Champions League (UEFA) Picks & Predictions
UEFA Champions League Overview and Picks
The Champions League is one of the most closely followed soccer competitions of the year. This competition brings together the elite of European soccer every year and is one of the most popular leagues for soccer betting.
Organized by UEFA, the tournament allows fans to follow the world's biggest clubs, and even find out more about less popular clubs that have performed well in their domestic leagues. A brand new format is being introduced this year, and all the details can be found on this page.
From the first qualifying rounds through to the final, scheduled for June 2025, you'll find our Champions League predictions here. We'll be giving you our favorites to win the trophy, our opinion on the teams that will qualify for the knockout rounds, and also on the player who will finish top scorer at the end of the competition. Let's have a look!
Place your UCL bets at FanDuel
Our Free Champions League Prediction for the 2024 - 2025 Season: Who to bet on?
This year will be the very first edition of UEFA's new Champions League format. And while there are some changes to the way the competition is run, one thing is sure to remain the same: Europe's biggest clubs of recent years are expected to be on hand to win the trophy.
Real Madrid and Manchester City come to mind as the two clear favorites. We're talking about the last two champions, though, and a Madrid club that has added Kylian Mbappé to its squad in a bid to win its 16th trophy in the competition...
Just behind them, clubs such as Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Arsenal, PSG and FC Barcelona will be worth keeping an eye on.
At the moment, we don't even know all the qualifiers for the first phase (a single group of 36 teams), making it difficult to offer a reliable prediction for now. But for those who don't want to wait, we suggest you try the odds on one of the last two winners.
Our Champions League winning prediction: Real Madrid or Manchester City champion 2024-2025!
2023-2024 Champions League - Odds on the Favorites to Win it All
- Liverpool +400
- Real Madrid +550
- Man City +550
- Arsenal +550
- Bayern Munich +700
- Barcelona +700
- Inter Milan +1200
- Leverkusen +1600
- Atalanta +2000
- Aston Villa +2500
- Atletico Madrid +2500
- Paris St-G +2500
- Dortmund +2500
- Juventus +4000
- AC Milan +4000
Odds from the FanDuel website.
Prediction for the Top Scorer in the Champions League?
Also very popular among bettors, the "Champions League top scorer" betting type can offer great opportunities given the good odds offered by sportsbooks on the future top scorer. To bet on the top scorer in the Cup of Champions, several factors need to be taken into account.
Recent performances, the player's ability to score goals, the fixture list and opponents, and the club's ambitions: all these factors can influence a player's chances of finishing as the competition's top scorer.
Before the season kicks off, we're giving Kylian Mbappé an edge, as he's been scoring consistently in recent years and has just joined Real Madrid, the competition's king.
Here's the list of players who we think, at the start of the season, are ones to watch and could well be in contention for that individual trophy. They include :
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Goncalo Ramos (PSG)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
- Vinicius (Real Madrid)
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Champions League bets at BetMGM
Champions League Prediction - Top scorer betting odds
- Robert Lewandowski +225
- Erling Haaland +250
- Harry Kane +400
- Vinicius Junior +1000
- Viktor Gyokeres +1400
- Kylian Mbappe +1600
- Florian Wirtz +2000
- Serhou Guirassy +2000
- Raphinha +2000
Odds from Caesars Sportsbook..
Our Prediction for the Champions League Groups
Gone is the old format with several pools, and now there's just one group on the program. For further information, here are the scheduled dates for the matches in the first phase of the competition:
- Matchday 1 - September 17, 18 and 19, 2024
- Matchday 2 - October 1-2, 2024
- Matchday 3 - October 22 and 23, 2024
- Matchday 4 - November 5 and 6, 2024
- Day 5 - November 26 and 27, 2024
- Day 6 - December 10 and 11, 2024
- Day 7 - January 21 and 22, 2025
- Day 8 - January 29, 2025
Now it's time to find out who's in which group, and our predictions for the qualifiers! Below are our predictions for the top 8, who will qualify directly for the Round of 16, and who will qualify for the play-offs.
Our prediction for the Champions League Round of 16 qualifiers (top 8 places)
Whereas we used to have to find two qualifiers out of four participants in each group, we now have to imagine the 8 teams who will come out on top out of the 36 taking part in this single pool. Beware, however, as this prediction could well be very changeable after the draw for the matches.
Some clubs seem more than capable of finishing in the top 8, such as the two favorites in our prediction, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Indeed, these are the two teams we have few doubts about, given the quality of their respective squads, and their experience of the competition in recent years.
Just behind them are two Premier League clubs, Arsenal and Liverpool. Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, PSG, and FC Barcelona are also in the top 8.
Our Champions League knockout round prediction: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, PSG and Barcelona in the last 16!
