Football loves an underdog story. We will never forget the 2016 Leicester City team that defied the odds to win the Premier League, or FC Porto winning the UEFA Champions League in 2004 under the legendary José Mourinho. The truth is, when an underdog rises to the top, it gives everyone else hope, it makes the fans believe that one day, their local club side can also rise to the pinnacle of the top-flight. This season, we have three underdog stories potentially brewing. Girona in the Spanish La Liga, Aston Villa in the English Premier League, and Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. We will analyze these three teams, evaluate their chances of going all the way while providing professional betting tips to help you win big on BetKing, Nigeria’s #1 online sports betting site. **Girona - Long term Contenders or Pretenders?** Girona, a team whose objective at the start of the season was simply to avoid relegation, are second in La Liga table standings with 56 points after 23 games, 7 points more than they got the whole of last season. They are 6 points clear of last season’s La Liga winners Barcelona, and will surely play European football next season for the first time in their history. Girona are owned by Manchester City, who have 47% of the shares. While the City Football Group provides structural stability, this is not a team blessed with the talent Pep Guardiola has at his disposal. The club’s most expensive signing, Artem Dovbyk, cost €7m from Dnipro-1 and leads the LaLiga scorers chart with 14 goals. Managed by Miguel Sanchez Muñoz, Girona are living the stuff of dreams, the kind of season that other clubs, especially in LaLiga could never dream of. The Spanish league has been dominated by two teams since its inception in 1928, and over the last 23 years (since 2000) only two teams outside Barcelona and Real Madrid have won the title (Valencia 2x, Atlético Madrid 2x). In simpler terms, it takes a monstrous performance to even run any of these two giants close, let alone win the whole thing. In terms of individual talent, there isn't a great deal of star dust sprinkled over this Girona side, and their rise is truly a testament to hard work and team spirit. Cristhian Stuani who has 8 goals this season is 37, Daley Blind is coming to the end of his career, and Eric Garcia, his defensive partner is on loan from Barcelona where he was 5th choice. **Verdict:** Girona are having an excellent season, one for the history books, but judging by the historical power of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, one that is unlikely to repeat itself. We expect them to continue to push Real Madrid all the way but fall just short of the league title in the end. Becoming a team that establishes itself in the top 6 is a more realistic target in the next few years. Think Girona can go all the way? Then take advantage of BetKing’s high odds by backing them to win La Liga.
**Aston Villa - Can Unai Emery’s Men Go All The Way?** Aston Villa's form in the English Premier League this season has left many astonished. If magic is real, then Unai Emery must be a magician because just three years ago, they were mired in the relegation zone, scrambling to stay alive under Steven Gerrard before the Spaniard took over in late November 2022. With strategic investments in players like Leon Bailey, Mousa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Youri Tielemans, alongside talents like World Cup winner Emi Martinez and star striker Ollie Watkins, Emery has turned the Villans into a formidable force. Villa have already beaten EPL past winners Manchester City and Arsenal this season to prove they are capable of competing with the best in the division. They bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Newcastle last week with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday. That win moved them above Tottenham into fourth place – just three points behind Arsenal and five off Liverpool. While few expect Aston Villa to clinch the title, their current position in the mix is a remarkable achievement. Looking ahead, maintaining their form in the next 15 games could not only secure a UEFA Champions League spot, but push for the title till the very end. Unlike Girona, the Villans could be sweating over the continuity of a few star players in the summer. Douglas Luiz, Watkins, and Bailey could be in high demand. Watkins has shone this season with 11 goals and 10 assists in 23 games, and Villa, backed by Billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wesley Edens, will be keenly aware that offers could come in for their star man. Still, any suitors will know how difficult pricing Watkins away from Villa Park will be. The club refused to let Jack Grealish join Manchester City in 2021 until the Etihad club stumped up £100m and blocked every attempt by Arsenal to sign Douglas Luiz last summer. Nevertheless, failure to qualify for the Champions League might have some players eyeing a move elsewhere and should a club like Real Madrid or PSG come in for Luiz, then we might be looking at a different scenario. **Verdict:** Aston Villa have the second-best home record in the league with 28 points from 11 games, with 4 of their next 6 games at Villa Park, they could really build some excellent momentum. Unai Emery is one of the most tactically astute managers in Europe right now, and with talents like Watkins, Leon Bailey, Moussa Diaby, and Luiz all under 26 years of age, there is a solid core to build on. We expect Villa to finish in the top 4 this season, and with smart investment, kick on even further next term. Enjoy BetKing’s professional betting tips backed by the best odds by betting on Aston Villa to finish in the PL top 4 this season.
