The Champions League returns with 18 games this week, including marquee matchups such as Manchester City vs. PSG.
Below, I’ll break down my top Champions League best bets and Gameweek 2 predictions.
Champions League Best Bets
| Match | Time (ET) | Pick | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Tues. 3:00 p.m. | ||
  | Tues. 3:00 p.m. | ||
  | Wed. 3:00 p.m. | ||
  | Wed. 3:00 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. | |||
Lille vs. Arsenal
Arsenal look to continue their dominant campaign when they welcome Lille to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
The defending Premier League champions are 5-0-1 in domestic play this season with just five goals conceded in six matches. Arsenal’s stingy defense leads the EPL in both expected goals against (4.66) and shots allowed on target (19).
Lille is a respectable 4-1-1 in Ligue 1 so far, but the French side has relied more on its defensive prowess to get the job done. Lille has scored just nine times in six domestic games, while their 8.37 expected goals rank 12th out of 18 clubs.
The Gunners have recorded six clean sheets across nine competitive matches this season, and they’ll cruise to another easy victory this week.
Pick: Lille Under 0.5 Goals (-144)
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Manchester United vs. Atlético Madrid
Atlético and Manchester United kick off at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET, with the hosts looking to earn their first win of the Champions League campaign.
These clubs come into the match trending in opposite directions – Atlético has four straight wins in La Liga, including an impressive 2-1 victory over Real Madrid three weeks ago, while United is winless across its last four matches and sits 13th in the EPL.
Atlético has scored 2+ goals in each of its last four games, while their 7.93 expected goals against rank second in La Liga just behind Barcelona (7.76).
The Red Devils are dealing with a ton of injuries heading into the match, with key pieces including defender Matthijs De Ligt and striker Benjamin Sesko unavailable.
Atlético is in great form against a sputtering United side. Take the Spanish squad to earn three points at home.
Pick: Atlético Madrid Moneyline (-105)
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PSG vs. Manchester City
In what might be the crown jewel of Champions League Gameweek 2, the back-to-back winners, Paris St-Germain, visit the 2023 winners, Manchester City, at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
PSG’s domestic season has not gone according to plan so far, as the five-time reigning Ligue 1 winners sit sixth on the table with a 3-2-1 record and just 11 goals scored in six matches.
The French side has suffered some key injuries early on, but both Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes are expected to be available Wednesday. Still, PSG will be in for a tough match against a Manchester City squad that sits atop the Premier League table with nine straight wins across all competitions.
City has won four of the previous eight meetings against PSG (4-2-2), while they’re unbeaten in the four home games during that stretch (3-1-0).
The Citizens come into the match in red-hot form, coming off a 3-0 win vs. Liverpool on Sunday, and 13 goals scored over their previous three matches, while star striker Erling Haaland has found the back of the net in five straight appearances.
I’m taking Manchester City to win, but even draw no bet on the hosts (-160) is a fine play.
Pick: Manchester City Moneyline (+115)
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Real Madrid vs. AS Roma
Real Madrid scraped a 2-1 win against Inter in their Champions League opener last month, and they’ll face another Italian side in AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
Roma will prove to be a real test as they’re undefeated through six Serie A matches this season (4-2-0), with just three goals conceded.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid has not been in fantastic form this season (6-0-2), already sitting six points back of Barcelona for top spot in La Liga. However, that’s made their line all the more attractive vs. Roma.
Despite two disappointing losses in league play, Los Blancos are clearly the superior side in this matchup. Madrid boasts a dangerous trio up top, led by Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior, who have already combined for 11 goals this season.
Madrid has also won four straight meetings vs. Roma without conceding a single goal, while Los Blancos are 8-1-3 over the last 12 head-to-heads.
Pick: Real Madrid Moneyline (-115)
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