Champions League Matchday 1: Best Bets & Expert Picks

If you have been impatiently waiting for the start of the new version of the Champions League, the great news is that the wait is now over.

The new format now sees 36 teams playing in a single league, with each team playing 8 games (4 home and 4 away).

My Champions League Betting Analysis

The top 8 teams will automatically move on to the Round of 16, while teams 9 through 24 will go into a two-leg playoff to make up the remaining 8 spots.

While some are unhappy with the extra games added to an already busy schedule, there are plenty more who are very excited to see how the new setup plays out.

Matchday 1 is split over 2 days, Tuesday and Wednesday, so let’s pick the best 2 games from each day, with betting predictions for each.

Tuesday ✅
Wednesday ✅
Thursday ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/6u34blOYBa
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 16, 2024

Champions League Tuesday

AC Milan vs Liverpool

If you are judged on your previous game, then there is a chance that Liverpool might be in some trouble here.

They have looked very good through their opening 3 games of the season, failing to concede a goal while winning all 3.

They took an unlikely loss to Nottingham Forest over the weekend, while Milan was rolling to a 4-0 win over Venezia.

In fairness, that was an expected result for a Milan team that has been up and down in the early going.

I still think Liverpool has to be the favorite here.

Champions League Pick: AC Milan 1-2 Liverpool

Real Madrid vs VFB Stuttgart

The defending champions will open their defense of the Champions League with a home game against Stuttgart.

They are beginning to round into form in LaLiga and are coming off back-to-back 2-0 wins in league play.

Stuttgart is sitting mid-table in the Bundesliga, but they have been very good of late, winning 2 in a row and outscoring the opposition 7-2 in the progress.

This, though, is a much tougher ask for the road team and I think they might be onto a beating here.

Champions League Pick: Real Madrid 3-1 VFB Stuttgart

Wednesday to Win in the Champions League

Manchester City vs Inter

Manchester City are back in their usual spot atop the Premier League after the first 4 games of the season, with Erling Haaland on an absolute tear.

They are going to be tough to stop in the attacking zone but Inter might well be the team to slow them down a little.

Inter has scored 6 times in their last 2 games and did not surrender a single goal in those outings.

That said, going on the road to face one of the best teams in Europe is not the way most teams would want to open their Champions League campaign.

Champions League Pick: Manchester City 2-0 Inter

PSG vs Girona

With Kylian Mbappe leaving Paris to head to Real Madrid in the offseason, there may have been some concerns about how PSG might fill that gap.

There have been zero issues to this point, though, with PSG winning all 4 of their Ligue 1 games to this point and outscoring the opposition 16-3 in the process.

Girona is going to need to find a way to block out their game this weekend, as they went down 4-1 at home to Barcelona.

Unfortunately, I think they could be in trouble again here.

Champions League Pick: PSG 3-0 Girona

Odds to Win the Champions League 2024/25

Manchester City +210
Real Madrid +350
Arsenal FC +800
Bayern +1200
Barcelona +1225
Liverpool FC +1375
PSG +1975
Inter +2400
Leverkusen +2500
Atletico Madrid +2500

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2023 UCL – Matchday 1 Games

The 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League Group Stage kicks off on Tuesday with an excellent slate of games. Our top picks start with a massive early afternoon matchup between AC Milan and Newcastle.

Then later in the day, Barcelona tackles Antwerp, Lazio battles Atletico, and in what promises to be one of the week’s most competitive matches, Paris Saint-Germain hosts Dortmund.

Check out UEFA Champions League odds, analysis, and free picks for six of Tuesday’s best games.

UEFA Champions League Odds for Group Stage Matchday 1 Games | MyBookie Soccer Preview

2023–24 UEFA Champions League | 69th season of Europe’s premier club football tournament
Matchday 1 : September 19th – September 20th, 2023

AC Milan vs Newcastle United

UCL Odds: AC Milan +165; Newcastle United +160
Tuesday, September 19th at 12:45 pm ET
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain

Slight home underdog AC Milan had been motoring along until their last. AC battled historical rival Internazionale at Guiseppe Meazza this weekend. It didn’t turn out well for Milan. Inter dusted the home team in this 5-1.

Newcastle broke a 3-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Brentford in their last. Although Newcastle’s form may be turning for the better, this happens at the Guisseppe Meazza, AC’s home pitch. Milan wins the first leg.

