UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 Expert Tips & Predictions

The 2025-26 Champions League season gets under way fully this week, with the top 36 sides in Europe ready to do battle.

PSG were the dominant winners of their first European title last term, and the Parisians will be out to defend their crown this season.

The usual big hitters of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool will be assembling in pursuit of another European crown, as will the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and Inter Milan.

With sides from across the continent in the mix, it should be a fascinating few weeks of European football and the stakes are sky high from the off.

Here are our Champions League tips for the opening round of group stage fixtures in the 2025/26:

Champions League Matchday 1 Predictions

—

Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal

Betting Tip: Arsenal to win the match @ $1.95

BET NOW

Athletic Bilbao ($4.40)

Arsenal ($1.95)

Draw ($3.55)

The wait for a first European title rumbles on for Arsenal and the Gunners will want to get things off to a good start here in the Basque region. Athletic Bilbao are a side with plenty of fire power, and they will pose some problems for the Gunners, but Mikel Arteta’s side should come out on top in this one.

Arsenal to win 2-1

—

PSV Eindhoven vs Union St Gilloise

Betting Tip: PSV Eindhoven to win the match @ $1.85

BET NOW

PSV ($1.85)

Union St Gilloise ($4.50)

Draw ($4.00)

Belgian side Union St Gilloise have broken new ground in reaching the Champions League and they begin with a tough looking trip to neighbours PSV Eindhoven. This should be a good one in the Netherlands and PSV look well placed to get off to a winning start.

PSV Eindhoven to win 3-1

—

Benfica vs FK Qarabag

Betting Tip: Benfica to win the match @ $1.22

BET NOW

Benfica ($1.22)

FK Qarabag ($16.50)

Draw ($7.00)

Portuguese giants Benfica had to work hard to reach the first round proper of the Champions League, and they open up against FK Qarabag. This feels like a bit of a mismatch on paper and while Qarabag won’t roll over, Benfica should get the job done here.

Benfica to win 3-0

—

Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $3.70

BET NOW

Juventus ($2.05)

Borussia Dortmund ($3.80)

Draw ($3.70)

Two European giants meet in this one, as Juventus host Borussia Dortmund. Both sides have a long history of success in this competition, and they will be desperate to rattle into each other here, with a draw feeling the most likely outcome.

1-1 Draw

—

Real Madrid vs Marseille

Betting Tip: Real Madrid to win the match @ $1.36

BET NOW

Real Madrid ($1.36)

Marseille ($8.50)

Draw ($5.80)

Perennial Champions League winners Real Madrid will be eager to taste European glory again this season and they begin against Marseille. The French side are well drilled and won’t fear visiting the Spanish capital, but Xabi Alonso’s side should be too good here.

Real Madrid to win 3-1

—

Tottenham vs Villareal

Betting Tip: Tottenham to win the match @ $1.91

BET NOW

Tottenham ($1.91)

Villareal ($4.35)

Draw ($3.80)

Tottenham return to the Champions League big time as they open up their UCL campaign against Villareal. Spurs are a side brimming with confidence under Thomas Frank, and they should have the resources to overcome Villareal in this one.

Tottenham to win 2-1

—

Olympiakos vs Paphos FC

Betting Tip: Olympiakos to win the match @ $1.48

BET NOW

Olympiakos ($1.48)

Paphos FC ($8.50)

Draw ($4.65)

This one between Greek side Olympiakos and Cypriot outfit Paphos FC should be a cracker, with plenty at stake for both of them. This shouldn’t be as one sided as the odds suggest but Olympiakos could have the UCL knowhow to get the job done.

Olympiakos to win 2-1

—

Slavia Prague vs Bodo Glimt

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $4.10

BET NOW

Slavia Prague ($1.90)

Bodo Glimt ($4.00)

Draw ($4.10)

Norwegian side Bodo Glimt have made a habit of upsetting the established order in European football and they could do the same here against Slavia Prague. This should be a good game, with neither side really accustomed to the rigours of Champions League football and a draw could be on the cards.

1-1 Draw

—

Ajax vs Inter Milan

Betting Tip: Inter Milan to win the match @ $1.91

BET NOW

Ajax ($4.00)

Inter Milan ($1.91)

Draw ($3.90)

Two more European behemoths meet in this one as Ajax host Inter Milan. The Dutch side are back in the Champions League big time following a couple of seasons away but Inter Milan have reached the final in two of the last 3 seasons and should begin with a win.

