Champions League betting tips: Matchweek 3 preview

It’s week three of the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League and the table is starting to take shape. Six teams have six points on the board, but nobody would’ve expected Qarabag to be among them. 

We also have Barcelona and Liverpool looking to recover from defeats last time out. Here’s our picks for Champions League matchweek three.

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2026 Champions League outright odds (Betway)

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Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid betting tips

Arsenal have almost forgotten how to concede a goal. They have a pair of 2-0 wins in the Champions League and three consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

Atletico Madrid have yet to be held goalless all season though, which is what we discuss in the Arsenal vs Atletico full betting breakdown. They have scored five against Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt, plus two against other Champions League teams in Liverpool and Villarreal. The home side should win but not to nil for once. 

Scoreline prediction

Arsenal 2-1 Atlético Madrid (13/2 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Arsenal win and both teams to score (13/5 with Coral)

FC Copenhagen vs Borussia Dortmund betting tips

Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 on the road on Saturday. As they were at Bayern Munich, that’s hardly a fair summation of their away abilities. 

They have generally been good. While they should have beaten Juventus in their 4-4 draw, the fact they were 4-2 up in stoppage time suggests they can win here. Copenhagen have only won one of their last five home matches to prove the point. 

Scoreline prediction

FC Copenhagen 0-2 Borussia Dortmund (8/1 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Borussia Dortmund win (Evens with Ladbrokes)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Paris Saint-Germain betting tips

As Bayer Leverkusen drew with Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven in this competition, you must assume Paris Saint-Germain will win, right?

Probably. But the odds for the home side to avoid defeat are tempting. Even though they dismissed Erik ten Hag early in 2025/26, Leverkusen have still only lost one match. 

And as PSG have only won once by more than a single goal on the road this season, there is a good chance this match will be close. 

Scoreline prediction

Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 PSG (15/2 with Betfred)

FIRST’s top tip:

Double chance: Bayer Leverkusen win or draw (5/4 with 10bet)

Newcastle vs Benfica betting tips

Benfica lost 1-0 at Chelsea in their last Champions League match. No shame there but defeat by Qarabag in matchweek one means the pressure is on. 

Newcastle have not been flawless at home, with Liverpool, Barcelona and Arsenal having all won there. The notable thing about their victories is that they have been low scoring. 

With Benfica’s away games generally light on goals, this should be tight. 

Scoreline prediction

Newcastle 2-0 Benfica (6/1 with Highbet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Under 2.5 goals (21/20 with Betway)

Villarreal vs Manchester City betting tips

Both Villarreal and Manchester City drew 2-2 in their previous Champions League matches. The former also drew by the same scoreline against Real Betis on Saturday. 

While City kept clean sheets in their last two Premier League matches, both Brentford and Everton had big chances. As Villarreal average 2.3 goals per home game in all competitions in 2025/26, they are likely to score.

Scoreline prediction

Villarreal 1-2 Manchester City (43/5 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (Evens with William Hill)

Bayern Munich vs Club Brugge betting tips

These teams haven’t met for 20 years. Club Brugge’s away record in this competition last season shows they struggle against clubs from the big leagues though: 3-1 losses to Milan and Manchester City, 3-0 at Aston Villa.

There should be a similar outcome here as Bayern Munich are scoring four goals per home game this term. They beat Chelsea 3-1 so similar (or worse) should befall the Belgians. 

Scoreline prediction

Bayern Munich 3-1 Club Brugge (29/5 with Kwiff)

FIRST’s top tip:

Bayern Munich win and over 3.5 goals (Evens with Coral)

Chelsea vs Ajax betting tips

The last meeting of Chelsea and Ajax (in 2019) ended 4-4. The latter’s recent form suggests a repeat isn’t as unlikely as you might assume. 

Ajax’s last four away matches in the Eredivisie include a 3-3 scoreline and a pair of 2-2 draws. The step up to the Champions League was evident in their 4-0 loss at Marseille, but this game should be entertaining. Especially if you support Chelsea. 

