Who are the biggest favorites in Champions League final history? Man City set odds record vs Inter

This year's Champions League final shouldn't even be a contest, according to the betting market.

As Manchester City take on Inter Milan in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul on Saturday, it will be a true David and Goliath battle.

Man City are considered the largest betting favorites in Champions League history, at least going back as far as the available data.

The Sporting News brings you the details behind this new mark set by this year's matchup.

Biggest favorites in Champions League final history

According to Oddsportal, Manchester City, as -225 (4/9) favorites to beat Inter Milan in 90 minutes of regulation for the upcoming Champions League final, are the largest betting favorite in at least the last 19 years of UCL final history, which is as far as the data goes back.

City are also -550 favorites to win the trophy in any manner, whether it be in regulation, extra time, or penalty shootout.

Before the instillation of this final, the largest pre-match betting favorite for a Champions League final was Barcelona in 2015, as Lionel Messi led the Blaugrana to a 3-1 victory over Juventus, coming into the game as -161 favorites on the three-way moneyline, or -323 to lift the trophy. 

The biggest pre-match betting favorite to lose a Champions League final across the 19 years of data was Bayern Munich in 2012, who were beaten by Chelsea 2-1 despite coming into the game as -143 favorites on the three-way moneyline and -250 to win the title. Chelsea, consequently, were +200 to lift the trophy and +340 to win in 90 minutes, the largest underdogs to emerge victorious.

Across the last 19 years, the match the betting market had the most trouble calling was the 2009 Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona, which featured star-studded squads on both sides of the field. Barcelona, as slight +175 underdogs on the three-way moneyline, lifted the trophy with a 2-0 victory behind goals from Samuel Eto'o and Messi, defeating the +161 three-way favorites Man United in Rome.

Champions League final odds 2023

While Man City are huge odds-on to win the final, it's harder for the betting market to figure out game flow.

There is the mediocre belief that the over can hit, understanding that City could even do that themselves, but it's harder to get a gauge on Inter, in both main facets of the game. City are so defensively stout, and so are Inter, so it could be a difficult, low-scoring affair.

Furthermore, each of the last four finals have gone under the 2.5 goal total.