With the new football season fast approaching, there are a wide array of clubs with cautious optimism ahead of the coming season. From a betting standpoint, there are some very intriguing options. So, let’s take a look at five clubs that you should consider betting on for the 2020-21 season.
Arsenal
The Gunner will be full of confidence ahead of the new season following their FA Cup triumph over Chelsea at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. With Mikel Arteta at the helm, the future looks bright for Arsenal. From a betting standpoint, the 13-time league winners are an appealing option for next season. On paper, the London club is likely to be behind Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and maybe even Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four spot.
Ultimately, that’s why the Gunners could prove to be a lucrative option. At the time of writing, Arsenal has retained Aubameyang, along with signing Willian on a three-year contract and being near to concluding a deal for Gabriel. Through keeping their talisman and strengthening their defence, Arteta’s side could undoubtedly surpass expectations next season. Moreover, because they’re a world-renowned club, football fans across the globe are now able to bet on the London club. In Nigeria, for example, a number of foreign-run websites allow Nigerians to play despite being hosted overseas. These include 888 Sport, Betway, Spin Sports, and many more. Crucially, markets span across the major European leagues, including the Premier League.
Leeds United
Sticking with top-flight English football, few can predict how well Leeds United will do having won promotion back to the Premier League. In recent years, newly-promoted teams have taken the division by storm, as showcased by both Sheffield United and Wolves. Because of their success, there’s an element of optimism surrounding the Peacocks’ top-tier adventure.
Fundamentally, the combination of Leeds’ previous success and Marcelo Bielsa's credentials have led many people to believe that the Peacocks could enjoy a fruitful campaign. Others, however, fear that their expansive style could see them get picked off by better sides. Regarding betting, this is why bettors should consider Leeds. Although nothing is guaranteed, a positive season isn't beyond the realms of possibility, and such an achievement is likely to be reflected by competitive odds.
Lyon
Concerning Ligue 1, it’s often impossible to look beyond the recently-beaten Champions League Finalists, Paris Saint-Germain, for the title. With a squad full of world-class stars, including Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, defeating the reigning French champions isn’t a straightforward task. However, for all their might, they’re not unbeatable. In turn, this is where Lyon comes into the discussion.
Les Gones aren’t unfamiliar with surpassing expectations, having defeated Juventus in their Champions League round-16 clash despite the Old Lady being regarded as the clear favorites to win the tie. With the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Houssem Aouar, Maxwel Cornet, and Moussa Dembele still in their ranks at the time of writing, mirroring Monaco’s title-winning achievement from the 2016-17 season could be on the cards. If nothing else, building on their seventh-place finish from 2019-20 may see them matched with attractive odds in relation to a top-four finish.
Rasenballsport Leipzig
The last time that someone other than Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga was back in 2011-12 when Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund famously secured back-to-back titles. Interestingly, Germany’s top-flight currently possesses a team that is very much in that mould. In Julian Nagelsmann, RB Leipzig has an expansive, attack-minded manager who has a youthful squad at his disposal. On paper, they’re somewhat comparable to Klopp’s Dortmund.
Despite losing Timo Werner to Chelsea, the 2019-20 Champions League semi-finalists have already signed Hwang Hee-chan to replace the German. Coming into a side that already features Dani Olmo, Dayot Upamecano, Marcel Sabitzer, and many more builds on the pre-existing threat that Nagelsmann’s Leipzig possesses. As a result, they’ll likely have their sights set on challenging Bayern and Dortmund.
Real Betis
Much like Leeds, only time will tell as to how well Real Betis do throughout the 2020-21 campaign. Having finished 15th in La Liga last season, Los Verdiblancos undoubtedly possess the players capable of mounting a top-half challenge. Interestingly, Betis have a promising blend of up-and-coming talents with experienced professionals.
Should they stay for the upcoming season, there will be pressure on the likes of Aissa Mandi, Marc Bartra, Nabil Fekir, and William Carvalho to take the two-time Spanish Cup winners clear of a relegation battle in 2020-21. At present, expectations will be relatively low for Betis, but their players are capable of making things happen and achieving success. Because of this, they’re unquestionably an intriguing betting proposition.
Think Outside the Box
Although safer, you’re unlikely to find lucrative odds for Bayern, Liverpool, PSG, or Real Madrid. In turn, exploring promising markets can present some fascinating options. While nothing is ever certain in football, the above teams are unquestionably sides that football fans should consider betting on.