Best Tips For Betting on the Champions League

The fundamentals require you to follow the same logic and thought process as normal soccer betting. However, if you want to elevate your betting knowledge even further, we are providing you with some advanced tips. 

Betting on the Champions League is incredibly difficult. Quite often, we can see a lot of surprises. European soccer is a lot different to domestic soccer. Therefore, we are supplying you with everything you need to wager on the Champions League this week and beyond! 

For those new to soccer betting, here’s a simple guide on How to Bet on Soccer to get you started.

What is the Champions League? 

Formerly known as the European Cup, the Champions League is run by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and features the top teams across Europe’s soccer leagues. 

The best of the best come together to face off in a separate competition away from their weekly league domestic games. Teams from lower-quality leagues will have to battle it out in preliminary qualifying matches in order to reach the group stage. 

However, champions and runners-up from the major leagues such as the English Premier League, Ligue 1, La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A achieve automatic qualification into the group stage. 

The group stage then features eight groups of four, with the top-two teams in each group qualifying for the knockout rounds. The group stage for the 2023-24 season was completed before the new year. 

This week signals the start of the knockout rounds. The first knockout round is known as the Round of 16. The remaining 16 teams will compete in two-legged ties to advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and then eventually the final. The final is played over just one matchup. 

So, now that you know what the competition is and how it works, we’re ready now to give you the best tips for betting on the Champions League!

Best Tips For Betting on the Champions League

If you don’t already know the basics of betting on soccer, then I advise you to read our guide first before learning this gambling technique. 

Equally, we have a weekly European soccer report that you should take a look at too. In there, we provide you with updated analysis and the most recent news that you need to know before placing your soccer bets. Last week, we focused on Bundesliga totals. 

The Round of 16 gets underway on Tuesday with two games on the schedule. A further two games will then play out on Wednesday. There are plenty of opportunities for betting on the Champions League over the next couple of months. Therefore, now is the perfect time to find out just how to do it! 

Betting on the Champions League – Check Past Form 

Analyzing a team’s recent form is common practice before wagering on any sport, and that should continue to happen when betting on the Champions League. Teams that are on a hot streak are more than likely to win. Of course, bettors should check the recent form of teams in their respective domestic leagues before placing their Champions League picks. 

Although rosters and personnel change from year-to-year, there are just some teams that seem to perform better in the Champions League than others. Meanwhile, there are other exceptionally strong teams that buckle under the pressure. 

Take Paris Saint-Germain for example. They have dominated Ligue 1 for the past decade, winning the title in nine of their last 11 attempts. They have gotten out of the Champions League group stage in 12 consecutive seasons too. However, when it comes to the knockouts, they have crumbled. 

The French side have failed to get past the last 16 in back-to-back seasons, and have only advanced past the first knockout round twice over the last eight years. They have still never won either the European Cup or Champions League throughout their history. 

In contrast, let’s take a look at Liverpool. Although the Premier League is a lot more competitive than Ligue 1, they have just one Premier League title to their name. However, they have managed to reach the final of the Champions League three times over the past six seasons, lifting the trophy once. The Reds have won the competition a total of six times throughout their history, and seem to perform better in the Champions League. 

Betting on the Champions League – Back Historic Winners

Similarly to our last section, there are some teams across Europe that just know how to get it done when it comes to the Champions League. Liverpool are a good example, but Spanish side Real Madrid consistently perform well. 

The Spanish giants have won the tournament a record 14 times, and have dominated the competition over the last decade. Los Blancos lifted the Champions League trophy four times in five seasons across 2014-2018, winning it on three successive occasions in the process. 

Despite winning the Champions League just once over the past five seasons, they have still managed to qualify for the knockout rounds at every single attempt. They have also reached the semi-finals in each of their last three seasons. When it comes to betting on the Champions League, it would be daft not to back Real Madrid. 

Betting on the Champions League – Follow Nation Trends

With the best teams across the major European leagues changing each year, it may be a better idea to examine nation trends when it comes to betting on the Champions League. 

We know that teams like Real Madrid and Liverpool are two top teams to consider. However, there are some nations that seem to perform better in Europe’s elite club competition. This is because the overall quality of club teams in these countries is usually of a higher standard. 

Over the last 10 years, a team from Spain has won the competition on six separate occasions. That is then followed by England (three times), and Germany (once). Spain has also had two runners-up in that time. English teams have done well, too, with there being four runners-up from the Premier League over the past 10 seasons. Italy has had two, with France having just one. 

As you can see, the most recent trends would indicate that teams from either England or Spain have the best chance of success. It may be a good idea to look at the best performing teams from those two nations this season when it comes to betting on the Champions League. 

For example, even though Arsenal haven’t featured in the Champions League much in recent years, they have been one of the top teams in the Premier League over the past few seasons. The Gunners have a good chance at performing well in this season’s competition. They are currently -550 favorites to advance past FC Porto in the Round of 16. 

Betting on the Champions League – Two-legged Ties

It is extremely important to consider the fact that the knockout ties are played over two games when betting on the Champions League. This can impact the moneyline odds for a game and its outcomes. 

For example, teams know that they don’t necessarily have to win in the first game they play because they have another game afterwards to get the job done. A team may rather look to play for the draw in the first leg, especially if they are playing away first, before looking to get a win at home in the return leg. Home advantage, of course, will continue to play a huge role. 

Equally, if a team takes a big lead heading into the second leg, they are more likely to play for the draw in the second. They already have a big advantage and don’t need to take as many risks. 

Lock-Up Your Champions League Predictions

Soccer bettors should continue to follow the fundamentals when betting on the Champions League. That includes checking recent form, head-to-head, injury reports and key betting trends and statistics. 

However, it’s important to consider the factors above when it comes to placing your wagers on European club soccer. Past history seems to usually play a big factor. Like in the NFL, those that have been there and done it before just know how to get it done. The Kansas City Chiefs were underdogs throughout the playoffs, but used their past experience to carry them to yet another Super Bowl. 

As a result, soccer teams such as Real Madrid, Inter, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are favorites to do well this season. In a one off game, even the heavyweights can lose. However, this becomes way more unlikely when played over two legs. That’s what makes Champions League betting different from normal soccer betting. 

If you're just beginning to explore the world of Premier League wagering, check out this Beginner’s Guide to Premier League Betting.

This week, the Round of 16 begins with FC Copenhagen vs Man City and RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid on Tuesday. Wednesday features Lazio vs Bayern Munich and PSG vs Real Socidedad. 

I’m sure our handicappers will be filling the system with their Champions League picks. After reading this article, I hope you now feel a lot more confident about betting on the Champions League. It’s an extremely fun competition and there are always plenty of twists, turns and surprises.