Expert Soccer Picks: UEFA Champions League Matchday 2, Top Games & Analysis

The new look Champions League tournament is underway, and with Matchday 1 in the books, we are seeing the two favorites sitting outside the top 8.

Real Madrid won their opening game, but are in 9th on goal difference, while Manchester City had to settle for a draw, which has them down in mid-table.

My Champions League Betting Analysis

Every team still has 7 games to play in the new format before we get to the knockout phase, so I am almost certain that both of those teams will find a way into the top 8 as opposed to being dragged into the playoff portion of the tournament.

That is a discussion for another day, though, as our focus in on Matchday 2, with all the games played over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Let’s pick a few games from each day to look at and make predictions for.

The early standings at the beginning of matchday 2 📊#UCL pic.twitter.com/vV65TiQ9ui

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 30, 2024

Arsenal vs PSG – Tuesday

For me, this is easily the best matchup of Matchday 2, as both of these teams are among the best in the tournament. Arsenal had a tough opening game, having to go on the road to face Atalanta, where they settled for a 0-0 draw.

Playing at home should suit them better, and they will still be on a high after winning 4-2 in the EPL this past weekend with a couple of late, late goals.

PSG is flying high in the early going of the new season, but they had to grind out a 1-0 home win over Girona in Matchday 1.

This should be a tight one, but I have the Gunners edging it.

Borussia Dortmund vs Celtic – Tuesday

Dortmund saw their Champions League campaign get out to a great start with a 3-0 win on the road against Club Brugge, and while they are at home on Tuesday night, this still figured to be a tougher affair.

Dortmund, though, is coming off a very solid weekend, beating Bochum 4-2 in the Bundesliga.

Scottish champions Celtic after off to a flying start in domestic competition, as well as in the Champions League.

They won 5-1 at home against Slovan Bratislava in Matchday 1 and have now outscored their opponents 21-3 in their last 5 games overall. Still, this is a much tougher ask for Celtic.

PSV Eindhoven vs Sporting CP – Tuesday

A loss in Matchday 1 is certainly not the end of the world, but losing the opening 2 games could prove to be much more damaging and may have some teams reaching for the panic button, depending of course on how the rest of their schedule looks.

Eindhoven are in that position after a tough opening game that saw them, not unexpectedly, lose 3-1 on the road to Juventus.

They are home this week, but they have another tough opponent to face. Sporting opened their Champions League campaign at home and made the most of it, beating Lille 2-0 in that one.

Over their last 5 games, Sporting has won all 5 and outscored the opposition 13-0, so they are in prime form at the moment.

Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich – Wednesday

Most fans would agree that getting out to a fast start in any competition is a good idea.

If that is indeed the case, then fans of both of these teams have reason to be very happy indeed.

Villa had what some would say was a bit of an easy entry into the tournament against Young Boys, a game that they ultimately won 3-0, but going on the road and getting a result in a major tournament is still a reason to celebrate.

They are, though, coming off a disappointing 2-2 road draw with Ipswich this past weekend, so they will be happy to get back home.

Bayern Munich is coming off a nightmare season and they are looking to make amends.

They are doing that in a big way, starting with a 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Matchday 1. This will be a much tougher proposition.

Lille vs Real Madrid – Wednesday

After starting the tournament with a 2-0 loss on the road to Sporting CP, Lille will be looking to get back on track, but this matchup does not seem to present much of an opportunity for them to do so.

They have done well since that Matchday 1 loss, though, picking up 4 points from 6 in Ligue 1, which included a 3-0 win over Le Havre this past weekend.

If truth be told, it has been something of a wobbly start for Real Madrid this season, but perhaps that is because the bar has been set very high by fans and pundits alike.

The reigning champions of Europe got their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 home win over VFB Stuttgart and will be looking for a similar type of performance here, which I think is what they will get.

RB Leipzig vs Juventus – Wednesday

With the current format of the Champions League, the reality is that the draw is going to favor some teams while crippling others.

RB Leipzig may fall into that Katter category, as they have a brutal start to their schedule.

They had to go on the road in their opening game, going down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid, and while they are back home for this one, it might actually be an even tougher game.

Leipzig is coming off a 4-0 win over Augsburg this past weekend, so perhaps that will serve as a boost.

Juventus has not been great to start the season and have had issues scoring goals, with a trio of 0-0 draws in their past 5 games.

They had no such issues in Matchday 1, though, beating PSV 3-1. I think this one will be tighter.

Odds to Win the Champions League 2024/25

• Manchester City +236
• Real Madrid +285
• Arsenal FC +840
• Bayern +930
• Barcelona +1125
• Liverpool FC +1125
• Leverkusen +1875
• PSG +1875
• Atletico Madrid +1900
• Inter +2300

Coming up this week 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/vUdiww9CEV

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 30, 2024

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