Preview
The 2025/26 Champions League season kicks off following a dominant run by Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s tournament. PSG were victorious over Inter Milan with a 5-0 thrashing in an anticlimactic final. Last year was the first season in which the tournament transitioned from a group stage format to a single league table with mixed results. As of the start of match day 1 the favorites to win the tournament this year are PSG (+500), Liverpool (+600), Barcelona (+700), Real Madrid (+700) and Arsenal (+800). Both Arsenal and Real Madrid face respectable sides on an exhilarating match day 1, not to mention other hopefuls such as Tottenham, Juventus and Dortmund. Lets take a deep analytical look into each of the best bets for today’s opening games of Champions League football!
Arsenal @ Athletic Bilbao
Arsenal travel to San Mames Barria for a clash with an Athletic Bilbao squad boasting 4 wins in their last 6 matches. The Gunners have been in even hotter form winning 5 of their last 6 matches in all competitions. Mikel Arteta’s squad have also been strong away from the Emirates with 2 wins in their last 3 away games. This will be a tough opening match up for Arsenal, but I like the Gunners as they just have too much depth and quality for a Athletic team which have overrachieved so far in La Liga this year sitting at 4th in the table. Also look out for a goal from striker Viktor Gyokeres who has hit the ground running since arriving in London scoring 3 goals for Arsenal in only 4 matches played.
Best Bet: Arsenal ML (-135)
Player Prop: Viktor Gyokeres Over .5 Goals (+150)
Borussia Dortmund @ Juventus
Juventus hosts Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Stadium in what is the most high profile fixture of match day 1. Juventus enter the tournament with great form winning 4 of their last 6 including a strong 3 out of 4 at their home stadium. Dortmund have been in similar form to open their Bundesliga schedule winning 4 of 6 and 2 of 4 away from home. Dortmund will be without a trio of key defenders in this match up to Schlotterbeck, Can, and Sule. Juventus will have the home advantage in this affair and while I think it will be a tough encounter I like Juventus to pull away late. I also like the total to go over 2.5 goals as both sides can score and Dortmund’s defense isn’t 100% healthy.
Best Bets: Juventus ML (-110), Over 2.5 Goals (-110)
Villareal @ Tottenham
Villareal will travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England to take on a Tottenham side with 3 victories in their last 6 matches. The Spanish club enter the fixture with slightly stronger domestic form winning 4 of their last 6 fixtures. Even though Villareal are on better form, I still like Tottenham to win this one with the second tier of the Premier League possessing much more quality than other leagues. Thomas Frank has shown that he will set up Tottenham in a much more defensive structure than now Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou had them in last year. I think that Tottenham shuts down Villareal’s striker Tajon Buchanan and after that there isn’t much of a goal scoring threat for the away side so I also like the under in this fixture.
The Bookie of Eli 
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