**Bayer Leverkusen - The Real Deal?** Xabi Alonso's impact at Leverkusen has been extraordinary since taking over in October 2022. Taking a team from the relegation zone to the brink of Champions League qualification and an appearance in the Europa League semi-final was beyond impressive. This season, their ascent has continued with an unbeaten record after 20 Bundesliga games, topping the table having dropped only eight points. They have 52 points; two points clear of defending champions Bayern Munich. Notably, they boast the league's best defensive record, (14 conceded) and what sets them apart is their ability to maintain defensive solidity without sacrificing their attractive style of play. They are also the favorites, alongside Liverpool, to win the Europa League this season after breezing through the group stage, winning all 6 games, scoring 19 and conceding just 3. Leverkusen are on the cusp of achieving something extraordinary, not just in overcoming a Bayern Munich side that have won the last 11 Bundesliga titles and have been strengthened by Harry Kane, but in the way they are aiming to accomplish it. Alonso is leading them to success, playing football the beautiful way. This is a team powered by togetherness, elite coaching and most importantly, incredible individual talent. Granit Xhaka arrived from Arsenal last summer to much fanfare and what an incredible addition he has been. The Swiss international has started all 20 Bundesliga games for Leverkusen this season and has been a metronome for Alonso’s side with 236 successful passes into the final third, [the most in Europe’s top 5 leagues. ](https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1754919305467019500?s=20) Alex Grimaldo, Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann, also arrived last summer and have fitted in seamlessly with Alonso’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Grimaldo and Frimpong cover the flanks, defending and attacking, while Hofmann and Florian Wirtz are tasked with providing the passes for Nigeria’s Victor Boniface, who’s out injured but started the season on fire with 7 goals in his first 10 games. Leverkusen look to be good value for the title, and 30 games unbeaten across all competitions is no fluke. Alonso will be thankful that Nathan Tella, who has 3 goals in his last 4 games, wasn’t called up to the Super Eagles squad for the African Cup of Nations due to the country’s unbelievable depth of attacking talent. However, the tournament's impact has been keenly felt, with four of Leverkusen's key players absent from the squad, including the unfortunate long-term absence of Victor Boniface due to a serious thigh muscle injury. Additionally, the unavailability of Exequiel Palacios has further stretched Leverkusen's resources, making injuries and fitness issues the only real factors that could derail their title charge. Whether or not they win the title, there could be an exodus in the summer, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Boniface and Frimpong already attracting interest from Europe’s big clubs. [Bayern have been credited with an interest in Wirtz](https://onefootball.com/en/news/florian-wirtzs-plan-with-bayer-leverkusen-amid-bayern-munichs-ever-present-interest-38729221) and are expected to firm up their interest in the coming months. **Verdict:** The most important factor to consider when discussing Leverkusen’s long-term aspirations must be the future of manager Xabi Alonso. The ex-Real Madrid man was widely tipped to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu, but the Italian has signed a contract extension until 2026. The rumor mill went into overdrive after Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave Liverpool, with many fans calling for Alonso to replace the outgoing German. Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool and is beloved at Anfield, but he has vowed to take his own decisions at the right moment. There will surely be the allure of leading this group of players into the Champions League next season, and he will have earned it and all of the rewards that come with it. Taking all this into consideration, Bayern have shown vulnerabilities this season that are missing from Leverkusen’s performances and our bet of the day is Alonso’s men to withstand the onslaught of Bayern to win the coveted Bundesliga title.
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