Champions League Betting Tips - Matchday 1

Sporting vs LOSC

Sporting CP held on to their highly-rated coach and almost all of their key players this summer, which could make them a dangerous outsider in this expanded competition.

Ruben Amorim’s side have begun the campaign in excellent form, winning all five of their league matches with a bucket load of goals.

The Lions currently average over three goals per game and their defensive record is just as impressive with only two goals conceded so far this term.

Home advantage tends to be crucial for Portuguese teams and, with Sporting having not last at home in over 11 months, Lille’s chances of an upset look limited.

The French club are really struggling at the moment with three consecutive defeats leading up to this Lisbon trip, including a dismal 1-0 defat at Saint Etienne last weekend.

Les Dogues’ inconsistent Ligue 1 output may be partly due to injuries and they look likely to be made to suffer again on their Champions League return.

SPORTING CP TO BEAT LILLE

Real Madrid vs Stuttgart

Real Madrid begin their quest for a record-extending 16th European crown with a home clash against Stuttgart that promises to be full of goals.

Die Roten’s matches this season have been characteristically high-scoring encounters, with at least four goals in each of their five games across all competitions.

Sebastian Hoeness’ men have demonstrated their attacking prowess by netting two or more goals in four of those contests.

But Stuttgart's defensive vulnerabilities have also been exposed by lesser sides than Real and there is little chance that they can keep an attack augmented by Kylian Mbappe in the off-season quiet for long.

Against defensively-minded opponents, Los Blancos have still found ways to score at least two goals in both of their home fixtures this season.

What they may do to a team that naturally likes to attack is anyone’s guess, but Stuttgart also have the capacity to catch out defenders who are more used to supplementing Madrid’s attacks, hence the suggestion that over 3.5 goals will be scored in the game.

OVER 3.5 GOALS

Brugge vs Dortmund

Beaten finalists last season, Borussia Dortmund look capable of kicking off their league phase fixtures with three points against an out-of-sorts Club Brugge on Wednesday,

New boss Nuri Sahin has already been getting a tune out of a young squad with Dortmund collecting seven points from their first three Bundesliga matches.

Their away form in last year's Champions League was particularly noteworthy, with victories gained in challenging places such as Paris, Milan, and Newcastle.

Club Brugge have made a less convincing start to their domestic season. Although they sit top of the First Division A table, Blauw-Zwart have already sustained two defeats in their opening seven league games.

A 1-1 home draw against Mechelen, who finished eighth last season, was another sign that Jan Breydel Stadium is no longer the fortress it once was .

Given the disparity in recent form and European pedigree, Dortmund should be able to assert their superiority in this away fixture.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND TO BEAT CLUB BRUGGE

Man City vs Inter Milan

Despite some surprising defensive lapses, which has seen them concede first in three matches this season, Manchester City remain as dependable as ever when it comes to churning out results.

The ability of Pep Guardiola’s side to quickly regain control and turn games around has become a hallmark of their early-season performances.

The Premier League champions’ perfect record this season makes them deserved favourites to secure victory at home to Inter Milan. 

The Nerazzurri, last season's Serie A champions, have had a mixed start to their 2024/25 campaign. 

With two wins and two draws from their opening four matches, they've shown some inconsistency, particularly in away games. 

But their attacking capabilities remain strong, with Simone Inzaghi’s side having scored nine goals in these four matches.

Given City's recent defensive vulnerabilities and Inter's scoring prowess, Wednesday’s clash promises to be an exciting, high-scoring affair with the potential for goals at both ends of the pitch.

However, City have won 21 of their last 23 home Champions League matches and of the other two, that were both drawn, one of them was the second leg of a tie against Sporting which was already won from the first match in Portugal.

They are impossible to oppose right now and should secure a victory even if Inter do grab a goal in Manchester.

MANCHESTER CITY TO BEAT INTER MILAN & OVER 2.5 GOALS

Atletico Madrid vs Leipzig

Thursday’s six games are probably the most balanced of the lot with none of the 12 teams in action shorter than around 3/4 for victory.

Atletico Madrid are favoured to beat RB Leipzig at Estadio Metropolitano, but the in-form German side have the potential to secure at least a draw.

Leipzig's strong start to the Bundesliga season has seen them accumulate seven points from their first three matches.

Their impressive 3-2 away victory against reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen showcased the potential that they have when up against very good teams on the road.

A potent attacking trio of Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons will present a greater threat to Atleti's defence than it has yet faced this season.

The Rojiblancos’ recent Champions League performances have been mixed. While they managed to overcome Inter Milan on penalties in last season's round of 16, they subsequently fell to Dortmund in a high-scoring quarter-final, losing 5-4 on aggregate.

Given Leipzig's current form and Atleti's recent European results, backing Leipzig to win or draw at even odds in the double-chance market appears to be a reasonable wager.

RB LEIPZIG TO WIN OR DRAW VS ATLETICO MADRID