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Welcome to the next stage of an enthralling UEFA Champions League 2025/26 campaign. With the league phase behind us, we move on to the knockouts.
Followers enjoy four matches on Tuesday and another four on Wednesday as the first legs of the playoffs take centre stage. Which teams will secure a crucial lead ahead of next week’s deciders?
The top eight finishers in the Champions League advanced to the finals, while the next 16 face a two-legged playoff. The 12 lowest-ranking sides were eliminated after eight games.
Followers savour some mouth-watering matchups on Tuesday, including Monaco vs PSG. Wednesday’s programme brings thrillers, including Qarabag vs Newcastle in Azerbaijan.
The leading online bookmakers featured on this page offer more than 100 pre-match betting markets. Football fans can study the stats and trends at Flashscore to find midweek value.
Need a little help? Experienced football betting writer Frank Monkhouse has already guided readers to some nice winners in this competition and aims for more of the same here.
Galatasaray vs Juventus, Tuesday, 17:45 GMT
Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray plan to make home advantage count when Italian Serie A giants Juventus come to Istanbul. The head-to-head stats show these teams have met six times, most recently in December 2013. Galatasaray won that match 1-0, thanks to a goal from Wesley Sneijder. It’s worth knowing that half of those six games ended in draws.
Juve finished seven places above their hosts in the table, banking three more points than Okan Buruk’s team. The Italians drew four of eight starts, including a 0-0 in Monaco on matchday eight. The Lions drew just one, but ended winless in their last four at this level. A low-scoring draw would suit the visitors more than their hosts. Back another level finish.
Bet explanation: You need this match to be level at full-time.
Benfica v Real Madrid, Tuesday, 20:00 GMT
The first of three games kicking off at 20:00, sees Portugal take on Spain as Benfica play Real Madrid at Estadio da Luz. Benfica benefit from the backing of a home support, but the locals finished down in 24th and now play the competition’s most successful team. Benfica won three games and lost five, but one of those victories came over Madrid at this venue.
A matchday eight meeting ended in surprise, with Benfica thrashing Real Madrid 4-2 to progress. Will they secure a quickfire double, or can Blancos claim revenge? The stats show that these teams finished the previous round with the most goals from direct attacks. With that in mind, and the previous meeting, we’re confident both teams will find the net again.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 1/2 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Both Benfica and Real Madrid must score at least one goal each.
Borussia Dortmund v Atalanta, Tuesday, 20:00 GMT
We turn our attention to Germany for Dortmund vs Atalanta. The hosts won three of eight UCL games, but ended winless in their last three, following a draw with back-to-back defeats. Atalanta also signed off with two losses on the bounce. During the campaign, Atalanta lost in Belgium and Italy. Dortmund beat Villarreal 4-0 and Athletic Club 4-1 here.
Dortmund scored 19 goals in eight UCL games, conceding 17, while Atalanta finished with ten for and ten against. The sides have met only once at this venue, with the Germans winning 3-2 on Europa League duty in 2018. A combined 29 goals scored and 27 conceded encourages us to place our trust in the both teams to score market at bet365.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 8/13 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Dortmund and Atalanta must get at least one goal each to boost your betting balance.
Monaco v PSG, Tuesday, 20:00 GMT
Monaco face the unenviable task of taking on the current champions and a talent-laden PSG team with a point to prove. The Parisians sparkled when winning this trophy last spring, thumping Milan in the final. They’ve yet to hit top gear in this season’s renewal. PSG finished 11th after winning only one of their last five. Monaco lost just once in the same period.
PSG lost 1-0 at Stade Louis II in Ligue 1 late last year. That narrow victory means Monaco have lost just one of their last six home league matches against PSG, winning four and drawing the other. The Rock are unbeaten in their last four home games in this competition, winning one and drawing three. They also kept a clean sheet in their previous three games.
Tip: Monaco win or draw @ 11/8 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need Monaco to avoid defeat at home to PSG on Tuesday.
Qarabag v Newcastle, Wednesday, 17:45 GMT
Moving to the first of four UCL games on Wednesday. Azerbaijan Premier League champions Qarabag play English Premier League favourites Newcastle. The Horsemen surprised many when winning three and drawing one to finish 22nd. Despite ending above the likes of Marseille and PSV, the locals lost three of their last four games at this level.
Qarabag qualified thanks to a strong start, while Newcastle finished well, losing one of their last four. Momentum is with the Magpies, and that’ll make the difference. The hosts leaked two or more goals in each of their previous six UCL games, resulting in the second-worst defensive record after eight games. Newcastle scored as many goals as Spurs in fourth.
Tip: Newcastle win @ 2/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Newcastle must beat Qarabag on the road, regardless of the winning margin.
Bodo/Glimt v Inter Milan, Wednesday, 20:00 GMT
Norwegian Eliteserien runners-up Bodo/Glimt are another surprise addition to the knockout rounds, but another I expect to exit at this stage. The locals finished 23rd following back-to-back wins over big-name opponents, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Those two results were impressive, but they can’t compete with Inter Milan’s five UCL victories.
The visiting side finished as runners-up behind PSG last season, and the Serie A giants hope to improve a place this term. They won their last match to finish just a point shy of Man City and the top eight. Apart from finals, Milan have lost just one of their last 15 matches in the knockout stages of this competition. I expect Inter to bank another commanding win.
Tip: Inter Milan win @ 7/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You’ll make a profit if Inter Milan leaves Norway with a first-leg lead.
Club Brugge v Atletico Madrid, Wednesday, 20:00 GMT
Few respected pundits expected Club Brugge to hold their own in the Champions League after coming through the qualifiers. Ivan Leko’s Belgians won their last two games to finish tenth and keep their campaign alive. They ended strong, thrashing Kairat 4-1 on the road, before putting three past Marseille without reply at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Despite finishing on a high, Brugge were beaten 3-0 here by Arsenal, and drew 3-3 with Barca. The locals conceded 17 goals in eight UCL games and now face an opponent that scored 17 times in the same period. I expect an entertaining match, but a star-studded attack will make light work of a fragile home defence. Back an away win for Atletico Madrid.
Tip: Atletico Madrid win @ 9/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Madrid win in Brugge, you’ll land a return.
Olympiakos v Bayer Leverkusen, Wednesday, 20:00 GMT
The final match of the knockout round playoff first legs is in Greece, where Olympiakos play Bayer Leverkusen. The locals staged a late smash-and-grab on the prize places, winning their last three games to power through. They won 2-1 at Ajax after beating Leverkusen 2-0 at this venue. That win means Olympiakos enjoy an 8-4 aggregate advantage in the H2H.
Only two teams have beaten Bayer in the Champions League this season, with the other loss coming at the Etihad to Man City. That puts Legend in good company, and we saw enough in that 2-0 win to convince us that Olympiakos can deliver again. However, with both clubs conceding 14 goals each in their eight UCL matches, we’re betting on both to score.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 4/6 (bet365)
Bet explanation: The match-winner isn’t important to your bets here. You need Olympiakos and Bayer Leverkusen to score at least once each in this first leg.
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.