Champions League: Bets to Avoid This Week
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
Liverpool vs PSG: Forget About Another 0-0 Draw
Expecting as few goals as in the first leg would be a mistake. Our Liverpool vs PSG prediction goes in the complete opposite direction, with great odds offered for a high-scoring match. In the first leg, Paris should have scored at least two or three goals with a bit more luck, better finishing, and if it weren’t for an outstanding Alisson.
This time, we think things will be different. Along those lines, betting on “Both teams to score? No” doesn’t seem like a good idea either. We expect a very open match, just like the first leg, where Liverpool should show more presence and create more danger near Donnarumma’s goal.
To conclude, while Liverpool is the clear favorite to qualify after their win last Wednesday, the average odds offered by sportsbooks for them to reach the quarterfinals seem too low and not very attractive. We don’t believe Paris Saint-Germain is out of the competition just yet, and they could very well pull off an upset at Anfield.
Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich: Avoid Betting on Bayer
We continue the night with this all-German clash and our Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich prediction. After winning 3-0 in the first leg—helped by Kovar’s mistake on the second goal and Nordi Mukiele’s red card—Bayern Munich needs to finish the job tonight. The odds for a draw or a Bayern win look very tempting.
On the other hand, we don’t see Xabi Alonso’s team bouncing back, as they are unlikely to win this match and will probably exit in the Round of 16. Still, it has been an admirable run for a club that was once fighting relegation before the arrival of the Spanish coach. We advise against betting on Bayer Leverkusen to win or qualify, especially since they will be without their star Florian Wirtz, who suffered an injury last weekend against Werder Bremen and will be out for several weeks.
We also don’t expect more than 3.5 goals in this game, as Bundesliga matchups between these two teams have recently been low-scoring—this bet hasn’t won in their last five encounters! For more details and stats on their head-to-head history, check out our match preview below.
Inter vs Feyenoord: Don’t Overestimate Feyenoord
The third match of the day kicks off at 4:00 PM EST, featuring a face-off that seems less suspenseful than Liverpool vs PSG. Our Inter Milan vs Feyenoord prediction expects a big night for Lautaro Martinez, and we also predict that Inter will win again without conceding a goal.
We anticipate another well-controlled match from Simone Inzaghi’s men, who should dominate at home and maintain their status as the best defense of the 2024-25 Champions League season. So, forget about a Feyenoord upset or even them scoring a goal. This likely won’t be a goal-fest either!
Barcelona vs Benfica: No “Under” Bets Here
Earlier in the day, at 6:45 PM, our Barcelona vs Benfica prediction takes center stage. Could Barcelona be emerging as the top favorite to win the tournament? The Catalan club is having a fantastic season under Hansi Flick and is positioning itself as a serious contender.
Reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute of the first leg, Barcelona still managed a solid performance, winning 1-0 thanks to a Raphinha goal and an excellent Wojciech Szczęsny. Even though Benfica dominated, Barcelona showed their resilience, proving they can absorb pressure and strike on the counterattack.
If we expect Robert Lewandowski to score tonight, we also predict a much different match than the first leg—more in line with the 4-5 Barcelona win on January 21. Therefore, avoid betting on “Under” or “Both teams to score? No.” A Benfica victory or qualification seems highly unlikely. Instead, focus on goal-scorers and Over bets for this game!
Lille vs Dortmund: Be Careful Betting on Borussia
On Wednesday night at 1:45 PM EST, Lille hosts Borussia Dortmund in Villeneuve d'Ascq, and our Lille vs Borussia Dortmund prediction is already in. According to our analysis, Lille is well-positioned to advance to the quarterfinals. Betting on Dortmund’s qualification isn’t a great idea, as the odds aren’t high enough for a team struggling in recent weeks.
Likewise, we believe Lille is fully capable of winning in regulation time. Betting on a draw isn’t ideal, and backing a Dortmund victory is even worse. Lille has already beaten teams like Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, proving they can compete with the best. They’ll need to do it again tomorrow night.
Atlético vs Real Madrid: Avoid Betting on Atlético’s Qualification
Now onto the 4:00 PM EST match—a massive Madrid derby and our Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid prediction! In a game where Mbappé’s team had its ups and downs, Real Madrid took a slight advantage with a 2-1 win. However, nothing is settled yet, and the suspense remains high heading into the second leg.
We’re giving the edge to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. That’s why we advise against betting on an Atlético win or even their qualification. Instead, we expect Real Madrid to reach the quarterfinals. Even though Atlético’s qualification odds may seem tempting, we think it would be a losing bet.
For the second leg, we expect the “Both teams to score” bet to hit again. This has been the case in the last 10 meetings between these two teams across all competitions. So, avoid betting on a clean sheet for either side or “Both teams to score? No.”
Aston Villa vs Bruges: Don’t Bet on the Belgians
Now, onto our Aston Villa vs Bruges prediction, where the Villans are the clear favorites. After winning 3-1 last Tuesday, they need to confirm their dominance at home. Following last season’s Conference League semifinal, the English club has another chance to shine—this time in the Champions League.
And we don’t see any result other than a win for Unai Emery and his team. If you were thinking about betting on a positive result for Bruges or their qualification, we strongly advise against it. The challenge appears too big for Club Bruges, even though they had an impressive run, notably eliminating Atalanta in the playoffs.
Following that logic, we also expect Aston Villa to put on a show and score at least two goals. If you’re considering a low-scoring match, remember that the first leg was already entertaining. Check out our preview below for more stats on this game.
Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven: Expect Another High-Scoring Match
For this Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven prediction, the suspense is essentially gone. Arsenal crushed PSV 7-1 last Tuesday, killing any hopes of a comeback. It would take more than an upset—it would take a miracle—for the Dutch side to qualify tomorrow. While anything is possible in football, we strongly recommend not betting on a PSV qualification.
However, we do expect an open match between two exciting teams. PSV has nothing to lose and will try to exit the competition with a better performance than last week. Forget about “Under” bets and “Both teams to score? No,” as we anticipate another goal-fest.