Champions League Soccer Pick: Barcelona -2.5 | Bet AC Milan vs Newcastle United
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Barcelona vs Antwerp

UCL Odds: Barcelona -2.5 +124; Antwerp +2.5 -158
Tuesday, September 19th at 3:00 pm ET
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain

Antwerp is one of the best teams in the Belgium League. But just because Antwerp dominates their league opponents, it doesn’t mean they have a real shot versus a quality squad like Barcelona.

Barca heads into this after throttling rival Betis 5-0. Barcelona is hitting their stride. Because this happens on the favorite’s pitch, covering the -2.5 handicap line should happen.

Champions League Soccer Pick: Barcelona -2.5 | Bet Barcelona vs Antwerpe
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Lazio vs Atletico Madrid

UCL Odds: Lazio +191; Atletico Madrid +151
Tuesday, September 19th at 3:00 pm ET
Olimpico, Roma, Italy

Lazio has won 1-of-3. The win came against rival Napoli on Sep 2. After beating Napoli, Lazio faced Juventus in Turin. The home team in this failed big time, losing 3-1.

Atletico lost to Valencia in a major upset in the last. But before falling to Valencia, Atletico had won 3-of-4 with a draw. The LaLiga squad gets back on the winning track.

Champions League Soccer Pick: Atletico Madrid | Bet Manchester City vs Red Star Belgrade
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Manchester City vs Red Star Belgrade

UCL Odds: Manchester City -2.5 -168; Red Star Belgrade +2.5 +131
Tuesday, September 19th at 3:00 pm ET
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

In a club friendly versus Fenerbahçe in their last, Red Star dominated, beating their opponent 3-1. However, the victory won’t set Red Star up to perform well enough versus the Sky Blues to keep this close.

Manchester City has gotten it together. In their last couple of matches, City has dusted Fulham 5-1 and West Ham 3-1. The home team scores a handicap line victory.

Champions League Soccer Pick: Manchester City -2.5 | Bet Manchester City vs Red Star Belgrade
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund

UCL Odds: Paris Saint-Germain -130; Borussia Dortmund +320
Tuesday, September 19th at 3:00 pm ET
Parc des Princes, Paris, France

PSG has the edge because this is on their home pitch. But Dortmund offers overlay odds and is in good form when winning 3-of-5 with a couple of draws. Backing the dog makes sense.

Champions League Soccer Pick: Dortmund | Bet Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Port

UCL Odds: Shakhtar Donetsk +330; FC Porto -128
Tuesday, September 19th at 3:00 pm ET
Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany

Porto has won 4-of-5 with a draw. Not only is Porto playing well, but the Portuguese Liga squad often steps it up during the Champions League Group Stage.

Shakhtar Donetsk has lost 4-of-5 with a draw. Donetsk fell to Tottenham 5-1 in a club friendly in their last. Porto offers fair odds to get the win.

Champions League Soccer Pick: Porto | Bet Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Porto
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

2023/24 Champions League Group Stages

When are the Champions League group stage matches?

Matchday 1: 19/20 September 2023
Matchday 2: 3/4 October 2023
Matchday 3: 24/25 October 2023
Matchday 4: 7/8 November 2023
Matchday 5: 28/29 November 2023
Matchday 6: 12/13 December 2023

When do the 2023/24 knockout stages of the Champions League start?

Round of 16: 13/14/20/21 February and 5/6/12/13 March 2024
Quarter-finals: 9/10 and 16/17 April 2024
Semi-finals: 30 April/1 May and 7/8 May 2024
Final: 1 June 2024

2023 UEFA Champions League Schedule

Date	Time	Round	Home	Away
September 19	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 1	AC Milan	vs.	Newcastle United
September 19	12:45 p.m.	Matchday 1	Young Boys	vs.	RB Leipzig
September 19	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 1	Barcelona	vs.	Antwerp
September 19	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 1	Feyenoord Rotterdam	vs.	Celtic
September 19	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 1	Lazio	vs.	Atletico Madrid
September 19	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 1	Manchester City	vs.	Red Star Belgrade
September 19	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 1	Paris Saint-Germain	vs.	Borussia Dortmund
September 19	3:00 p.m.	Matchday 1	Shakhtar Donetsk	vs.	FC Porto
Bet 2023 UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 Lines