The Champions League kicks off this week and, fresh from a 7/1 weekend winner, Andy Schooler is here to bring you his best bets for matchday one.
Champions League Best Bets: Liverpool v Atletico Madrid (Wed, 2000 BST)
Goals have been a big feature of the Champions League ‘league phase’ since its introduction two years ago.
The goals-per-game average across that period for such matches is above 3.3 and I have no doubt there will be plenty of ‘over 2.5 goals’ accas put together this season.
Needless to say, the bookies are more aware these days but there’s still potential value to be had in places and Atleti look a good place to start.
With Diego Simeone still in charge – it’s now 15 years and counting – it’s easy to still picture them as a side which is teak-tough defensively, one capable of battling its way to victories.
However, the modern-day Atletico is much different – way more attacking and much more vulnerable at the back. That’s been highlighted in this competition, too, with their goals-per-game figure well above that competition average.
The bet I like here is over 2.5 goals and both teams to score.
Liverpool have been far from watertight so far, conceding twice to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and only on Friday did they integrate Ronald Araujo to their backline.
That move helped produce a clean sheet, although I don’t think it’s controversial to suggest the Spaniards will offer a bigger threat than Ipswich did.
This bet has landed in 12 of Atleti’s 16 league-phase games across the last two seasons. One of those games was here at Anfield only last season and history can repeat itself on Wednesday.
Champions League Best Bets: Barcelona v Feyenoord (Wed, 1745 BST)
Barcelona’s flying start to the La Liga season – four wins, 17 goals scored – has seen them join PSG at the head of the outright Champions League betting.
They will start this match as red-hot favourites and it’s not hard to envisage them scoring a few goals – they’ve already put five past Valencia, Rayo Vallecano and Elche.
Of course, you can suggest Feyenoord are better than all of those but while they’ve also scored plenty of goals early in their domestic season, they’ve also conceded seven in five games to suggest Barca will be more than capable of picking them apart.
Raphinha has bee the star man in terms of goals so far but I think the value from a betting perspective comes in the shape of Fermin Lopez.
With fellow midfielder Pedri in behind, Lopez has the licence to get forward and join the front three and he’s duly managed to score four goals in his three starts so far in 2026/27.
I’ll take the even money about him in the anytime scorer market here.
I did fancy combining him with an Anthony Gordon assist – the former Newcastle and Everton man has started like a train at the No Camp and already has four assists to his name.
Both teams to score is another decent option at 1.78.
Olympiakos, Frankfurt and Copenhagen all scored in the Nou Camp last season at this stage of the competition and over the last two seasons, this bet has been a winner in 20 of Barcelona’s 26 UCL games. Feyenoord’s domestic numbers also show they do carry an attacking threat.
Barca are often more than happy to simply outscore teams at this point in the campaign, so this is worth considering, especially by those looking to piece together Bet Builders.
Champions League Best Bets: Fenerbahce v Roma (Thu, 1745 BST)
I always like to look for an underdog on the coupon and a team which catches the eye on matchday one are Fenerbahce.
They’ve signed some big names in the summer – Romelu Lukaku, Nathan Ake and Mason Greenwood among them – and they join some other established stars such as Ederson and Milan Skriniar.
There’s plenty of European experience in their squad and while they are doubtless still being moulded into a proper team, 2.9 looks a decent price.
The bet fits in with my anti-Italian stance – Serie A is far from the powerhouse it once was and their teams can be good to oppose.
Only one, Atalanta, made the last 16 last season – and they lost. There was just the one in 2024/25 too, although on that occasion the Italian representatives, Inter, did go all the way to the final. In 2023/24, no Italian side made the quarter-finals.
Admittedly, Roma have started this season well, although three wins out of three in Serie A should be given some context.
Atalanta were beaten with an injury-time goal, Fiorentina are rock bottom and Lecce finished 17th last season.
Istanbul is always a tough place to go and, at the prices, I think the hosts are worthy of support.
Champions League Best Bets 2026/27: Matchday 1
Over 2.5 goals & BTTS in Liverpool v Atletico @ 1.8 with kwiff
Fermin Lopez anytime scorer @ 2.0 with kwiff
BTTS in Barcelona v Feyenoord @ 1.76 with kwiff
Fenerbache to beat Roma @ 2.9 with kwiff
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