UCL 25/26 Favorites & Contenders
The spotlight shines on Paris Saint-Germain, who finally broke their Champions League curse last season. With Kylian Mbappé gone, PSG have shifted toward a more balanced unit, but the attacking firepower remains elite under Luis Enrique. The Parisians will be tested from the start, yet their consistency in high-tempo games makes them the bookies’ favorite.
Barcelona enter this campaign with a revitalized core of young talent led by Lamine Yamal and Gavi, coupled with veteran leadership. The Catalans are seen as genuine title challengers again after several seasons of early exits. Meanwhile, Liverpool look like the Premier League’s best shot at reclaiming Europe’s crown. Arne Slot’s men possess the depth and energy to outlast rivals, especially with Mohamed Salah’s relentless scoring.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid can never be written off. Even with squad transitions, their Champions League DNA ensures they are perennial contenders. Bayern Munich and Chelsea also remain near the top of futures markets, with Bayern banking on Harry Kane’s goalscoring and Chelsea investing heavily in squad depth. Manchester City and Arsenal might not enter as clear favorites this year, but both sides have the attacking quality to upset expectations.
Dark Horses & Potential Surprises
This edition offers fresh intrigue with clubs outside the traditional elite. Marseille are touted as a true sleeper, boasting a squad capable of punching above its weight in Europe. Bettors see value in backing them for a top-eight finish.
Debutants like Union Saint-Gilloise, Bodø/Glimt, and Pafos carry the romantic charm of underdogs who could spring surprises. Union SG in particular have shown resilience in European competition and could frustrate more glamorous sides. Bodø/Glimt’s attacking intensity has already troubled major clubs in the Europa League, and now they get a chance to test themselves at the highest stage. Of course, none of these teams are contenders for the trophy, but a deep run in the knockout phase is not off the books for them.
These emerging teams add unpredictability and open markets beyond the heavyweights. For punters, backing these sides in goal or corner markets could be fruitful given their fearless styles.
Key Storylines & Matchups
High-profile clashes light up the early schedule. Real Madrid vs. Liverpool promises fireworks, as two of the most technically complete teams in the world collide. Manchester City’s duel with Napoli will offer both a clash of styles and a great reception for Kevin de Bruyne, while Newcastle hosting Barcelona represents both a glamour tie and a major test for Newcastle in their European resurgence.
Newcastle’s return to the Champions League is itself a storyline. Playing the likes of Barcelona at St. James’ Park, and PSG away, adds an emotional edge, while their newfound resources make them dangerous opponents. Meanwhile, the spread of clubs from across Europe, such as Kairat of Kazakhstan or Bodø/Glimt of Norway, illustrates the competition’s expanding reach.
25/26 Champions League Betting Outlook
Outright markets lean toward PSG, Barcelona, and Liverpool, but there is plenty of value beyond the obvious. Teams like Marseille, Union SG, or even Olympiacos could be profitable dark-horse bets, particularly in “to qualify” or “stage of elimination” markets.
For individual fixtures, bettors should target unders in matches involving defensively sound teams like Juventus or Real Madrid, while overs appeal in clashes featuring Liverpool, PSG, or Bodø/Glimt. The early rounds in particular could deliver high-scoring thrillers as underdogs look to make statements.
The financial stakes are immense, with UEFA distributing nearly €2.5 billion in prize money. Clubs that progress deep can earn close to €200 million, which increases competitive urgency and influences betting value throughout the season.
The 2025/26 Champions League blends tradition with novelty. PSG’s quest to defend their crown, the return of Barcelona and Liverpool as major contenders, and the emergence of bold newcomers all set the stage for one of the most unpredictable editions in recent memory. For fans and bettors alike, this season promises drama, goals, and narratives that could reshape Europe’s football hierarchy.
Champions League Betting Experts
If you are looking for betting experts for the best football league in the world, you are at the right place. At bettingexpert, you can find predictions for all CL matches in the new format, table, match info, and odds all in one place. Most of the games will have match previews, so you can see what’s happening between the teams and how you can use the data to your advantage. You can also find league stats regarding goals in the whole match, first/second half goals, betting markets like both teams to score, goals per minute, etc.
Champions League Betting Stats
Statistics for the Champions League are different compared to top leagues like the Bundesliga or Premier League because there are more variables you need to take into notice. Only a few teams are constantly playing in the championship which means that the goal stats will depend on who will join the CL from other leagues. This is why it would be best to look only at last year’s statistics because it’s most relevant.
