How the new Champions League format will create new betting opportunities

The Champions League will embark on a new era in 2024/25, with UEFA’s revamped format delivering a seismic change to the competition.

The total number of teams participating in the Champions League has increased from 32 to 36, while the previous group stage set-up has been dispensed with. A new ‘league phase’ will be the opening stage of the competition and will see each team play eight fixtures from September to January.

With a new knockout play-off round to follow, the total number of matches will increase from 125 to 189. The move will create significantly more wagering opportunities on the best sports betting sites this season. In simple terms, Champions League punters have never had it so good.

Champions League 2024/25 format

The key dates for the 2024/25 Champions League are as follows:

• Matchday 1: September 17-19
• Matchday 2: October 1-2
• Matchday 3: October 22-23
• Matchday 4: November 5-6
• Matchday 5: November 26-27
• Matchday 6: December 10-11
• Matchday 7: January 21-22
• Matchday 8: January 29
• Knockout round play-offs: February 11-12, 18-19
• Round of 16: March 4-5 & 11-12 March
• Quarter-finals: April 8-9 & 15-16
• Semi-finals: April 29-30 & May 6-7
• Final: May 31

Every club plays eight games against eight different opponents during the league phase – four home and four away. The top eight sides in the league qualify automatically for the knockout stage.

The teams finishing in ninth to 24th place will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last-16 of the competition. Teams ranked 25-36 are eliminated from European competitions.

Champions League 2024/25 betting

The new Champions League format has generated plenty of interest in the sports betting industry. Before we look at some of the changes, here are the latest outright odds:

• Manchester City – 2/1
• Real Madrid – 7/2
• Arsenal – 8/1
• Bayern Munich – 12/1
• Barcelona – 12/1
• Liverpool – 14/1
• Paris Saint-Germain – 20/1
• Bayer Leverkusen – 25/1
• Inter Milan – 25/1
• Atletico Madrid – 25/1
• Borussia Dortmund – 25/1
• AC Milan – 40/1
• Juventus – 40/1
• Atalanta – 50/1
• Aston Villa – 66/1
• RB Leipzig – 100/1
• Sporting CP – 100/1
• Lille – 100/1
• Benfica – 100/1
• Monaco – 100/1
• PSV Eindhoven – 150/1
• Stuttgart – 150/1
• Feyenoord – 200/1
• Red Bull Salzburg – 200/1
• Bolgona – 200/1
• Girona – 200/1
• Celtic – 250/1
• Shakhtar Donetsk – 300/1
• Sturm Graz – 500/1
• Young Boys – 500/1
• Dinamo Zagreb – 500/1
• Red Star Belgrade – 750/1
• Slovan Bratislava – 1000/1

With 64 more matches scheduled to be played in the 2024/25 Champions League, bettors immediately have one-third more wagering opportunities this season.

While popular markets such as ‘group winner’ have been lost, the new format will create several other new betting opportunities for punters.

These include ‘league stage winner’, which requires punters to predict which team will be top of the pile at the end of the opening phase.

Man City are also the favourites in this market, but can actually be backed at higher odds to achieve the feat than to win the whole tournament.

The draw has been relatively kind to Pep Guardiola’s side, with visits to Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus the toughest fixtures they face.

‘Top eight finish’ is another new Champions League market for 2024/25 and could provide punters with some value if they are willing to take a chance.

Most of the big guns are priced prohibitively, but clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen (6/4) and Aston Villa (7/2) could give punters a good run for their money.

More new betting markets will likely be introduced by sportsbook operators before the league phase gets underway, giving punters even greater variety on UEFA’s top club competition this season.

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