The Champions League returns for another season with PSG looking to defend the title after their penalty-shootout win over Arsenal last spring, and a loaded field of contenders right behind them.
Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Manchester City all enter with realistic paths to the trophy, giving bettors plenty to work with across both the futures market and weekly matchday action once the league phase kicks off.
This page tracks our expert picks for every Champions League matchday, covering moneylines, spreads, and totals, alongside the latest futures odds for the title race. We'll update it throughout the season as lines move and the field takes shape, so check back regularly for our current thinking.
Champions League picks this week
Check back here for our top Champions League picks and predictions once the league phase kicks off Sept. 8.
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Champions League qualified clubs
| England | Spain | Germany | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Arsenal |
 Barcelona |
 Bayern Munich |
 Inter Milan |
 Aston Villa |
 Real Madrid |
 Borussia Dortmund |
 Napoli |
 Liverpool |
 Atlético Madrid |
 RB Leipzig |
 Roma |
 Manchester City |
 Villarreal |
 VfB Stuttgart |
Como |
 Manchester United |
 Real Betis |
| France | Netherlands | Portugal | Rest of Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
 Paris Saint-Germain |
PSV Eindhoven | Porto | Club Brugge (BEL) |
 Lens |
Feyenoord | Sporting CP | Slavia Prague (CZE) |
 Lille |
Galatasaray (TUR) | ||
| Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) |
Champions League 2026-27 winner odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | +400 |
| Bayern Munich | +600 |
| FC Barcelona | +700 |
| Arsenal | +700 |
| Manchester City | +800 |
| Real Madrid | +900 |
| Liverpool | +1000 |
| Manchester United | +1400 |
| Atletico Madrid | +2500 |
| Inter Milan | +3300 |
| Aston Villa | +4000 |
| SSC Napoli | +5000 |
| Borussia Dortmund | +5000 |
| AS Roma | +6600 |
| Como 1907 | +6600 |
| RB Leipzig | +6600 |
| Villarreal CF | +8000 |
| Real Betis | +8000 |
| VfB Stuttgart | +8000 |
| FC Porto | +8000 |
How the Champions League format works
Since the 2024-25 reform, the Champions League no longer uses traditional group stages. All 36 qualified clubs now play in a single league phase, facing eight different opponents rather than a fixed group of three.
The top eight finishers advance directly to the Round of 16, teams ranked 9th through 24th enter a knockout playoff round for the remaining spots, and the bottom 12 are eliminated. From there, it's a standard single-elimination bracket through the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
How to bet the Champions League
Futures. The most common long-term wager is picking the outright winner before or during the season, similar to what you'll find in our odds table above. Odds shift constantly as results come in, so value is often best found early, before the market catches up to how a squad is actually performing.
League phase and knockout markets. Since the format no longer uses traditional groups, sportsbooks instead offer odds on which teams finish in the automatic Round of 16 spots (top eight) versus which need to survive the playoff round (9th to 24th). These markets carry more nuance than a simple "advance or don't" bet and can offer real value for bettors who track table position closely.
Game-by-game wagering. Once matches kick off, Champions League games can be bet just like any other soccer match, via moneylines (which include a draw option), point spreads (often called goal handicaps), and totals. Talent gaps between elite clubs and smaller qualified sides can be significant, so lines in early league-phase matches often run wider than domestic league games between similarly ranked teams.
Player props. Odds on top goalscorer, both teams to score, and other player or match-specific props are widely available, especially for marquee matchups involving stars like Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappé.
Champions League Odds FAQs
PSG are the +500 favorites to win their third straight title, with Bayern Munich and Arsenal close behind at +600.
Champions League odds tend to shift more dramatically once the knockout rounds begin, as matchups are confirmed and the path to the final becomes clearer. Home-and-away dynamics and draw difficulty play a larger role in pricing than regular-season form alone.
Betting early can offer value before the market fully adjusts to team strength and potential matchups, while betting later provides more certainty once paths and opponents are confirmed. The best timing often depends on whether a bettor is targeting long-term upside or reduced risk.
PSG won the Champions League in 2026, defeating Arsenal 4-2 on penalties.
Real Madrid have won a record 15 Champions League titles, including six over the past 11 seasons.
