Champions League 2026-27: Outright Betting Predictions & Tips

We are back for another season of predictions! League football has restarted, so that means the European leagues are close to returning. So, let's start with the Champions League.

Last season, I landed the winner of the competition in PSG, whilst also having a pretty solid year overall, landing 38% of our outright predictions, we cannot complain at all!

Looking at the Champions League this season, there are plenty of opportunities for value, even if it does look like a bit of a tougher year. So, without further ado, let's dive in.

Who Will Win the Champions League?

After picking last year's winners in PSG, I'm going for a second straight year of correct picks and I'm going for a third win in a row for the Parisian outfit. It's bold, but I just cannot overlook them.

First and foremost, I think they probably have the best squad in Europe on paper, even after selling Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos, they have recruited well and still turned a profit.

So, I believe that they will have the squad for it again. Of course, they also have the luxury to rest players in Ligue 1. So, that squad depth pays off and allows them to have a pretty clear run at the European title.

Luis Enrique has been there and done it on several occasions, too. Winning the Champions League requires experience of managing the biggest games and he has that. It's an overlooked factor, but I think it's too valuable to not prioritise.

Because of all of this, I think that their favouritism is correct and I'm perfectly happy to have a go on PSG to win the competition at 11/2 with Betway.

Then, I'm going to put another team forward for the competition in Real Madrid. Yes, it's a bit boring that I'm not selecting a 20/1 winner. However, I think Los Blancos provide value at the price of 7/1, offered by Virgin Bet.

Hiring Jose Mourinho should help settle the squad a little bit and also re-introduces the mentality that set the club up for so much in the 2010s. After all, it was Jose who built the foundations Zinedine Zidane's teams.

With this selection, you make a profit betting E/W - which is how I'm putting this tip up - whilst also getting the win value too.

Who Will Finish in the Champions League Top Eight?

I want to get a bit of value from these two selections that I'm putting up here, so I'm not going to be looking at PSG for a Top Eight spot, for example. Instead, I've got two at two different prices and I feel like both offer us a good chance.

Starting with Manchester City, they're the lower price here, but at 5/6, I still think they offer us enough value.

Drawn against Porto, AEK Athens, Leipzig, Lens and Sporting, they should certainly be able to get at least four wins there, I think, if not five.

They do have tough games in the form of Barcelona, Napoli and PSG. However, picking up a point there should be enough.

From their opening Premier League games, they look like they will challenge Arsenal for the title. So, whilst not the best price ever, I don't think they've got a terrible chance.

Then, I really like the 2/1 offered by BoyleSports for Atletico Madrid to finish inside the Top Eight.

Starting with Liverpool, Manchester United, Stuttgart and Bayern Munich, they have a relatively difficult opening set. However, I'd still expect them to get four or five points here.

Then, they have a nice run with four 'easier' games on the bounce. If they leave the first four with four points, they should be able to get four wins from four in the final straight. This would give them the points required.

In terms of their squad, I really like the summer transfer window that they've had. Kang-In Lee is a fantastic playmaker, whilst Morten Hjulmand gives a bit of steel in midfield. I think this a pretty nice price.

If you're doing your own bets, teams have needed 16 points to get into the Top Eight in the last two years. So, this is worth noting when looking at teams' fixtures.

Who Will Finish in the Champions League Play-Off Phase?

Getting value from the play-off phase isn't as simple, unfortunately. Prices are more around the Evens mark, so it's a decision for you whether you want to really take these prices.

However, I've got three selections which I fancy here, just because there's more teams involved.

For my first pick, I've got Porto at 4/6 with William Hill. A well established European team, they've done some good business this summer and should have a strong chance.

Their fixtures are pretty mixed, but there are certainly a few chances to get points. Finishing with Slavia Praha and LASK is a pretty nice way to round off the campaign, so if they can pick up five points from their first six, they should be ok.

Then, I really like Como. I think their placement in Pot 4 gives them a much easier shot of things and they've drawn some really nice fixtures. Leipzig, Feyenoord, Lens, AEK Athens and Real Betis are winnable ties, certainly.

I'd expect them to get at least 10 points from those five games alone. Then, if they can take anything from Manchester United, PSG or Barcelona, then they may even be in the conversation for a Top Eight spot... I think a play-off place is more likely, though and 4/5 is a nice price with the best football bookmakers.

Finally, I quite like Roma at 8/13, who are one of the favourites to get a play-off place.

They've started Serie A perfectly, scoring goals for fun and looking pretty invulnerable. It honestly wouldn't be a surprise if they challenged for the Scudetto this season.

Nevertheless, I think they've got a great chance here. Their fixtures are a bit more challenging than what faces the other two teams, but they have the quality and should compete.
If you're doing your own bets, you've needed between 10 and 15.5 points to get into the play-off phase in the last two years. So, this is worth noting when looking at teams' fixtures.

Who Will Be the Champions League's Top Scorer?

Picking a Top Scorer in the Champions League is not an easy task; I wish it was! However, I'm still going to give it my best shot.

I think Kylian Mbappe has a great chance and I'd be half tempted to back him. However, he's a little too short (at around 3/1) compared to other options in my eyes.

Starting off, then, I'm going for Harry Kane E/W. Now, I understand it's a bit of a questionable E/W bet at 7/1, but with 1/4 and four places on offer with William Hill, I see little downside.

If he gets more than 10 goals - which has been the benchmark in recent years - he should finish inside the top four, and that'd return a profit. It's not pretty, but it's too good of an opportunity to overlook, I think.

On a similar line, I think Raphinha is way (yyyyyyyy) too big of a price at 20/1. So, I'm again backing him E/W. He's already scored five goals for Barcelona this season, and looks to be their 'goalscorer' for this season.

As the top scorer of the competition two years ago, he disappointed last season, but I think he can bounce back.

Number three on the list, I've got Victor Osimhen, who could grab a few goals in the league phase. Games against Feyenoord, Lille, Stuttgart and AEK Athens look like big opportunities, especially if Gala get into the play-off stage.

At 33/1 with four places offered, I think he's got a very decent chance for the campaign.

Finally, I think Donyell Malen is a HUGE price. Whilst I don't think Roma will get to the latter stages of the competition, I think he could manage quite a few goals.

Sporting, Manchester United, Lille, Fenerbahce, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Athens are a great set of scoring fixtures. So, if he can grab a few and maybe a couple in the play-off stage, the 100/1 currently available will disappear quickly.