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