Champions League betting tips: Matchweek six preview

Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic betting tips

This is a massive game for two sides who begin the matchweek just inside the ninth to 24th bracket which will earn a play-off spot. 

It’s tough to call. Celtic have had much better underlying performances in the Champions League this season but have always struggled on the road in the competition. 

Backing goals looks like the way to go. This match ended 4-3 when these clubs last met a decade ago, and though seven goals will be a stretch, both clubs have seen at least four in three of their five European games this term. 

Scoreline prediction

Dinamo Zagreb 2-2 Celtic (14/1 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 3.5 goals (41/20 with Unibet)

Girona vs Liverpool betting tips

Talk about an unlucky twist of fate for Girona. The postponement of the Merseyside derby on Saturday meant Liverpool got the weekend off while the Spanish side had to face Real Madrid. They were beaten 3-0 for their troubles.

The Reds were already favourites but this will have only aided their chances. What will give Girona hope is that Liverpool have conceded twice in each of their last four away games.

The visitors also have less need for the points, so may rest players in a busy schedule. Either way, even though the home side may score, Liverpool should net a few to win.

Scoreline prediction

Girona 1-3 Liverpool (43/5 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Liverpool win and over 2.5 goals (Evens with Coral)

Atalanta vs Real Madrid betting tips

Having seen Real Madrid’s performance at Liverpool in the previous matchweek, Atalanta will be eyeing a famous victory. 

With their goal record of 11-1 in the Champions League this season, there’s every chance they might get one. It would take a brave man to write off the reigning champions entirely though.

Atalanta have conceded more chances than their impressive European form would suggest. Kylian Mbappe scored when these sides met in the UEFA Super Cup in August and he's netted in three of his last five games. Real Madrid need him to deliver. 

Scoreline prediction

Atalanta 1-2 Real Madrid (10/1 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Kylian Mbappe to score any time (13/10 with 888 Sport)

RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa betting tips

RB Leipzig have been one of the biggest disappointments in the competition this year, losing all five games. Their home form in the Bundesliga hasn’t been too much better, with mid-table Wolfsburg winning 5-1 there recently. 

With Ollie Watkins a Premier League substitute for the first time since August 2022 on Saturday, Aston Villa’s main man will be raring to go. Successive home wins have ended the team’s recent poor run too. 

As this is Villa’s last match against a side from pots one or two, a positive result will give them a great chance of finishing in the automatic qualifier spots. They look very capable of getting it. 

Scoreline prediction

RB Leipzig 1-2 Aston Villa (9/1 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Draw No Bet: Aston Villa (43/50 with Mr.Play)

Red Bull Salzburg vs Paris Saint-Germain betting tips

With games against Manchester City and Stuttgart to come, this is a must-win game for Paris Saint-Germain as they are currently outside the play-off places. 

They should be fine here. Red Bull Salzburg have had the easiest fixtures of any team in terms of opposition seeding, yet have lost four out of five. 

PSG's expected goals stats suggest they have not been as prolific in front of goal as they should be. They have scored just twice from 7.9 xG in the Champions League. Salzburg’s porous defence should allow them to score several.

Scoreline prediction

RB Salzburg 0-3 PSG (159/20 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

PSG to score over 2.5 goals (Evens with William Hill)

Arsenal vs Monaco betting tips

Both Arsenal and Monaco have three wins, a draw and a loss from their matches in this competition this season. The former have played the harder fixtures, at least based on the seedings, and have home advantage here which counts for a lot too. 

It will enable the Gunners to control the game. Their Champions League matches – before their thumping win at Sporting last time out – have been low-scoring. At least one team failed to score in their first four games. 

Monaco’s matches have been more fun but they lost 1-0 at Bologna and will likely suffer a similar fate in north London.

Scoreline prediction

Arsenal 2-0 Monaco (6/1 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Both teams to score: No (4/5 with William Hill)

Benfica vs Bologna betting tips

Bologna’s Champions League run looks to be over for 2024/25. You can get 40/1 for them to make the play-offs. How committed they will be remains to be seen but assuming they play for professional pride, there should be bookings galore in this game.

Their European matches this term have averaged 5.8 yellow cards, the most of any club in this competition. While Benfica are further down the standings, on 4.4, Wilfried Singo was sent off for Monaco against them in the previous matchweek. 

Only two of their combined 10 Champions League matches this season have seen fewer than five yellow cards. The referee is sure to be busy.

Scoreline prediction

Benfica 2-0 Bologna (15/2 with William Hill)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 4.5 cards (5/6 with bet365)

Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona betting tips

The table says this is the biggest game of the matchweek, with Barcelona third and Dortmund fourth after five games.

With the Bundesliga side having eight wins and a draw from nine home games in all competitions, it is perhaps surprising the visitors are favourites. But whatever happens in terms of the result, don’t tune in late if you’re watching this match.

Barcelona have scored 10 first half goals in the 2024/25 Champions League, the most of any side. Tucked in behind them on eight are Bayer Leverkusen and, you guessed it, Dortmund. 

Scoreline prediction

Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Barcelona (10/1 with bet365)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 1.5 first half goals (27/25 with Mr.Play)

Juventus vs Manchester City betting tips

The days of predicting routine victories for Manchester City have long since ended. They will arrive in Turin having conceded at least twice in their previous six away games in all competitions. 

City did at least end a streak of five losses on the road with a point at Crystal Palace on Saturday. But they will run into a Juventus side that has lost just once all season and that was after going down to 10 men against Stuttgart. 

Juve’s unbeaten run in is a touch misleading, in that they’ve drawn over half of their games in the Serie A campaign. Nonetheless, they look capable of avoiding defeat against a City side trapped in a slump.

Scoreline prediction

Juventus 1-1 Manchester City (31/5 with Matchbook)

FIRST’s top tip:

Double chance: Juventus-Draw (10/11 with Boyle Sports)

Stuttgart vs Young Boys betting tips

The number which explains our selection for this match is 34. It is the tally of corners Stuttgart have had in the 2024/25 Champions League and it happens to be the total opponents have amassed against Young Boys.

With the Swiss side rock bottom of the table, Stuttgart will go all out for a win which could lift them into the play-off positions. Assuming they attack well, that should generate plenty of corners.

They had 10 corners against both Juventus and Sparta Prague, with six at the Bernabeu. Young Boys have conceded nine corners in both of their away matches, Stuttgart should be safe for at least eight. 

Scoreline prediction

Stuttgart 2-1 Young Boys (71/10 with Mr.Play)

FIRST’s top tip:

Stuttgart to have over 7.5 corners (13/8 with Boyle Sports)

Quick scoreline predictions:

Brest 2-1 PSV Eindhoven (11/1 with bet365)

Club Brugge 0-2 Sporting CP (12/1 with Betfred)

Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Inter (6/1 with 888 Sport)

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 Bayern Munich (13/2 with William Hill)

Atlético Madrid 4-0 Slovan Bratislava (7/1 with William Hill)

Lille 2-0 Sturm Graz (37/5 with Matchbook)

Feyenoord 2-1 Sparta Prague (15/2 with Bet Goodwin)

AC Milan 3-1 Red Star Belgrade (11/1 with William Hill)

Odds correct at the time of writing.