Champions League Round Three: Predictions, best bets and odds

This article contains affiliate links to advertisers. The analysis is our own. Gamble Aware 18+

These days, Champions League games don’t come much bigger and better than PSG versus Barcelona… that’s the undoubted highlight of Round 3.

But Bayern vs Arsenal is a tasty appetiser as well, while fixtures like Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig, Liverpool vs Villarreal and FC Porto vs PSV also catch the eye.

Let us guide you through the midweek action, with insight and betting tips that you can back via an account with bet365, where a free bet bonus is available to new customers. 

Flashscore is on YouTube!

Football match analysis in under 60 seconds, powered by Opta  — that's Flashscore Edge. New episodes every week. 

Want the full picture? Interviews,  tactical deep dives and football coverage on Flashscore Main.

PSG vs Barcelona, Tuesday (20:00 BST)

PSG, one of the best teams to watch on the planet, have an ability to instigate chaos on the pitch.

They beat Man City 4-2 just a short while ago, while their 2025/26 Champions League campaign saw 32 goals scored in just eight league phase games. Knockout stage results – beating Chelsea 5-2 and Bayern Munich 5-4 – only further that chaos theory.

The French champions are notoriously fast starters, scoring three first-half goals in each of their two Champions League outings thus far, and the signs are there that they will find the net in the first period against a Barcelona side that has kept just one clean sheet in their last five games.

Tip: PSG to Score in the First Half @ 8/15 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if PSG score in the first half.

Liverpool vs Villarreal, Tuesday (20:00 BST)

There may be questions for Liverpool to answer defensively.

They shipped three goals against Manchester City and the same amount versus LASK in their last Champions League outing. Doubts have been raised about some of Virgil van Dijk’s waning attributes, while his central defensive partner Jeremy Jacquet is very talented… but still learning his craft all the same.

But Villarreal struggle against English opposition in Europe. In their last 16 games in the Champions League against English clubs, they haven't won once – losing 10 and drawing six.

More worryingly for the Spanish club, they have only scored five times in those 16 games, and lost the last nine on the bounce.

And while Liverpool aren't in the most sparkling of form in the league, they've looked better in this competition, seeing off Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield already.

The stats are pointing towards a Liverpool win here.

Tip: Liverpool to win 1/2 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Liverpool win the match by any score.

Napoli vs Bodo/Glimt, Tuesday (20:00 BST)

Bodo/Glimt showed they’re no pushovers in last season’s Champions League, claiming nine points from their eight league phase games.

They defeated Borussia Dortmund last time out in this competition too, but there’s a feeling that their success is somewhat owing to their proximity to the Arctic Circle – not an environment that overseas players are always particularly fond of.

That advantage is lost on the road, and the Norwegians can expect a hot reception from the ever-passionate Naples fanbase.

Napoli lost just twice in 19 home Serie A games last term, and were goalless against Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for 75 minutes just a few weeks ago.

And while they have lost their last two home games in the UEFA Champions League, they have never previously suffered three consecutive home defeats in major European competition.

Tip: Napoli to Win @ 4/7 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Napoli win the game by any score.

Stuttgart vs Atletico Madrid, Tuesday (20:00 BST)

Stuttgart have won both of their Champions League games… but Slovan Bratislava and Viking, no disrespect, are perhaps not the best barometers of form as opponents.

Instead, we know that they’ve lost 3/5 in the Bundesliga this term, including a 1-5 thrashing at Bayern, so perhaps Stuttgart are susceptible to elite opposition.

Atletico Madrid can be placed in that category, and besides, this Draw No Bet selection adds the safety net of the draw to our bet as well. Stuttgart are, after all, winless in seven games against Spanish sides in the UEFA Champions League, losing five of those.

Tip: Atletico Draw No Bet @ 4/6 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Atletico win. Our stake is refunded if they draw.

Como vs Manchester United, Wednesday (17:45 BST) 

These are troubled times at Manchester United, with their players speaking out against board-level mediocrity and talks of dressing room unrest.

That will be music to the ears of Como, who have been made favourites for this game. But how bullish can we be about a side that is new to life in the Champions League and who has been in mixed form of their own of late?

Not massively, if much is read into history. Manchester United, you see, are unbeaten in their last six away games against Italian sides in the UEFA Champions League, last losing in this competition on Italian soil in 2007.

Despite their faults, United have the attacking talent to win – or avoid defeat – against this level of opposition.

Tip: Man Utd/Draw Double Chance @ 8/13 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Man Utd win or draw this match.

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal, Wednesday (20:00 BST)

Bayern Munich have an outstanding record against Arsenal in the UCL (W5 D1 L1), but the Gunners seemed to break that spell in their last meeting back in November.

They won 3-1, while Bayern’s stats – eight shots, 14 touches in the opposition box and an xG of 0.65 – were their lowest in a Champions League game under Vincent Kompany.

Plus, while they still have an array of stars, Bayern Munich will be without the suspended Michael Olise for this match.

Does Mikel Arteta have Kompany’s number, tactically speaking?

Tip: Arsenal/Draw Double Chance @ 4/6 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Arsenal win or draw this game.

Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig, Wednesday (20:00 BST)

Although Real Madrid are winning games under Jose Mourinho, frequently they’re doing things the hard way – against Roma last time out in the UCL, they were 1-3 down with seven minutes to play and won 4-3.

But winning breeds confidence and momentum, and this is a Real Madrid side that has scored in each of their last 44 home games in the Champions League.

We don’t expect that run to end against an RB Leipzig outfit whose Champions League form (W2 D1 L9) reveals their struggles in this competition.

Tip: Real Madrid -1 Handicap @ 8/11 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Real Madrid win by two or more goals.

Sporting vs LASK, Wednesday (20:00 BST)

Sporting were a seeded play-off team in last season’s Champions League, losing by a solitary goal to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

They have started well this term, and we expect them to have too much firepower on home soil against LASK, who shipped six against Liverpool last time out. In fact, LASK have lost their last eight away games in major European competition, conceding 23 goals and only scoring three times.

Tip: Sporting -1 Handicap @ 8/13 (Bet365)

Explanation: Our bet lands if Sporting win by two or more goals.

These odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.