BetVictor latest: Can Barcelona become first team to defend Champions League Trophy

Lionel Messi was overshadowed on the evening by team-mates and fellow members of three-pronged ‘Trident’ partnership, Luis Suarez and Neymar both netting after the break however Messi remains the catalyst to Barca’s success and is the 1/10 (from 2/5) favourite with BetVictor to regain his Balon D’Or crown from arch-rivals and nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of the year.

No side has successfully defended club football’s most revered trophy however BetVictor make the Catalans the 3/1 favourites to buck that particular trend next term; Real Madrid 5/1, Bayern Munich 5/1, Chelsea 8/1 and 14/1 Bar. Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid must be recommended at the prices with the imminent arrival of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea brought in as a long-term replacement for Iker Casillas and further spending likely over the summer.

A lot will depend on the supposed conflict and rivalry between the world’s richest footballers; Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. The latter is 5/4 to be plying his trade at Old Trafford by the time the summer transfer window slams shut on September 3rd – could the impending move of De Gea to the Bernabéu smooth relations between the two clubs? United boss Louis Van Gaal remains in the hunt for a striker after it was confirmed that Monaco loanee Radamel Falcao would not return to Old Trafford after an unsuccessful season on-loan at the club. The Colombian missed the World Cup through injury and struggled with his fitness thereafter, however has been backed into odds-on (8/13 with BetVictor) to replace the void left by Didier Drogba at Chelsea.

United have missed out on securing the services of Burnley striker Danny Ings, with the England U21 international due to move across Lancashire to sign for Liverpool when his Burnley contract expires on 1st July. Ings will be crucial to the U21’s success in the Czech Republic this summer with Gareth Southgate’s side 5/1 third favourites this summer to taste success in the U21 European Championships. Germany’s juveniles are the 5/2 (From 11/4) favourites to follow in the National Team’s success in last year’s World Cup and will be a notoriously difficult side to beat, and warrant supporting at the head of the market.

Portugal are England’s biggest danger for success in Group B and are the 7/4 favourites to top the group and 4/1 second favourites for the Euros however England’s wealth of attacking options up front should fire them to the latter stages. The trio of Danny Ings, Saido Berahino and Harry Kane have combined for 49 Premier League goals in stellar campaigns for the three strikers and they should guide comfortably England to a semi-final berth at the very least; England ½ to progress to the knockout stages, 15/8 to top the group and 9/2 to lead home a 1-2 with Portugal in second place.

For all the latest odds, specials, enhancement and much more head to BetVictor.com

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