The trophy is coming into sight for Europe’s elite teams, as we are down to the last eight in the Champions League. The first legs of the 2025-26 quarterfinals take place on Tuesday, with the other two on Wednesday.
There are three representatives from Spain (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid), two from England (Arsenal, Liverpool), and one each from France, Germany, and Portugal.
See why my UEFA Champions League best bets and free betting picks are targeting Ademola Lookman to get Atletico Madrid off to a flying start.
UEFA Champions League weekly picks and best bets for Quarterfinals Leg 1
Sporting CP vs Arsenal
Both teams to Score - Yes (-118 at Sports Interaction)
A previously impervious Arsenal have suffered two big setbacks recently. They lost in the final of the English League Cup to Manchester City two weekends ago, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by second-tier Southampton just three days before this potentially tricky trip to Portugal.
This game will be a test of their character and confidence.
Arsenal should score – they have done so in all 10 of their Champions League games this season – but the home team look good enough to cause them problems. Sporting CP are W7-D2-L1 from their last 10 games in all competitions and have scored 13 goals in their last three fixtures.
Looking across all the markets, Both Teams to Score is the stand-out selection. It would be a major surprise if either team failed to find the net.
- Date: Tuesday, April 7
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich Over 1.5 goals (-141 at Sports Interaction)
Bayern Munich have scored two or more goals in nine of their 10 Champions League games this season (an average of 3.2 goals per game). The only time they failed to score twice in a game was on their trip to the Emirates Stadium last November, when they lost 3-1 at Arsenal who, at the time, had Europe's top defense.
Are Real Madrid solid enough to 'do an Arsenal' by preventing Bayern from scoring twice? The Spanish hosts have conceded two goals in each of their last two games, so there are concerns about how the home defense will handle the elite attacking opposition they face here.
Back Bayern to continue their high-scoring trend.
- Date: Tuesday, April 7
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid To qualify (+195 at Sports Interaction)
Barcelona are -286 to qualify, which is the market’s way of saying they have a 74% chance of making it through to the semifinals. Are the Catalans as superior to the Liga rivals that they face here as the price suggests?
When these two teams met in the Spanish Cup semifinals in February and March, Atletico Madrid won 4-3 on aggregate.
While Atletico Madrid may have lost 2-1 when the sides met in a league match on Saturday night, there were mitigating circumstances. Atletico Madrid played with 10 men for half the game, and had rested a lot of their better players anyway, saving them for this matchup.
Atleti’s chances of causing an upset are underrated.
- Date: Wednesday, April 8
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
- Where to watch: Paramount+
PSG vs Liverpool
PSG to win (-141 at Sports Interaction)
PSG are peaking at the right time. They are four points clear of nearest challengers Lens in Ligue 1 with a game in hand, while muscle memory served them well in the last round of this tournament, when they thrashed Chelsea 8-2.
PSG played gloriously through the spring months to win the Champions League last year for the first time in their history. Their recent European pedigree gives them the edge over a Liverpool side that continue to sputter from one erratic performance to another.
The Reds are a dismal W2-D1-L4 from their last seven fixtures in all competitions, and lost 4-0 at Manchester City in the FA Cup over the weekend.
Back PSG to secure a first-leg win.
- Date: Wednesday, April 8
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Parc des Princes, Paris, France
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Champions League player prop quick hits for Quarterfinals Leg 1
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Ademola Lookman 2+ shots on target (+275 at Sports Interaction)
Nigerian international Ademola Lookman has managed a shot on target in three of his last four Champions League games. A clever and dangerous attacker, he will offer variety in the final third, and is expert at ghosting unnoticed into scoring positions. Back him to hit two shots on target.
For those looking for a surer thing — or for a Lookman play that they can add into a parlay — the same player is available as a 1+ shots on target selection at much shorter odds of -172.
PSG vs Liverpool
Nuno Mendes 1+ shots on target (+120 at Sports Interaction)
Nuno Mendes is one of the world’s best attacking full backs. The price on him managing just one shot on target looks too big.
He has even operated as an orthodox left winger on occasion recently. Were that to happen here, the odds would be fantastic value.
Wherever he lines up on the pitch, the Portugal international will have license to get forward, and will pose a major threat in the final third.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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