Champions League betting tips: Matchweek 4 preview

By Andrew Beasley

Bologna vs Monaco betting tips

With only one point in the Champions League so far, Bologna really need a win here. It will be tough to get it against a Monaco side who are in fine form in front of goal though.

Monaco have scored twice in all three of their European matches this season, notably in a 2-1 win over (10-man) Barcelona.

However, the Ligue 1 outfit have also conceded in every match, which will encourage Bologna, who are one of four teams yet to score in the competition this season. In short, expect goals.

Scoreline prediction

Bologna 1-2 Monaco (39/5 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Monaco Over 1.5 Goals (32/25 with Betgrouse)

Lille vs Juventus betting tips

If matches were decided on expected goals, Lille would have no points in this season's 2024/25 Champions League. Yet with a little luck in defence and attack, Bruno Genesio’s side have beaten both Madrid clubs.

The same could easily happen here. Juventus have been scoring for fun on the road this season, though. They have already bagged three goals at Leipzig in this competition, plus that number or better at Inter, Genoa and Verona in Serie A.

As Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 at Lille in September, it’s fair to think Juventus should be capable of something similar.

Scoreline prediction

Lille 1-2 Juventus (8/1 with Betgrouse)

FIRST’s top tip:

Juventus win (37/25 with MrPlay)

Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen betting tips

The prodigal son returns to Anfield. Former Liverpool man Xabi Alonso takes his Bayer Leverkusen side to face his former club for the first time as a manager. 

Liverpool have accumulated nine points to the visitors’ seven and from harder fixtures, so can be confident of a victory. But Leverkusen will fancy their chances of scoring, as prior to Friday they had done so in every Bundesliga and Champions League match this season.

And while they kept clean sheets against Feyenoord and Milan in this competition, Alonso’s side gave up around one expected goal of chances both times. With the quality of forward Liverpool possesses, they will score.

Scoreline prediction

Liverpool 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen (33/5 with Betgrouse)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score and Under 4.5 Goals (5/4 with MrPlay)

Real Madrid vs Milan betting tips

Having been humbled 4-0 by Barcelona in their last home game, Real Madrid will be looking to make a huge statement and bounce back with a victory here.

Milan should offer the opportunity for exactly that. They have conceded at least five shots on target in every Champions League game this season. Despite scoring first against Liverpool, they allowed the Reds 11 attempts on target and five big chances.

Opta rates Madrid as a very similar standard to Liverpool, so their attack should be able to make mincemeat of a back line as porous as that.

Scoreline prediction

Real Madrid 3-1 Milan (43/5 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Real Madrid -1 Handicap (6/5 with Betgrouse)

Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City betting tips

With Ruben Amorim having agreed to become Manchester United’s manager later this month, there is bound to be some uncertainty at Sporting Lisbon. Manchester City can benefit from that better than any other team around.

When this fixture last took place, in 2022, City ran out 5-0 winners. With Pep Guardiola marshalling an injury-hit squad, the margin won’t be as wide this time around.

But as they have yet to concede a goal in the Champions League this season, City should be able to keep Sporting at bay while bagging a couple of goals themselves.

Scoreline prediction

Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Manchester City (83/10 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Manchester City -1 handicap (99/50 with Betgrouse)

Club Brugge vs Aston Villa betting tips

Expected goal stats will tell you Aston Villa have been lucky to win all three of their Champions League matches so far this season. While that might be true, in Unai Emery they have a superb manager for continental competitions.

Club Brugge have collected three points so far, thanks to a 1-0 win away to Sturm Graz. Conceding three goals in losses to Dortmund and Milan is more useful when assessing this fixture though.

The Belgian side are next to Everton in the Opta team rankings. You’d fancy Villa to win at Goodison Park, so it’s reasonable to assume they will make it four European wins this season against Brugge.

Scoreline prediction

Club Brugge 0-2 Aston Villa (87/10 with Betgrouse)

FIRST’s top tip:

Aston Villa to win (11/9 with Matchbook)

Bayern Munich vs Benfica betting tips

These teams last clashed in the Group Stage back in 2021. Bayern Munich won both matches by an aggregate score of 9-2.

Coincidentally, 9-2 was the scoreline the last time the Bundesliga giant played at home in this competition as Bayern thrashed Dinamo Zagreb. However, Vincent Kompany’s side have since lost to Aston Villa and Barcelona and finds themselves 10 places below Benfica in the table at the start of this match week.

Nonetheless, Bayern should win this match. However, Benfica have scored in all three Champions League games this season, including putting four past Atletico Madrid, so should avoid a shutout.

Scoreline prediction

Bayern Munich 3-1 Benfica (157/20 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Bayern Munich to win and both teams to score (127/100 with Betgrouse)

Crvena Zvezda vs Barcelona betting tips

A team that wins 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu can win comfortably at any stadium it happens to visit. Barcelona were proving that point even before they won at Real Madrid in their final game in October.

Look at some of these score lines: 5-0 against Young Boys, 3-0 at Alaves, 5-1 and 4-1 against Sevilla and Bayern Munich respectively. You fear for Crvena Zvezda here.

While they were only beaten 2-1 at home by Benfica, the Serbian side lost 4-0 at Inter and 5-1 at Monaco. Even with a home advantage, Barcelona will blow them away.

Scoreline prediction

Crvena Zvezda 0-3 Barcelona (113/20 with MrPlay)

FIRST’s top tip:

Barcelona -2 Handicap (111/100 with Betgrouse)

Inter Milan vs Arsenal betting tips

Inter Milan drew 0-0 at Manchester City earlier this season, the same score line as Arsenal posted away to Atalanta. Is there any reason to expect goals here?

Not really. A low-scoring game is Mikel Arteta’s aim when the Gunners are away against difficult opponents. They usually achieve it too, assuming they don’t have a man sent off.

While Inter’s home games have been lively in 2024/25, both teams here have seven points so a draw suits everyone. The longer this game remains goalless and it could be a while, that only becomes truer.

Scoreline prediction

Inter Milan 1-1 Arsenal (29/5 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Under 2.5 Goals (67/100 with Betgrouse)

Stuttgart vs Atalanta betting tips

Stuttgart have scored exactly one goal in each of their three Champions League games this season. Atalanta have yet to concede a goal in the competition. What’s going to give here?

One thing that seems clear is that both teams will probably score, as that happens in almost every Stuttgart match. More pertinently, it had been the outcome in every game at the MHP Arena in 2024/25 prior to a goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.

Atalanta’s strong defensive record means they should be able to hold their hosts to one goal tops. Assuming that’s the case, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side can get a positive result.

Scoreline prediction

Stuttgart 1-1 Atalanta (31/5 with Betgrouse)

FIRST’s top tip:

Draw no bet Atalanta (111/100 with MrPlay)

Quick scoreline predictions:

PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Girona (77/10 with MrPlay)

Slovan Bratislava 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb (137/20 with Betgrouse)

Celtic 0-2 RB Leipzig (97/10 with Betgrouse)

Dortmund 3-1 Sturm Graz (10/1 with Matchbook)

Shakhtar 2-0 Young Boys (42/5 with Matchbook)

Feyenoord 2-1 RB Salzburg (13/2 with Betgrouse)

Paris Saint-German 2-1 Atletico Madrid (129/20 with MrPlay)

Sparta Prague 1-2 Brest (17/2 with Betgrouse)

All odds correct at the time of writing.