Thirty-six teams begin their UEFA Champions League journey this week with a heavy 18-game slate featuring some star-studded matchups.
Below, I’ll break down my top Champions League best bets for Gameweek 1.
Champions League Best Bets
| Match | Time (ET) | Pick | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Tues. 3:00 p.m. | ||
  | Tues. 3:00 p.m. | ||
  | Wed. 12:45 p.m. | ||
  | Wed. 12:45 p.m. | ||
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our soccer Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |||
Real Madrid vs. Inter
Real Madrid look to add to their record 15 Champions League titles, but Los Blancos will face a legitimate challenge in their opening match against Inter on Tuesday.
Led by Kylian Mbappe, who topped the Champions League with 15 goals last season, Madrid’s lineup needs no introduction. However, their back line has struggled to find chemistry early this season.
Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, and Denzel Dumfries were all signed to bolster the back line, but they haven’t gelled just yet. Madrid has conceded in three of four La Liga matches this season, most recently suffering a disappointing 1-0 loss to Real Betis last Friday.
Madrid will also have a weakened midfield with Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga, and Arda Guler all suspended this week.
Inter has scored at least one goal in 19 of their last 21 matches in the Champions League, and the defending Serie A champs have already scored eight goals across their first three fixtures this season.
Inter will give Real Madrid problems and keep this one close.
Pick: Inter +0.5 (+135)
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FC Porto vs. Manchester City
Two teams with perfect starts in their respective domestic leagues clash at Estadio do Dragao as FC Porto hosts Manchester City on Tuesday in a match that should feature some goals.
Porto has scored at least two goals in each of their five victories in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, outscoring their opposition 11-1. Meanwhile, Manchester City has potted seven goals through its first three Premier League matches, most recently securing a 1-0 victory against Coventry where they controlled nearly 80% of possession.
It’s enticing to just take Manchester City on the moneyline at -143, but they’ve been surprisingly poor away from home in the Champions League, going 2W-1D-6L across their last nine games while conceding at least one goal in eight of those matches.
That said, we’re getting similar odds on both teams to score, which feels like the smarter pick given that both clubs are averaging more than two goals per game so far this season.
Pick: Both Teams to Score (-160)
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Barcelona vs. Feyenoord
Barcelona is a massive -1400 home favorite against Feyenoord on Wednesday, but it won’t be a walk in the park for the Spanish side.
Feyenoord has had an explosive start to their campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie, scoring at least two goals in four straight matches while averaging three goals per game over that span.
The Dutch side is also undefeated in 14 consecutive matches across all competitions, having scored at least one goal in 10 consecutive games.
Scoring won’t be an issue for Barca, who are averaging 2.88 goals per game in the Champions League since 2024 under manager Hans Flick, but defense remains a question mark. Barcelona has allowed at least one goal in 15 straight Champions League matches, with 30 total goals conceded over that span.
Pick: Both Teams to Score (-115)
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Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid
Liverpool is off to a disappointing start in the Premier League with one win in three games, but the Reds have provided some high-scoring action. Liverpool has found the back of the net twice in each match, while also allowing two goals in two of those contests.
Atletico Madrid has had a similar high-scoring start in La Liga, with three of their four matches featuring Over 2.5 goals. Atleti has historically been an offensive force in the Champions League, scoring at least once in 22 of their last 24 matches in the competition.
The two sides met almost exactly one year ago in the Champions League, with the Reds coming away with a 3-2 victory.
Wednesday’s match should be another fun one with plenty of goals.
Pick: Over 2.5 (-170)
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