Champions League Predictions
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Predictions - Qualifiers & Playoff Picks
This season, UEFA delivered a brand-new format for Europe’s most prestigious club soccer competition. In the first radical overhaul of the tournament since 1992, the group stage was replaced by a 36-team league.
While not every fan was thrilled about the new format when it was announced, the first season of the new-look Champions League has been a massive success, with one of the most exciting opening stages to the tournament in memory.
Now that the league stage is over, the tension of the knockout stage awaits. Which teams will progress, and which will be sent home early? You can bet on all the action of the knockout rounds at Stake Sportsbook and bet on all the soccer games live.
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Schedule
The Champions League qualifying stages conclude with the playoffs in late August before the draw takes place on 29 August. This draw will determine the fixtures that each club plays during the league phase. The draw, which adds teams into four seeding pots based on their individual club coefficients, will determine which opponents they face during the league stage.
Although all 36 teams will play in the same league, they’re matched up with eight different opponents. No matter which teams they face during the league phase, every club will play four home fixtures and four away fixtures. In addition, teams won’t get drawn against opponents from their domestic league and can only play a maximum of two sides from the same country. This means Premier League teams won’t face other PL teams and can only face up to two teams from La Liga or Serie A , for example.
Because the new format features two additional teams and eight fixtures rather than six, there are far more games for fans to watch and bet on. The total number of games during the league phase is 189 compared to 125 during the group stages of the previous season. The Europa League and Conference League have also undergone a similar change.
The top eight teams in the league stage automatically qualify for the last 16 knockout round, while the teams in ninth to 24th position will compete in a two-legged playoff for the chance to join them. The knockout play-off round draw takes place at the end of January 2025, followed by the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. The tournament concludes with the thrilling final, to be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
When & Where Are the UCL Knockout Phase Play-Offs?
The knockout play-offs are already underway, with teams drawn to face each other on January 31. The first leg of the knockout round play-offs kicked off on February 11, and the second leg will take place the following week to decide which teams go through.
Here’s the full schedule for the UCL knockout phase play-offs this season:
January 31, 2025 - Knockout round play-off draw
February 11/12, 2025 - First leg of the knockout round play-offs
February 18/19, 2025 - Second leg of the knockout round play-offs
February 21, 2025 - Champions League knockout stage draw
When & Where Are the UCL Finals?
The teams that win the playoffs will then meet the sides that qualified during the league stage for a place in the quarter-finals.
Here’s the full schedule for the knockout stages of the UCL:
21 February, 2025 - Knockout round draw
4-5 March, 2025 - First leg of the round of 16
11-12 March, 2025 - Second leg of the round of 16
8-9 April, 2025 - First leg of the quarter-finals
15-16 April, 2025 - Second leg of the quarter-finals
29-30 April, 2025 - First leg of the semi-finals
6-7 May, 2025 - Second leg of the semi-finals
31 May, 2025 - Final
The final is hosted at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Knockout Phase Play-Off Predictions
The knockout phase play-off draw has already happened and games are underway. Here’s a look at the fixtures:
Brest v Paris Saint-Germain
Club Brugge v Atalanta
Manchester City v Real Madrid
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven
Feyenoord v AC Milan
Celtic v Bayern Munich
Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund
Monaco v Benfica
Which Teams Will Advance?
Out of all the teams taking part in the play-offs, we’re predicting the following to advance to the next round:
Paris Saint-Germain
Atalanta
Real Madrid
Juventus
AC Milan
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Benfica
Players to Watch
The Champions League is the biggest stage in soccer club competitions and the perfect place for stars to shine. Some of the best players in the world have had their best performances on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the UCL, and we’re definitely looking forward to seeing these:
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
Vinícius Júnior - Real Madrid
Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Mohammed Salah – Liverpool
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski - Barcelona
Martin Odegaard - Arsenal
Julián Alvarez - Atletico Madrid
Ollie Watkins - Aston Villa
Champions League Picks to Win So Far
Who will win this season’s Champions League? Right now, there’s still a long way to go in the competition, but the biggest clubs are among the current favorites according to the latest odds:
Liverpool
Liverpool are currently running away with the Premier League title and have been dominant in the Champions League, winning seven out of eight games to comfortably top the league phase rankings and reach the last 16. They have won the competition 6 times in their history, last reaching the final in the 2021-22 season.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid didn’t look themselves during the league phase, failing to qualify automatically. However, this team is filled with talent and players with winning mentalities. Real have won an astonishing 5 out of the last 10 UCL finals and have won the competition a record 15 times.
Arsenal
Arsenal achieved an impressive record of 6 wins 1 draw and 1 loss during the league stage of the competition and automatically qualified for the next round. Their strong defense saw them concede just 3 goals during the first phase. However, Arsenal have never won the competition, with just one final appearance in 2006.