Champions League bets at BetMGM
Our prediction for the Champions League play-offs (9th to 24th place)
Here's a second exercise that's even more difficult than the previous one. After selecting the 8 teams we think will make the top 8 and qualify directly for the Round of 16, there are 24 teams still in contention to reach the play-offs (a kind of Round of 16).
We must therefore make a prediction as to which 16 teams will have the opportunity to continue the competition after the single pool. It's still hard to say, as we still don't know the results of all the qualifiers, but here's an initial list of the clubs we can see joining the play-offs: Monaco, Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Juventus, Atalanta Bergamo, Benfica, Sporting and PSV Eindhoven.
More information and qualifiers after the qualifying rounds and play-offs, when we'll have a better overview of the single group with the 36 qualifiers.
Sports betting beginners - how does the new Champions League work (new format 2024-2025)?
The Champions League is the finest of all European soccer competitions. Each season, the competition sees the best teams in Europe go head-to-head, having earned their tickets thanks to their respective results on the domestic scene.
In France, for example, thanks to the new format, the Ligue 1 champion, the runner-up and the third-placed team all take part, with the fourth-placed club, like Lille this season, going through the play-off rounds to secure its precious ticket.
The way the single pool works is simple: 36 participants, the top 8 are in the last 16, the next 16 (9th to 24th place) qualify for the playoffs (round of 16) and those behind (25th to 36th place) are eliminated from all European competitions. We explain everything in this video.
Unlike in the past, there is no longer any knockdown to the Europa League, so the bottom 12 will have to wait until the following year before they can taste European football again. In this new format, following the play-offs to determine the last 8 teams, there will be a knockout phase, with home-and-away matches, the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, culminating in the final to crown the European champion.
- Summer qualifying rounds (July 9th to August 13th)
- Playoffs at the end of August (20th, 21st, 27th and 28th)
- Draw for matches on August 29th
- League phase with 8 matches for each team (36 clubs in total)
- The top 8 teams qualify for the round of 16
- The next 16 qualify for the playoffs (round of 16)
- The bottom 12 are eliminated from all European competitions (no Europa League repechage).
- Play-off draw on January 31st
- Play-offs (return legs on February 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th, 2025)
- Round-of-16 draw on February 21st
- Round-trip knockout matches from the play-offs to the final (May 31st, 2025)
Last year, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid were crowned Champions League winners, completing a historic hat-trick of league and Spanish Supercup triumphs.
Madrid went on to win Europe's most prestigious club competition for the 15th time in its history, further cementing its name and prestige in the competition. Who will succeed Jude Bellingham's team-mates? Make your predictions!
Champions League bets at BetMGM
Tips for Betting on the Champions League
In order to place Champions League bets, it is essential that you pay attention to certain details. Here are our top tips to keep in mind before placing a bet on the UEFA Champions League:
- Analyze the form of the Champions League teams.
- Be aware of injured and suspended players for the UCL.
- Take into account the real interest of the Champions League match.
- Check the history of meetings between the two opposing teams.
- Compare the odds or odds of the Champions League before placing your bets.
If you take each of these factors into account when making your predictions for a Champions League match, you will be able to form an accurate opinion on the outcome. Read on to learn more about each of these tips.
UEFA Champions League clubs' form analysis
The most important step in your analysis of a Champions League match is to analyze the form of the teams, and especially that of the key players on the pitch. For example, last year with Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius could single-handedly lead their team to victory in the competition. If they are in good form, you'll understand that a "Real Madrid win" bet will be more reliable than if the team's two most decisive players are absent.
And the same reasoning should be applied to stars like Mbappé, Haaland, Musiala and company. It's all important. So always pay attention to the players' form before betting, as the unavailability of a key player can have a significant impact on the outcome of a Champions League match.
Keeping an eye on injured and suspended players for the Champions League is essential
In the same vein, keeping an eye on injured and suspended players will also be important when making predictions and betting on a Champions League match. If a major player (e.g. Ødegaard or Saka for Arsenal) is unavailable for a match against a major opponent, this could weigh on the final result of a match, whatever the stage of the competition.
This factor will be very important this year, with two more matches for each club in the single pool, and an even greater number of overall matches in the year. Injuries could then be a little more significant...
Taking into account the real importance of the match to make predictions
Now, of course, the real interest of the match must be taken into account. For example, if a favorite team has already qualified for the round of 16 in the group stage of the Champions League and its opponent, who is not a favorite, is playing for qualification, it may be more interesting to bet on the latter club, which is more attractive than the former, which may have to rotate its squad.
The same logic applies to the knockout phase. If a team has beaten its opponent 4-0 in the first leg, avoid betting on its victory in the second leg. This is a constant in all soccer competitions. And we saw it again in the last edition with Inter Milan, who beat Benfica 2-0 in the round of 16 before settling for a 3-3 draw in the second leg. Whatever the stage of the competition, one should never make the mistake of ignoring "the real stakes" in a Champions League match. With this in mind, there are good opportunities, but also pitfalls to avoid.