Inter Milan to win 2-1

—

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $4.40

BET NOW

Bayern Munich ($1.70)

Chelsea ($5.10)

Draw ($4.40)

Bayern Munich host Chelsea in what promises to be one of the games of the round on match day one. Bayern are a side going places under Vincent Kompany and they will be bang up for this, but Chelsea could leave Bavaria with a point.

1-1 Draw

—

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

Betting Tip: Liverpool to win the match @ $1.60

BET NOW

Liverpool ($1.60)

Atletico Madrid ($5.50)

Draw ($4.60)

Premier League champions Liverpool have been the dominant force in English football over the past 12 months, and they should keep their good run of form going here. Atletico Madrid are never easy to beat but Liverpool are imperious at home currently.

Liverpool to win 3-0

—

PSG vs Atalanta

Betting Tip: PSG to win the match @ $1.50

BET NOW

PSG ($1.50)

Atalanta ($7.00)

Draw ($5.00)

Defending champions PSG get their 2025/26 UCL campaign underway against Atalanta. The Parisians look to be firmly amongst the favourites for the title again this season but will need to be wary against this dangerous Atalanta side. That said, a home win feels likely in this one.

PSG to win 2-1

—

Club Brugge vs Monaco

Betting Tip: The match to finish as a draw @ $3.75

BET NOW

Club Brugge ($2.75)

Monaco ($2.50)

Draw ($3.75)

Club Brugge and Monaco meet here, with both sides eying up a spot inside the top 24 at the end of the league stage. Both teams enjoyed decent UCL campaigns last time around and they look well matched, making the draw the prediction.

2-2 Draw

—

FC Copenhagen vs Bayer Leverkusen

Betting Tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win the match @ $2.20

BET NOW

FC Copenhagen ($3.50)

Bayer Leverkusen ($2.20)

Draw ($3.60)

Danish side FC Copenhagen will be chasing an early scalp, as they host Bayer Leverkusen. The German giants have endured a poor start to the campaign, with manager Erik ten Hag shown the door but they look ready to turn things around, starting here in the Danish capital.

Bayer Leverkusen to win 3-1

—

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Galatasaray

Betting Tip: Eintracht Frankfurt to win the match @ $2.10

BET NOW

Eintracht Frankfurt ($2.10)

Galatasaray ($3.40)

Draw ($3.95)

Eintracht Frankfurt find themselves back in the Champions League big time and they open up against Turkish giants Galatasaray. Both sides have recruited well during the summer, but the Germans could perhaps have too much in the tank for Galatasaray here.

Eintracht Frankfurt to win 2-1

—

Manchester City vs Napoli

Betting Tip: Napoli to win the match @ $5.50

BET NOW

Manchester City ($1.70)

Napoli ($5.50)

Draw ($4.10)

Another bumper tie lies in wait here, as Manchester City take on Napoli. The return of Kevin de Bruyne to the Etihad will be the headline act and the side from Southern Italy could have too much about them for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Napoli to win 4-2

—

Newcastle United vs Barcelona

Betting Tip: Barcelona to win the match @ $2.15

BET NOW

Newcastle United ($3.30)

Barcelona ($2.15)

Draw ($4.00)

St James’s Park will be rocking for this one, as Toon host Barcelona. Newcastle have been struggling in the Premier League so far this term and while the atmosphere will be super-charged, Barcelona should have too much in reserve for them in this one.

Barcelona to win 3-1

—

Sporting Lisbon vs Kairat Almaty

Betting Tip: Sporting Lisbon to win the match @ $1.10

BET NOW

Sporting Lisbon ($1.10)

Kairat Almaty ($38.00)

Draw ($12.00)

Sporting Lisbon have been handed a plum home tie to get their campaign under way, as the take on Kairat Almaty. The Kazakhstani side have performed miracles to be playing in their Champions League debut, but Sporting should have way too much for them here.

Sporting Lisbon to win 5-0

—

2025/26 Champions League MD1 multi bet

We’re backing four results on MD1, as an accumulator with a betting stake of $50:

Ajax vs Inter Milan – Inter Milan
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid – Liverpool
PSG vs Atalanta – PSG
PSV vs Union Saint Gilloise – PSV

Inter Milan, Liverpool, PSG & PSV @ $7.30

Bet Now

Sports Writer

Sam Hayes

Combining his sports coaching career with freelance journalism, Sam is a sports betting writer for various online publications.

He is looking to develop both his respective coaching and writing careers, whilst incorporating his other huge passion - travelling the world.

Sam currently lives and works in Milan, Italy and playing/following/writing about cricket, football (soccer), tennis, formula 1 and golf continue to take up much of his spare time.