35/1, 14/1, & 9/1 tips for the Champions League's League Phase
Before becoming a Sports Journalist for Free Super Tips, Aaron spent three years studying Sports Journalism at the University of Sunderland while taking in the Black Cats' 'glory years' under Martin O'Neill. Now back in Northern Ireland he turns niche stats into predictions for FST, while he's one of the few people on this island who is equally comfortable at Windsor Park and the Aviva.
After taking a look at who could be crowned Champions of Europe next May, I’ve cast an eye over the odds for the opening stage of this season’s Champions League.
The top eight teams in the 36-team table go straight through to the last 16, while the sides from ninth to 24th face an extra knockout round. Some big names failed to make the top eight last season, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, and eventual winners PSG.
Below we have a 35/1 top eight treble, a 14/1 tip on three sides to finish between ninth and 24th, along with a 9/1 shot to end up bottom of the standings.
Champions League League Phase Predictions
35/1 Top 8 treble
Tottenham
Fixtures: Villarreal (H), Bodo/Glimt (A), Monaco (A), Copenhagen (H), PSG (A), Slavia Prague (H), Dortmund (H), Frankfurt (A)
The Europa League winners received a kind draw. They’ve already proven themselves against PSG this term, outside of the French side there’s little for Tottenham to fear.
Their other trips takes them to sides they beat on the road in the Europa League last term in Frankfurt and Bodo, while home meetings with Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, and Copenhagen appear winnable.
Napoli
Fixtures: Man City (A), Sporting (H), PSV (A), Frankfurt (H), Qarabag (H), Benfica (A), Copenhagen (A), Chelsea (H)
Antonio Conte’s European record isn’t great, but he’s been bullish about Napoli’s chances in Europe. There’s pressure on Conte to deliver European progress, but he has a strong enough side to deliver.
Visits to Copenhagen, PSV, and Benfica are kind, while they could catch Man City cold in Kevin De Bruyne’s homecoming. Finishing at home to Chelsea – a grudge match for Conte and a fit-again Romelu Lukaku – should help them clinch top eight.
Juventus
Fixtures: Dortmund (H), Villarreal (A), Real Madrid (A), Sporting (H), Bodo/Glimt (A), Pafos (H), Benfica (H), Monaco (A)
Juve’s four highest-seeded opponents are Dortmund, Real, Benfica, and Villarreal. Given that five wins and a draw were enough to finish eighth last season, the Italian side should be confident of squeezing in.
Home meetings with Pafos and Sporting look good, while Monaco isn’t a bad away trip to round things out.
14/1 Knockout playoff treble
PSG to finish between 9th and 24th
Fixtures: Atalanta (H), Barcelona (A), Leverkusen (A), Bayern Munich (H), Tottenham (H), Athletic Bilbao (A), Sporting (A), Newcastle (H)
The champions have been handed a rough set of fixtures, while their first four games have been frontloaded with tests. The final three games are kind, but PSG could be in a similar position to last season when they rallied late to finish 15th.
Galatasaray to finish between 9th and 24th
Fixtures: Frankfurt (A), Liverpool (H), Bodo/Glimt (H), Ajax (A), Union Saint-Gilloise (H), Monaco (A), Atletico (H), Manchester City (A)
Galatasaray’s fixture list is a little tricky, but their intense atmosphere should result in difficult games for Liverpool and Atletico. Wins over Bodo and USG at home should get them halfway to the 11 points needed, while their talented attacking options should prove key on the road.
Club Brugge to finish between 9th and 24th
Fixtures: Monaco (H), Atalanta (A), Bayern Munich (A), Barcelona (H), Sporting (A), Arsenal (H), Kairat (A), Marseille (H)
Brugge were 24th in the League Phase last term, before shocking Atalanta in the first knockout round. Their elimination of Rangers in qualifying was eye-catching, showing how they’ve improved in Europe.
Last term, they claimed home wins over Aston Villa and Sporting, along with a victory at a poor Sturm Graz side. This fixture list is a little tougher, but Brugge look capable of progressing again.
Slavia Prague to finish bottom at 9/1
Fixtures: Bodo/Glimt (H), Inter Milan (A), Atalanta (A), Arsenal (H), Athletic Bilbao (H), Tottenham (A), Barcelona (H), Pafos (A)
Slavia Prague finished 30th out of 36 teams at this stage of last season’s Europa League, losing five of eight fixtures while scoring less than a goal per game. Their strongest opponents in that run, Athletic Bilbao, are considered their easiest fixture in this season’s Champions League.
Slavia start with a home meeting against last season’s Europa League semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt. After that, they go on a dire six-game run starting at Inter Milan and finishing at home to Barcelona. They face another contender in this market in their final game, but home advantage should inspire Pafos to victory.
Market leaders Kairat Almaty and Qarabag have a huge home advantage, while their most favourable home matches – Pafos and Copenhagen, respectively – can lift them clear of a Slavia side who could lose every game.
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