Champions League bets at BetMGM
View the match history between the two rival teams
To further improve your analysis for predicting the outcome of a Champions League match, we recommend that you consider how recent head-to-head meetings between the teams you are about to meet have gone. In particular, some teams are especially effective against certain opponents and may have an advantage over them, even if they play at a similar level 'in theory'. In sports like soccer, the psychological factor is important, and a team that has lost all its head-to-head matches against its opponent will find it difficult to perform against them in future matches. Also whether you are playing as a home or away team can influence this evoked element.
This factor is even more relevant if the matches are played in the same year. For example, in 2023, Inter Milan won both of their head-to-heads against AC Milan. As expected, Inter emerged victorious in the Champions League semi-final double-header against the Rossoneri, winning both home and away. This detail can make all the difference when making a Champions League prediction.
Place your UCL bets at Caesars
Compare odds of Champions League matches before placing your bets
Finally, you should compare Champions League odds before placing your bets on the competition or when choosing a betting market. As you know, sportsbooks often offer different odds for similar bets. To ensure you get the best potential winnings, it will be important that you register with several sportsbooks to take advantage of the odds at the best sportsbooks of your choice.
In a normal Champions League match, for example, FanDuel may offer odds of +150 for Manchester City to beat Real Madrid, while DraftKings will offer odds at a price of +165. In the long run, your winnings in the competition will be affected, so don't underestimate this aspect.
Taking into account the odds factor and the information explained above will help you win your Champions League predictions, from the group stage, through the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final. You will be able to make more informed predictions and optimize your chances of success in the Champions League matches today.
Place your UCL bets at FanDuel
What not to Do for Your Champions League Picks
Now that you know the good habits you should adopt to succeed in your Champions League predictions, let's talk about the mistakes you should not make, as they will help you avoid losing money unnecessarily. Therefore, avoid these actions at all costs:
- Don't bet without considering the value of the odds.
- Do not bet on your favorite team blindly.
- Do not bet without previously analyzing the match.
- Do not try to compensate the loss of a bet in the Champions League.
- Do not bet on high odds for no reason.
- Do not bet on matches with nothing at stake in the group stage of the Champions League.
- Do not bet an amount you are not willing to lose.
- Do not bet live under emotional pressure.
Try to avoid repeating these habits when betting on the Champions League 2024-2025, as they will surely put you at risk. These tips also apply to other sporting events.
Keep these tips in mind to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Champions League: The stats you need to know
To increase your chances of success with your Champions League 2024-2025 predictions, it's essential to take into account the tournament's key statistics and figures. Here are the most important facts to remember from the last edition, out of the 125 matches played:
- Home wins: 49
- Draws: 22
- Away wins: 29
- Average goals: 3.00 goals per match
- +1.5 goals: 78.4%
- -1.5 goals: 21.6%
- +2.5 goals: 56.8%
- -2.5 goals: 43.2%
- +3.5 goals: 37.6%
- -3.5 goals: 62.4%
- +4.5 goals: 20%
- -4.5 goals: 80%
- Quarter-hour with most goals: 76-90' (22.9%)
- Percentage of first-half goals: 43.2%.
- Percentage of second-half goals: 56.8%.
- "Both teams score: yes": 60.8%
- Away goals: 67.2% of matches
- Victory by 2 goals or more (handicap): 33.6% of duels
- Exact score 0-0: 4% of matches
- Most frequent score: 1-0 or 0-1 (17.6% of games)
If you look at these statistics, you'll see that there are some bets that should be favored in this Champions League 2024-2025. First of all, betting on handicap bets will certainly be the best thing to do once again in this competition.
You'll also notice that away teams easily score at least one goal, which can be an interesting bet to take depending on the context. For more variety, you can also opt for bets such as "More than 1.5 goals" and "More than 2.5 goals", which often succeeded last time around in Champions League 2023-2024.
Finally, fans of big odds can try the exact 1-0 scoreline, which came up in one match in five last season. When you see that the odds on this bet are very often over +400, you'll think it's worth a try. Don't forget to keep all these figures in mind to improve the quality of your bets on the Champions League 2024-2025. Be careful, though, as the format is totally different in the first part of the competition.
Champions League bets at BetMGM
In Short: How to predict the Champions League matches?
Thanks to the information you've been given on this page, you're now ready to make your predictions for the Champions League 2024-2025.
Don't forget to study each match in-depth, based on the key statistics, and follow the best practices recommended by our experts.
Of course, you can also take the easy way out and benefit from the many free Champions League predictions offered by our specialists. 100% free of charge, they will enable you to place reliable bets without having to worry. Good luck to you!
Place your UCL bets at CaesarsOur Champions League Predictions of the Moment
There are no previews at the moment for this competition
All images in this article are from the IMAGO website.
Best odds to bet on UEFA Champions League (European Soccer)
Odds are not yet available for this competition.
