UEFA Champions League: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The move away from the UEFA Champions League group stage to a league phase before the knockout ties get underway is the biggest shift in Europe's premier club competition in over 20 years, but the cream should still rise to the top and the Racing Post's Mark Langdon has tips across a number of markets.

UEFA Champions League betting tips and predictions

Barcelona To Win Outright - 12/1

Manchester City and Real Madrid dominate the market for the new-look UEFA Champions League but it's Barcelona who look the best value to navigate their way through the eight-match league phase before the seeded knockout rounds.

It is impossible to know the exact impact the league phase of eight games will have on future prospects in the competition, however, teams will presumably be aiming to finish as high as possible to give themselves more chance of a comfortable path through to the final.

Barcelona can have no complaints over their draw which sees them tackle Monaco, Young Boys, Bayern Munich, Crvena Zvezda, Brest, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Atalanta.

Between 14-16 points is a reasonable target to reach the top eight and secure a path straight through to the last 16 and Barca will fancy their chances.

New manager Hansi Flick had a great record at previous club Bayern Munich, winning the UEFA Champions League as well as lifting the Bundesliga title twice, and his side have started this campaign with a perfect four wins and goal difference of plus 10.

Spanish star Dani Olmo arrived in the summer to join fellow European Championship winners Lamine Yamal and Pedri, while Gavi would have been part of the squad had it not been for injury.

Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski is a quality front three, while the delightful midfield talents of Olmo, Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie De Jong are capable of servicing those offensive powerhouses.

Pau Cubarsi is one of the world's most promising centre-backs and behind them is a top goalkeeper in Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid are seen as Spain's strongest challengers after adding Kylian Mbappe to the mix, but at a much bigger price Barca could go well at 12/1.

Bayern Munich To Win Outright - 12/1

Bayern are also worth siding with despite the concerns over novice manager Vincent Kompany, who was a surprising choice to replace Thomas Tuchel following a relegation season with Burnley.

This is a very different job with a very different squad and one more suited to the way Kompany wants his team to play.

Holding midfielder Joao Palhinha was a crucial signing to finally give Bayern an anchor to shield an overworked defence, while in the attacking third Michael Olise arrived and alongside Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala should take some of the goalscoring burden off Harry Kane.

Borussia Dortmund Top 8 Finish in League Stage - 2/1

Dortmund's league fixtures gives them a better chance of a Top 8 Finish than the odds suggest. Last season's runners-up will fully expect to beat Celtic, Sturm Graz and Shakhtar at home and another six points could do it away to Club Brugge, GNK Dinamo and Bologna without needing anything from a trip to Real Madrid or home date with Barca.

Novice boss Nuri Sahin needs to prove himself, however; they have mitigated the departures of experienced performers Mats Hummels and Niclas Fullkrug with the arrivals of star Bundesliga trio Maximilian Beier, Waldermar Anton and Serhou Guirassy as well as German international Pascal Gross.

PSV To Finish 9-24 in League Stage - 8/13

PSV were a Dutch delight domestically last season, scoring 111 goals and collecting 91 points and a repeat of that form should see them comfortably finish in the positions between ninth and 24th which would mean the Eindhoven club would enter a play-off round to reach the last 16.

Peter Bosz has managed to keep the squad together and the likes of Johan Bakayoko, Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouter can secure the Eredivisie champions a path beyond the league phase.

Girona To Finish Bottom in League Stage - 33/1

It's the complete opposite at Girona, who no longer have top scorer Artem Dovbyk and chief creators Aleix Garcia and Savinho, while key loan centre-back Eric Garcia returned to parent club Barcelona.

The Cinderella story may not have a happy ending and there are some unkind fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, AC Milan and Arsenal, while they could also struggle against Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven.

Although Slovan Bratislava and Sturm Graz look easier fixtures, Girona still appear vulnerable and, at 33/1, they are worth a nibble to finish bottom.

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UEFA Champions League outright odds

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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