Scoreline prediction

Chelsea 3-1 Ajax (9/1 with Betfred)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 3.5 goals (Evens with 10bet)

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Liverpool betting tips

Given Liverpool lost their last three away matches and four in total, Eintracht Frankfurt may fancy their chances more than when the draw was made. 

Their defence is very inviting for their former player Hugo Ekitike and his new teammates though. Frankfurt recently conceded five to Atletico Madrid, four to Monchengladbach and Union Berlin and three to Bayern Munich. 

As Liverpool generated at least 1.7 expected goals in their three defeats on the road, they should fare well against the home side’s leaky defence. 

Scoreline prediction

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Liverpool (13/2 with Bet442)

FIRST’s top tip:

Liverpool win and over 2.5 goals (21/20 with Coral)

Monaco vs Tottenham betting tips

The formbook screams goals. Monaco both scored and conceded at least twice in their last four home games. 

Tottenham’s matches on the road have been similar. They had 2-2 draws with Brighton and Bodo/Glimt (plus one against PSG in the Super Cup). The home team faced Manchester City in their previous Champions League match. The score? 2-2. 

Scoreline prediction

Monaco 2-2 Tottenham (10/1 with 7bet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (17/20 with Ladbrokes)

Real Madrid vs Juventus betting tips

These sides met at the recent Club World Cup, with Real Madrid winning 1-0.

There should be more goalmouth action this week. Juventus lost 2-0 at Como on Sunday, having drawn 2-2 in Spain in their previous Champions League match. 

That was against Villarreal, who Real Madrid beat 3-1 in their last home match. Xabi Alonso’s men have won every match they’ve played at the Bernabeu, a sequence which should continue. 

Scoreline prediction

Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus (7/1 with Spreadex)

FIRST’s top tip:

Real Madrid win and over 2.5 goals (6/5 with Ladbrokes)

Quick scoreline predictions:

Barcelona 3-0 Olympiacos (11/2 with MrLuck)

Qaırat Almaty 0-1 Pafos FC (67/13 with Kwiff)

PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Napoli (8/1 with 7bet)

Union SG 0-2 Inter (7/1 with Bet442)

Athletic Club 1-1 Qarabağ (21/2 with Matchbook)

Galatasaray 2-0 Bodo/Glimt (8/1 with Highbet)

Atalanta 2-0 Slavia Prague (13/2 with Mr.Play)

Sporting CP 2-1 Marseille (8/1 with Spreadex)

Previous matches/odds

2026 Champions League outright odds (Betway)

Atalanta vs Club Brugge betting tips

These teams met in the play-off round last season. Club Brugge surprisingly won both legs, 2-1 and 3-1, though they were aided by a red card when away to Atalanta.

While they couldn’t then get past Aston Villa, the Belgian side stormed out of the gates this season with a 4-1 victory over Monaco. 

It means both teams have scored at least three goals in total in five of Brugge’s last seven Champions League games, six of the previous eight. 

Scoreline prediction

Atalanta 1-2 Club Brugge (102/13 with Kwiff)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (19/20 with William Hill)

Atlético Madrid vs Eintracht Frankfurt betting tips

Atlético Madrid have not been very convincing so far this season. While they nearly got a point at Anfield in matchweek one, they needed two deflected goals to equalise. 

At home, they have drawn 1-1 with Elche and had to come from 2-1 down to beat Rayo Vallecano. They’re more open this season, even when demolishing Real Madrid on Saturday. It makes a positive result for Eintracht Frankfurt entirely plausible. 

Scoreline prediction

Atlético Madrid 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt (43/5 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Double chance: Eintracht Frankfurt win or draw (11/8 with Betway)

Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham betting tips

This fixture is a rarity for the Champions League in that these teams met just four months ago. Tottenham won 5-1 on aggregate in the Europa League semi-finals.

They won 2-0 at Bodø/Glimt in the second leg. Having also scored twice against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City this season, Thomas Frank’s men should have too much for the Norwegians once again. 

Scoreline prediction

Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham (10/1 with Highbet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Tottenham win (112/100 with 10bet)

Chelsea vs Benfica betting tips

Both teams lost their opening game so will be desperate to win. Being beaten by Bayern Munich, as Chelsea were, is one thing. Losing 3-2 after being 2-0 up against Qarabag, the fate which befell Benfica, quite another.

