The Champions League is back in action! From Tuesday, Sept. 17 to Thursday, Sept. 19, all 36 competing teams will open up their league play phase. The league has shifted away from the old 32-team group stage, and this NBC Sports article dives into the new format.
But if you're just here for the bets, let's dive right into it. Here are my top three plays for Matchday 1 in the Champions League.
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Champions League Matchday 1 Preview & Best Bets (2024)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Bayern Munich (-900) vs. Dinamo Zagreb (+1800), DRAW (+950) | O/U 3.5 (-140/+110)
German powerhouse Bayern Munich opens up their 2024-2025 UCL campaign at home, where they'll host Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb. The Croatian side got here through the qualifying round, where they most recently handled FK Qarabag in a 5-0 two-leg aggregate. This opening match is scheduled for Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. ET from Allianz Arena in Munich.
Vincent Kompany, a former Belgian international and Manchester City star has taken the reins of Bayern Munich. So far, his Bavarians haven't skipped a beat from their top-tier play, going 3-0-0 with a +8 goal differential on the domestic front. With this being Kompany's Champions League debut with the new club, I think he'll put the pedal to the medal and assert his team's dominance against the inferior visitors. Let's lay the 2.5 goals with Bayern at the hostile Allianz Arena.
As for Dinamo Zagreb, they're 4-1-1 (+9 GD) in the Croatian Supersport HNL. However, they're winless in their last two matches, drawing 1-1 against HNK Rijeka and losing 1-0 to Hajduk Split, more recently. Ultimately, I don't think Dinamo has the talent to keep pace with this always-dangerous Bayern side. I think we're in for a 3-0 domination at Allianz this afternoon.
Bet: Bayern Munich -2.5 (-115)
Manchester City (-195) vs. Inter Milan (+500), DRAW (+350) | O/U 2.5 (-155/+125)
The marquee match on Wednesday pits Manchester City against Inter Milan. City's out to a perfect 4-0-0 start in the English Premier League, while Inter Milan is 2-2-0 in Italy's Serie A. This contest is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. ET from Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.
Pep Guardiola has his squad on the warpath already. They've gotten out to a perfect start in the PL, posting a +8 goal differential during the four-match span. The Citizens have logged multi-goal victories in three of those four contests. Individually, it's none other than Erling Haaland leading the way with nine domestic goals through the first four matches.
I was going to roll with Haaland as an anytime goalscorer, but that comes with a -145 price tag. If he's going to score, then it's likely that City will win the game. So, I think it makes more sense to just lay a goal with the home side at -130. City has dominated the group stage over the last two seasons, going 10-2-0 and out-scoring their opponents 32-9. While Inter Milan is a formidable foe, I think City's current form and home-pitch advantage will help guide them to a multi-goal win.
Bet: Manchester City -1.0 (-130)
Feyenoord (+300) vs. Leverkusen (-125), DRAW (+310) | O/U 3.5 (+125/-160)
Thursday's six-match slate opens up with a couple of early matches, one of which sees Feyenoord host the reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET from Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Feyenoord is typically a juggernaut in the Dutch Eredivisie, but that simply hasn't been the case during the new campaign. The club is just 1-3-0 through four domestic matches under Brian Priske. And perhaps that's the issue, as they saw the departure of manager Arne Slot to Liverpool this past offseason. Priske has yet to put a consistent winning product on the pitch on the domestic front, so I don't buy that he'll turn things around on the continental level against elevated competition.
I'll ride with Leverkusen as slight road favorites. The Bundesliga champs are 2-0-1 in their domestic league, with the lone loss coming against a solid RB Leipzig side in a 3-2 barnburner. Their offense is humming domestically, averaging 3.0 goals per match. This is their first time back to the Champions League since 2022-2023, and I think they will make a triumphant return against a lackluster Feyenoord side. Let's back “The Company's Eleven” on the road.
Bet: Leverkusen Moneyline (-125)
