2020/21 End of Season Markets Tips Around Europe

It has become somewhat of a formality for Juventus to lift the Serie A trophy at the end of each season and 2019/20's triumph was the club's ninth league title in a row. However, despite a successful domestic campaign, Maurizio Sarri was forced out of the club and replaced by Andrea Pirlo, and this could end up being the turning point for a tide which has demolished all of Italy the past decade.

Juventus are still the powerhouse in Serie A, of course, but with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Giorgino Chiellini ageing, whilst replacements for the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo have not lived up to the billing.

At the same time, ex-Juventus boss, Antonio Conte has managed to build a seriously impressive squad in just two seasons over at Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri have slowly but surely clawed their way back into contention for the Serie A, having struggled outside the top four for a number of seasons.

Last year’s campaign saw them register their highest finish since 2010/11, as well as reaching the Europa League final, where they narrowly lost to Sevilla. Having tactically bolstered the squad once again this window with signings such as Aleksandar Kolarov, Matteo Darmian, Arturo Vidal and Achraf Hakimi, the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez and Christian Eriksen will only improve a squad deep with goals, creativity and defensive stability.

Conte won three titles back-to-back with Juventus, and the Italian has proven with both the Old Lady and Chelsea in the past decade that he is born winner. Now, with the return of Radja Nainggolan and Ivan Perisic, whilst keeping hold of players like Milan Skriniar, Conte has finally built a team strong enough to compete with Juventus.

Inter are priced at 2/1 to win Serie A, whilst the champions are at their highest price of 5/4 to win the league in a number of years, and as Lukaku aims for the top scorer spot, we might finally see a change of power in Italy and return to the top for a modern great in Conte.

The race for a top four spot in Spain concerns several sides outside of the usual top three of both Madrid outfits and Barcelona.

The Europa League champions and last season’s fourth-place finish, Sevilla, have once again been on the rise under former Spain boss, Julen Lopetegui. They began the season with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Cadiz to extend their incredible unbeaten run, which they’ve maintained since February. Although losing star man Ever Banega will leave a notable hole, the return of Ivan Rakitic and addition of Suso will only make Sevilla a stronger side - they are currently 8/13 to finish in the top four.

Elsewhere, last season’s fifth-place side, Villareal, continue to look a strong outfit under Unai Emery. They returned to the top six after a short hiatus over the past few seasons and will relish the return of European football this season. Unfortunate departures in Santi Cazorla and Karl Toko Ekambi have been adequately filled, with Dani Parejo, Frances Coquelin and the talented youngster Japanese, Takefusa Kubo, stepping in - they are a high 4/1 to claim a top four spot.

Elsewhere, Real Sociedad have also managed to fill the void left by Martin Odegaard, by bringing on the generational talent that is Manchester City legend, David Silva. The Spaniard still possesses bundles of technical ability despite his age, and after finishing 14 points adrift of the fourth, without any European football, Sociedad can make a serious claim for the top four - Silva and co. are priced at 13/2 to claim a Champions League finish.

Further down the table, the surprise package from last season, Getafe, are again dark horses for a top four spot. Indeed, poor form after the restart meant they missed out on a European place having spent the majority of the season in fifth. However, now, the permanent signing of Marc Cucerella from Barcelona and Enes Unal from Villareal confirm their intentions for another stellar season - Getafe are now priced at 7/1 to finish inside the top four.

Competition for the Capocannoniere has been one of the most fought for individual titles around Europe in recent years, with many players battling it out year on year. Last season, we witnessed Ciro Immobile claim his third Capocannoniere in six years, matching the record of most goals in a season with 36.

Prior to this, we saw the resurgence of then 36-year-old Fabio Quagliarella pip the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo to the award, a year after the top scorer title was shared between Immobile and Mauro Icardi. In fact, in the past 10 years, there have been nine different winners of the Capocannoniere.

Now, a year after Lazio's hotshot equalled the record, whilst Ronaldo bagged 31, just as Lukaku scored the most goals in a debut season for an Inter player since Ronaldo in 1998, we have quite the competition.

Despite Juventus' main man falling short by five goals in his last two seasons, Ronaldo leads the way as the favourite at 13/8. The ex-Real Madrid superstar is already on three goals in two games, taking his total of Serie A goals to an astonishing 55 goals in 66 games.

After the Old Lady's forward, Lukaku comes in with odds of 4/1, despite the fact the Belgian bagged an almighty 13 goals fewer than Immobile last season. However, like Ronaldo, Lukaku has three goals thus far, and considering Inter's threatening rise up the ranks, 4/1 odds should not be overlooked. And now, with the likes of Eriksen and Sanchez getting a season under their belt in Inter colours, now might be the time for Lukaku to finally snatch a top scorer award.

Outside of these two, the defending champion of the award, Immobile is a high 6/1, despite the fact he equalled such a legendary record and how he has claimed three of the Capocannonieres in six seasons.

At the same time, we even have Zlatan Ibrahimovic at 10/1 and Alvaro Morata at 14/1, who is now back at Juventus after years at Real Madrid, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

Last season’s Bundesliga campaign provided neutrals with a constant supply of sublime goals, crazy scorelines and incredible football. Bayern Munich were utterly dominant in domestic competitions, before defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final to secure their second treble in seven years.

Top scorer Robert Lewandowski has aged like a fine wine, and his tally of 55 goals in 47 games in all competitions last season was a career-high, whilst his 34 in the league was the most in a Bundesliga campaign since the great Gerd Muller set the record of 40, 48 years ago.

However, Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland poses a serious threat to Lewandowski’s crown and is perhaps the most worrying competition to the award the Pole has won five times in seven years.

The 20-year-old Norwegian was an absolute sensation as he burst onto the scene with RB Salzburg last year, before securing a move to Germany in what now seems like a modest £20m deal. With 44 goals in 40 games, Haaland has already become one of the world's very best goalscorers, and his incredible pace, athleticism and astonishing finishing put him as a threat towards any goalscoring award.

The striker is an absolute phenom and may end up taking over Europe's goalscoring charts for years and years to come. Now, after 13 Bundesliga goals in 15 games last year, two against Bayern in the DFL-Supercup, and four in three already in the league, Haaland is an almighty price of 10/3 to steal Lewandowski's title.

On the other hand, however, the Bayern superstar has matched Haaland's four with five goals of his own, after netting four against Hertha Berlin to take his tally to 60 in the past 14 months - he remains a low 4/9 following his four-goal haul.

By Charlie Rhodes