Déjà Vu. You can bet on Benzema to score in the second half and Madrid to win it all at +700 odds.
