UEFA Champions League is one of the most outstanding football competitions that involve the top teams from across Europe and some of the big football clubs with a long history. But with each passing season, there comes the hope of new stories and unexpected contenders. For next season, 2024-2025, many underdog teams have prepared themselves to break into Europe’s elite club competition.
Here are five exciting underdog teams to watch out for whether you want to place your bets on online betting sites or you are simply a fan:
Aston Villa
Aston Villa could be considered as an unusual candidate for an underdog list, especially given the fact that the team has a rich history with a European Cup won in 1983. Nevertheless, the English club based in Birmingham has not played in the continental championship since that victory. Managed by Unai Emery, the current position of Villa has improved drastically and the team is no longer the struggling side it was post-Steven Gerrard.
After the appointment of Emery in October 2022 Villa has been a different team. They secured the Europa Conference League spot last season, and this season, they have been performing even better, looking at potentially finishing in the top five of the Premier League. Sizable investments have been made in the team, and the actual narrative is the team’s efficiency in overtaking the more established Chelsea and Manchester United. The return of Villa to the Champions League is a clear indication of Emery’s tactical acumen and the strength of the team. For more insights on Emery’s impact, check out this recent article.
Brest
The accomplishment of Brest in qualifying for the Champions League is nothing short of a miracle that is set to happen. With one of the lowest budgets in Ligue 1 and a ground as unprepossessing as the Stade Francis-Le Blé, Brest has risen to second place. This was after they had a poor start of the season and they lost to big teams such as Lille, PSG and Monaco in the period leading up to November.
This come-from-behind victory included a stunning comeback against PSG and a draw against Nice which made them genuine title contenders. There is the issue of the stadium not meeting the UEFA standards for knock-out stages due to some facilities not being up to standard. If Brest should hold on to their league standing, then they will require a base to host their European matches, which will only make their story even more interesting.
Bologna
Thiago Motta’s Bologna has been one of the most interesting and successful narratives in Serie A. The ex-PSG youth coach and the architect of numerous tactics, has taken Bologna from the lower middle part of the table to a Champions League contender. At the moment occupying the fourth and the last automatic Champions League position, Bologna has a significant advantage over the fifth-ranked Roma and new rules which have been introduced for the qualifying round make the position of Bologna even more stable.
Motta’s tactics and the appearance of the stars like Joshua Zirkzee and Lewis Ferguson have been significant. The future of Motta as the captain of this team next season is not certain due to his rising fame. However, Bologna’s come back and their chance of getting back to the European Cup after forty-four years is still impressive.
Girona
Girona, having a great season in La Liga, has been a pleasant story that interested football enthusiasts. While the team’s sudden title challenge has amused football fans who enjoy the beauty of the underdog, the entity that has a percentage in the club, the City Football Group, has been in the spotlight again. Still, Girona’s journey has been an interesting one with many awe-inspiring stories to tell.
Certain players such as Daley Blind and Artem Dovbyk have brought back their good form at Girona and have been instrumental for the team. Although Real Madrid may spoil their chances of winning the league, Girona’s first year in the Champions League will be an exciting narrative. It will be interesting to see how the two sides get on against some of the best that the continent has to offer. For more about their potential matchups, see the UEFA Champions League key dates.
Union SG
Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, a former powerhouse in Belgian football, was struggling and almost defunct before the intervention of the Brighton chairman Tony Bloom in 2018. Since then, Union SG has been soaring high, best depicted by the case of their defender Christian Burgess who started at League One Portsmouth to now battling for the Champions League qualification.
This can be attributed to the partnership they have with Brighton, where stars such as Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra have been nurtured. Also, Union SG has nurtured talents like Victor Boniface and Deniz Undav, who then progressed to other big platforms. As the club is currently fighting for the Jupiler Pro League title and an automatic Champions League spot, the story of Union SG is a feel-good story of football rebirth.
Conclusion
The upcoming 2024-2025 Champions League season is expected to be full of surprises as several underdog teams are set to emerge. Aston Villa’s return to the competition, Brest’s incredible journey, Bologna’s tactical revolution, Girona’s surprising ascent, and Union SG’s revival are all part of the European football fabric.
These teams represent the really competitive drive and the uncertainty that makes the Champions League such a thrilling championship. The upcoming match against Europe’s finest will really be a treat to watch and their stories will make the audience recall why football is such a beautiful sport.