FC Barcelona
Barcelona have won the UCL 5 times in their history, although their last win was 10 years ago in 2015. They performed exceptionally well during the league phase, scoring 28 goals, the most in the competition. However, their defense is still questionable, as they conceded 13 goals in eight games so far.
Bayern Munich
German giants Bayern failed to automatically reach the last 16 and now have to win their two-legged playoff match against Celtic in order to progress. They’ve won the competition 6 times in their history, including most recently in 2020. The final will be a home game for them if they manage to reach it.
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain were one of the favorites to progress automatically, but after losing 3 times during the league phase, they now have to beat Brest to qualify for the last 16. They’ve never won the UCL but reached the final in 2020 when they were beaten by Bayern Munich.
UEFA Champions League Betting Tips, Odds & Previews
At Stake.com , we will keep you abreast of all the biggest upcoming sports events, so you can locate the best odds and insights. Ideally, to maximize your time spent with us, check out our soccer betting guide, or read our tips to consolidate your betting strategy:
Specialize in one market before expanding - If you are new to sports betting, particularly Champions League qualifying wagering, get to grips with easier betting systems, such as the moneyline, before advancing to more complex methods such as handicaps or a parlay .
Jump on any available offers or promotions advertised - This may range from free bets to money back if your team surges into a 2-0 lead, but whatever it is, you can boost your bankroll and enhance your betting experience in the long term.
Watch games live - If you can’t physically get to the stadium, the next best thing is to watch it on TV or via a stream, so you can identify patterns in the game. This could be whether a team struggles to close down space or impose themselves in say the first half.
Keep up-to-date with all the news - To stay across all the news, make sure you follow our blog , so you aren’t out of the loop when it comes to injury updates or other important info on matchdays.
We caught up with the expert himself, Sergio Aguero, to get his insights for the 2024-25 Champions League season, as well as his updated thoughts on the Champions League and La Liga! Check it out before placing your bets throughout the football season.
Types of Bets & How to Bet on Champions League
Champions League qualifying opens itself for a plethora of betting opportunities, and we have outlined some of the key markets below as well as in our sports betting guide for your perusal:
Moneyline - This is the purest but simplest bet and requires predicting which team will win. You will cash your ticket if a team comes out on top after 90 minutes, but remember that in the Champions League, away goals don’t count double as they used to so if both sides are level after regulation time, the contest will go into extra time.
Outright betting - This entails taking a long-term view or in the case of this guide, predicting which side will win the Champions League.
Props - This can be split down into team and individual performances, such as whether a player will be carded or how many corners there will be, and they provide good value for money.
Spread betting - Popular for soccer, a spread might be set between 0.5 and 2 goals. Betting on the favorite means they need to beat the spread. Typically, there are a lot of goals per game in the Champions League, and this can produce a tidy profit.
Live betting - To thrust you into the heart of the action, you can wager as the game goes on. You will be able to find live soccer markets that incorporate the moneyline, props, or even spreads, and there is more flexibility with in-play betting. For some, when it comes to live betting vs pre-match betting , the former might be more fun.
S ame Game Multi bet builder - It’s best to treat these as same-game parlays, so you can input multiple selections onto a single slip, but all legs must pull through for you to win.
Champions League Betting Odds, Payouts & Promotions
Before you start placing bets on the latest action from the Champions League, make sure you’re aware of how betting odds work and the effect they have on your payouts. Check our full guide on odds if you’re unsure. You can change between different formats, including decimal, fractional, and American, depending on your preferences.
At Stake, we want to make sure your experience watching and betting on the Champions League is as exciting as possible. That’s why we offer sports betting bonuses , including the Champions League first-half payout promo . Back any team in the 1x2 market, and if they score 2 goals in the first half, you’ll be paid out as a winner, even if they go on to lose the game!
Live Stream Soccer Matches Online
At Stake, you can keep on top of the football and soccer games through our free live soccer streams . Simply sign up, create an account, and head over to games that have a play button. Then, confirm the game that appeals the most before enjoying unfettered access.
Stake boasts a crisp product, and you should experience no buffering or lagging issues whether you are watching from home or on the move, so give it a whirl.
Stake VIP Club & Responsible Betting
Whether you are a novice soccer bettor or an aficionado, Stake is the home of the Champions League, including the play-offs and all knockout games, so you’re covered every step of the way for all matches.
Stake also boasts plenty of deposit and withdrawal methods for online betting, As a result, making payments using your preferred currency and payment method is incredibly straightforward and extremely safe, thanks to our vault .
Any questions you may have, don’t hesitate to check out our vault where there will be invaluable resources as well for high rollers, including answers about our bespoke VIP club and exclusive rewards .
In the meantime, stay Stake Smart and always gamble responsibly to have the best possible betting experience at Stake.