Champions League FC Bayern – Harry Kane ( Muenchen ) Foto: Revierfoto
CL – Average Goal Stats
The top teams with the most goals per match will always be the lowest-ranked teams because they concede a lot of goals per match and then you can find teams like Barcelona, Liverpool, RB Leipzig and others that are top-tier. When it comes to the CL as a whole, we had over 2 goals in 83.2% of the time and over 3 goals in 51.2%. The numbers are lower compared to other seasons which can’t be said for league matches.
| Goal Stats | 0.5+ | 1.5+ | 2.5+ | 3.5+ |
|---|
| League Average | 93.6% | 83.2% | 51.2% | 31.2% |
CL – Both Teams To Score
One of the ways to see if there are clear favourites in the championship is to check the BTTS stats. For the last season, we had BTTS in 12% of the matches. This year, the number is even lower which can also mean that there aren’t enough goals being scored. This is also the reason why you should check multiple stats and then make a decision. More goals per match but fewer “both teams to score” matches means that we usually had a clear favourite.
CL – Half-Time Stats
There were some matches with a lot of goals in the first half which has one of the best odds, especially for the Champions League predictions. In more than 15% of the matches, we had over 2 goals scored. Over one goal was one of the best tips you could play on and it happened in 38.4% of the matches.
| Half-Time Goals | 0.5+ | 1.5+ | 2.5+ |
|---|
| League Average | 70.4% | 38.4% | 15.2% |
CL – Goals Per Minutes
Nowadays, matches start very slow except for some German teams that don’t calculate too much and just want to score more. Only 11.2% of the goals are scored in the first 15 minutes and last-minute goals are still the most popular which happens in 22.3% of the cases. We had 40 more goals in the second half which is 208 for the season.
Champions League Format Key Changes
Key changes include:
- Single League Phase: All 36 teams will be ranked together in a single league table.
- Eight Matches: Each team will play eight matches in this league phase, facing eight different opponents (four at home and four away).
- Seeding Pots: Teams will be initially ranked in four seeding pots. Each team will play two opponents from each pot.
- Diverse Opponents: This system ensures that teams will encounter a broader range of opponents, enhancing competition and offering fans more high-profile matchups earlier in the tournament.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya/(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Champions League Tips
One thing that is different this season compared to the last one is that we have more goals considering that every top team will have at least a couple of matches with a lower-ranked club. Sometimes it will bring unexpected outcomes, but at least you can enjoy more beautiful goals. When it comes to betting tips, here are a few that you can use when betting on the Champions League:
- Teams are more reserved when they have a hard encounter in CL. Matches in domestic leagues result in less goals because of this.
- The new format came with more surprises for bettors since meats are always playing against a different team instead of standard home/away matches against 1 team. There’s a higher chance of Both Team to Score since they need to analyse each opponent from scratch.
- The more into the season we go the fewer goals we will see. If betting on goals is your thing, the first 8 matchdays are the best options.
Champions League Past Winners
Real Madrid showed grit last season as they managed to capture their 14 Champions League trophy. They managed to improve their ranking on AC Milan (seven titles) and showed that they are absolute specialists when it comes to this competition.
2024/25Paris Saint Germain
| Season | Winner |
|---|
| 2024/25 | Paris Saint Germain |
| 2023/24 | Real Madrid |
| 2022/23 | Manchester City |
| 2021/22 | Real Madrid |
| 2020/21 | Chelsea |
| 2019/20 | Bayern Munich |
Champions League Top Goalscorers
To get the best out of our Champions League predictions, we also turn to some of the best individual performances that certain players have had in previous years.
| Season | Best Goalscorer | Club | Goals |
|---|
| 2024/25 | Rapinha/Serhou Guirassy | Barcelona/Borussia Dortmund | 13 |
| 2023/24 | Harry Kane/Kylian Mbappe | Bayern/PSG | 8 |
| 2022/23 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | >12 |
| 2021/22 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 15 |
| 2020/21 | Erling Haaland | Borussia Dortmund | 10 |
| 2019/20 | Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 15 |
| 2018/19 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 12 |
⚽ Bookmakers for Champions League Betting
Finding the right bookmaker for your Champions League betting is about more than just odds—it’s about the overall experience. Look for a bookmaker that offers a wide range of odds, diverse betting markets, in-play betting options, and exciting promotions.
Here, you can explore various Champions League offers to find the one that fits your preferences. Take your time to evaluate each option and choose the bookmaker that enhances your betting experience.
🔥 Why These Bookmakers?
Our reviews focus on top-rated bookmakers offering competitive odds, exclusive Champions League promotions, and a seamless betting experience.
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Star ratings are based on our personal opinion of the bookmakers we work with. Customer feedback also influences our rankings.
Europa League Betting Tips
Conference League Betting Tips
