Who will win the 2013 Champions League?

The Champions League knockout stages is back underway this weekend and our fancies for the tournament are in action against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

At this stage of the tournament the format splits so there are four last 16 matches this week, then the following week the other four play. This is repeated over the next two weeks so we will have our last eight in a months’ time.

After the shock exit of reigning Champions Chelsea and Manchester City’s struggle in the group stage for a second year running the Premier League is left with just two representatives; but Celtic are flying the flag for the SPL following their heroics against Barcelona in the group stages.

Real Madrid vs Manchester United is arguably the tie of the round with the first leg being played in Spain this coming Wednesday. Madrid are favourites to win the first leg but their struggles in La Liga with give Man Utd cause for optimism across the two legs. The Premier League frontrunners are already a very short price to win the title in England this season but the Champions League is the one Sir Alex Ferguson would love to win again so don’t put it past United shaking up the outright betting with victory over Real Madrid.

Finally to our fancies, Bayern Munich. The runaway Bundesliga leaders have been in imperious form throughout the season and after tipping them at 14/1 at the start of the tournament we had to sell iPhone 3Gs to fund our bet, now they are just 6/1. A two legged match against Arsenal should see them into the last eight of the tournament and with Manchester United or Real Madrid guaranteed to be out of the competition by that stage Bayern’s chances are looking strong.

The German outfit have a fantastic 11 from back to front with no real weakness and the Bavarian juggernaut is hurtling towards the Champions League final in May.

They made it to the final last season but were dealt a blow by destiny as Chelsea somehow snatched the title from them in their own backyard but this is surely Bayern’s year. Their challengers have weakened, while they are stronger. Barcelona are strolling in La Liga but are not getting challenged week in week out and have defensive fragilities that will be punished by the likes of Gomez, Ribery, Muller, Kroos and Robben (who can’t even break into the first XI!). Defensively Dante is becoming one of the best centre backs in the world and with Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger in the middle of midfield, you really do have a team fully equipped to win this season’s Champions League.

If you haven’t already, bet on Bayern Munich to win the Champions League and watch them lift the trophy in May.