As the Azerbaijani team scored three times against them on their own patch, you must assume Chelsea will win easily enough. 

Scoreline prediction

Chelsea 3-0 Benfica (10/1 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Chelsea win and over 2.5 goals (5/4 with Betway)

Galatasaray vs Liverpool betting tips

Galatasaray have a decent record against Premier League sides in recent years, which is noted in our full match preview. They took four points from Manchester United in their last Champions League campaign, then beat Tottenham at home last season. 

While Liverpool are stronger, this game falls between trips to Crystal Palace and Chelsea. There is no need for them to go all out for a win so the home side has a good chance of at least a point. 

Scoreline prediction

Galatasaray 1-1 Liverpool (15/2 with Bet442)

FIRST’s top tip:

Double chance: Galatasaray or draw (5/4 with Betfred)

Union SG vs Newcastle United betting tips

Newcastle are taking boring away games to new heights. Their three league games on the road have all ended 0-0 this season. 

As Union SG are alongside them in Pot 4, this should be one of the Magpies’ easier fixtures. It would be a surprise to see them break too far from their low-scoring tradition though. 

Scoreline prediction

Union SG 0-1 Newcastle United (26/5 with Kwiff)

FIRST’s top tip:

Under 2.5 goals (Evens with Coral)

Arsenal vs Olympiacos betting tips

Would it surprise you to learn Olympiacos have won their last three visits to the Emirates Stadium? Probably not if you’re an Arsenal fan.

READ: Arsenal vs Olympiacos full match breakdown, team news and best bets

The Gunners have improved considerably since those losses. Olympiacos are rated by Opta as between the standard of Nottingham Forest and Leeds, both of whom have lost by 3+ goals at Arsenal this season. 

Scoreline prediction

Arsenal 3-1 Olympiacos (11/1 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 3.5 goals (13/10 with William Hill)

Barcelona vs Paris Saint Germain betting tips

The tie of the week sees the champions of Spain host the kings of Europe. There is some amazing history between these teams, most of it utterly chaotic. 

The madness has tended to run to full time too. Their two clashes in 2024 saw a total of seven second half goals. Assuming neither side races into a big early lead, both teams scoring in the second half looks a good value selection. 

Scoreline prediction

Barcelona 2-2 Paris Saint Germain (10/1 with Highbet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score in second half (11/8 with Ladbrokes)

Bayer Leverkusen vs PSV Eindhoven betting tips

Bayer Leverkusen have had a tumultuous start to the post-Xabi Alonso era, having already hired and fired Erik ten Hag. 

They were very strong at home in this phase of the Champions League last season, though, winning all four matches to nil.

As PSV Eindhoven were beaten 3-1 by Union SG in the previous matchweek, they could be the kind of soft opponents Leverkusen need to kickstart their European campaign. 

Scoreline prediction

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 PSV Eindhoven (10/1 with 7bet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Bayer Leverkusen win (87/100 with Spreadex)

Monaco vs Manchester City betting tips

Monaco famously knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League when they last met, in 2017. Having the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and Fabinho in their side certainly helped.

Without them and having been thumped 4-1 by Club Brugge in their opener, it seems safe to assume City will enjoy this visit to Monaco far more than their last. 

Scoreline prediction

Monaco 1-2 Manchester City (13/2 with MrLuck)

FIRST’s top tip:

Manchester City win and over 2.5 goals (21/20 with Coral)

Quick scoreline predictions:

Qaırat Almaty 0-3 Real Madrid (5/1 with Mr.Play)

Inter 3-0 Slavia Prague (7/1 with Highbet)

Marseille 2-1 Ajax (43/5 with Matchbook)

Pafos FC 0-4 Bayern Munich (13/2 with Mr.Play)

Qarabağ 2-1 FC Copenhagen (8/1 with Bet442)

Dortmund 2-0 Athletic Club (8/1 with 7bet)

Napoli 2-0 Sporting CP (8/1 with Coral)

Villarreal 1-1 Juventus (5/1 with MrLuck)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.