The UEFA Champions League is the ultimate club tournament in Europe – with the best teams, players, and managers from all over the continent. This is a tournament that’s unpredictable, filled with the very best talent, and is always chock-full of seriously dramatic moments. And it’s also one of the most exciting competitions for football bettors.
Whether you’re an experienced footie bettor or you’re just starting to get in on the action, you need to know the best types of bets to place – so you can get the best chance of winning.
Outright Winner Bet
When looking through the odds for Champions League betting, you’ll find that the most popular is the outright winner market. This essentially involves placing a bet on which team you think will lift the trophy at the end of the competition. Given the nature of the tournament, big teams can be knocked out early, while underdogs can always spring a surprise… which means that the odds fluctuate a lot throughout the season.
The Best Time to Make the Bet:
- Before the group stage: This is when you get better odds – but there is more risk because there’s less certainty.
- After the group stage: You’ll have a better idea of how each team is playing – and their potential pathway to the final.
- Before the final: If you think an underdog has a good chance, you can make the most of the longer odds.
Top Goal Scorer Market
Another exciting future bet is trying to predict who will be the top scorer in the tournament. Obviously, the shortest odds will always be on forwards like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, or Harry Kane, but there could be others worth checking out.
What to Consider:
- Team Performance: The further they progress in the tournament, the more opportunities they have to score.
- Group Stage Advantage: Forwards playing for teams facing weaker opposition in the group stage have a good chance to rack up goals early.
- Injury and Rotation Risks: The biggest clubs often rotate their squads, especially in an easier fixture, which can affect goal-scoring opportunities.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
The Champions League often usually has some of the sport’s most attacking football, so opting for the Both Teams to Score (BTTS) market could be a great choice. This bet will basically win if both teams score at least once in a match.
Best Matches for BTTS:
- Games that involve two attack-minded teams – like Manchester City, Barcelona, or Real Madrid.
- It’s a match where one of the teams needs to attack aggressively, like a second-leg knockout tie.
- Group stage matches where a weaker defense is facing a strong offense.
Over/Under Goals Market
Betting on the number of goals you think will be scored in a match is another excellent Champions League betting option, especially if you’re not sure about who will actually win the match. Generally, the standard line is Over/Under 2.5 Goals – but if you want to move the goalposts, you can also bet on alternatives like Over/Under 1.5 or even 3.5 goals.
When to Bet on Over 2.5 Goals:
- Games that have strong attacking teams but pretty weak defences.
- Knockout matches where there’s one team who needs to chase a result.
- Matches that are played in good weather conditions – as it generally leads to fast, open play.
When to Bet on Under 2.5 Goals:
- If there are tight, defensive matchups – especially in the first leg of a knockout round.
- Games with two defensive-minded teams, such as Atletico Madrid or Inter Milan.
- Matches where both teams have already qualified and may be taking it a bit easy.
Live Betting & In-Play Markets
Live betting lets you place your bets during the match – and take advantage of in-game action and developments the moment they happen.
Best Live Betting Strategies:
- Watch the first 10-15 minutes: And, if one team starts out aggressively you might want to bet on an early goal.
- Look for second-half comebacks: Strong teams often start off slow but dominate the match in the latter stages of the game.
- Take advantage of red cards or injuries: If a team is down to 10 men, it’s at a major disadvantage.
Are you ready to bet on the Champions League? Then it’s time to get betting!
