After a lengthy qualifying process in the early weeks of the season, the 32
teams that will compete in the League stage of the Champions League are known. They have been drawn into eight groups of four teams and over the next few months, they will play the other teams in their group home and away across six games to decide which two teams qualify for the Champions League Knockout stage in the New Year.
The third-place team in each group will drop into the Europa League in the New Year as a consolation prize, while the teams finishing at the foot of the table will see their European adventure end for the current season.
This season, Madrid will host the final at the brand new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, home of Atletico Madrid and it seems fitting that the home city of Real, who have won the tournament in four of the past five years, plus Atletico, twice beaten finalists by Real, should be the host this year.
Of course, both Madrid clubs will have one eye on the final with it being held in their home city but four English teams, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool will be hoping to become the first team from the UK to win the trophy since Chelsea in 2012. Similarly, the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund from Germany, France’s Paris St Germain and Italian giants Juventus will be amongst the genuine contenders this season.
Before we take a look at the games this week, let’s take a quick look at the odds for the teams in the Outright Winner market for the Champions League this season, provided by bet365 (you can sign up now using the latest bet365 Sport Welcome Bonus by following the link).
To Win the Champions League
*Odds correct as of 1.30pm on Monday 17th September 2018
As you can see, with just 10 of the 32 teams rated at odds of less than 50/1 to win the tournament, bet365 Sport feels that this selection of Europe’s elite teams are in with a chance of landing the trophy this season.
Manchester City are the 9/2 favourites with the other English teams rated at 12/1 for Liverpool, Tottenham at 20/1 and Manchester United at 28/1. For me, Liverpool and City are the class act here, although both do have somewhat tricky groups to progress through, as do Spurs and United to be fair.
I think Bayern Munich (10/1) have the simplest task in the group stage while Real Madrid (8/1) should also have little trouble making it out of their group. Atletico Madrid at 12/1 are intriguing with the added bonus of playing the final potentially at home. However, the two teams that have done this previously, AS Roma in 1984 and Bayern Munich in 2012, have both lost the finals to English clubs (Liverpool in 1984 and Chelsea in 2012).
For me, I think Barcelona at 6/1 are the solid bet here. They have a talented new manager and have kept the key personnel of their squad together. With Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack, they will pose any team a threat at home or on the road.
Champions League Fixtures – Matchday 1
Outlined below are the fixtures for the Champions League together with odds on the Full Time Result market as provided by bet365 Sport
*Odds correct as of 1.30pm on Monday 17th September 2018
Here is how we see each of the games going this week.
Tuesday 18th September (8pm Kick Off Unless Stated)
- Barcelona v PSV Eindhoven (5.55pm) – Home Win (1/9)
Probably the easiest pick of all Tuesday night’s games. Barcelona should go well in this competition this year and I think they will make the semifinals at the very least and could go all the way (see my tips above for the Outright winner market). PSV have started well in Holland, but they are not at Barca’s level and the Spanish side should win this one comfortably.
- Inter Milan v Tottenham (5.55pm) – Draw (9/4)
Neither of these big teams have made a great start to the season and both will know a poor result here could put them in real trouble in a very tough group. Inter have a good record at home against Spurs, but a poor one away but those matches were some time ago and the teams are very different now. Both teams will be keen to avoid a defeat here and as such, I think a draw will be the likely outcome.
- Club Brugge v Borussia Dortmund – Away Win (8/11)
Not an awful lot to say here. Brugge are a decent side from Belgium but they lack the quality that Dortmund have throughout their team. The German side have started the season pretty well and I think they will be confident of picking up three points on the road here.
- Schalke 04 v FC Porto – Draw (12/5)
Schalke have had a shocking start in the Bundesliga this season, losing all of their games so far whereas Porto have had a better start, but still have also lost a game unexpectedly at home. That said, I think Porto are the better side in terms of quality players and Schalke’s lack of form, but home advantage, means I have to go with this one ending in a draw.
- AS Monaco v Atletico Madrid- Away Win (3/4)
This Monaco team isn’t a patch on the team that went so far in this competition a few years ago. They have lost many players since then and I think Atletico have bought wisely, including Thomas Lemar from Monaco in the summer. I think the Frenchman will make a happy and winning return to his old club with his new one this week.
- Liverpool v Paris St Germain – Home Win (13/10)
Perhaps the biggest game in the Champions League this week takes place at Anfield as Liverpool take on Neymar, Mbappe and big spending PSG. The French side look unstoppable at home but have struggled away from home against top quality Champions League opponents and I can see them doing likewise here in what will be an incredible night at Anfield.
- Red Star Belgrade v Napoli – Away Win (4/9)
Napoli will know that they will need a win here against Belgrade with PSG and Liverpool making up the numbers in Group C but this is a tough ask for the Serie A side, who have had an indifferent start to the season so far. Belgrade is never easy but I think Napoli will do just enough to get the win, but it will be close.
- Galatasaray v Lokomotiv Moscow – Home Win (19/20)
Group D is one of the weakest in terms of quality with Schalke 04 and FC Porto also in the group and this is a big opportunity for one of the lesser lights to reach the knockout phase. Moscow’s appalling record away from home in Europe is such that I think Galatasaray, with their fervent support, will get the win here.
Wednesday 19th September (8pm Kick Off Unless Stated)
- Ajax v AEK Athens (5.55pm) – Home Win (2/5)
AEK Athens eliminated Celtic to reach this stage of the tournament and they’ll fancy their chances against a young Ajax side. However, I think that the Dutch side have better quality players than Celtic in most positions and home advantage will be key in them grabbing three points.
- Shakhtar Donetsk v Hoffenheim (5.55pm) – Home Win (Evens)
The other game in Manchester City’s group puts a Ukranian side against a German side, one very experienced in the Champions League, the other enjoying their first appearance in the group stages. Hoffenheim play some nice football but Donetsk is a strong side especially at home and I think they’ll get the win here.
- Real Madrid v AS Roma – Home Win (4/11)
Last year’s winners take on one of the losing semi-finalists in Madrid this week and for me this has a home win written large all over it. Real have started the season well, while Roma’s form has been a little indifferent and for me, this Roma side is weaker than last seasons. Real should win this one and win it comfortably.
- Valencia v Juventus – Away Win (17/20)
This should have been a really tough start for Juventus but while the Italians have started the season with four wins in a row, Valencia have struggled and are at the wrong end of the La Liga table. I still think they’ll give Juventus a real test here and push them hard but I think Ronaldo will be the difference between the two teams.
- Benfica v Bayern Munich – Away Win (4/9)
Benfica are not the force they once were in European football and while they are still relevant domestically, at the highest European level they frequently fall short. They’ll give Bayern a game though, but I am backing the German side to come away with a solid win.
- Viktoria Plzen v CSKA Moscow – Home Win (11/8)
Two of the lesser lights meet in the Czech Republic this week and although CSKA are the experienced and form team, I think Plzen’s superb performances in the Europa League last season and in qualifying for the Champions League this, should not be overlooked. I’m going for the home side to pinch an unexpected win.
- Manchester City v Lyon – Home Win (2/11)
Manchester City are the favourites to win this trophy this season and Pep Guardiola’s expensively-assembled team have started the season very well. Lyon will pose a real threat on the counter, but for me City are playing some fabulous football already this season and at home, they look almost unbeatable. They should win this one and win it comfortably.
- Young Boys v Manchester United – Away Win (8/11)
Young Boys have started the season well in Switzerland but they won’t have faced a team with the quality of Manchester United this season as yet. United recovered well to win their last two away games at Burnley and Watford and I think they’ll continue that with a stoic and solid performance to get the win here.
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