Champions League Betting Sites | Champions League Betting 2024

How The Champions League Plays Out

Beginning with three knockout qualifying rounds in July before most domestic European leagues have even laced their boots, the UEFA Champions League is quickly whittled down to 32 elite teams who compete in the group stage. The winner of each group plays the runners-up of another group which ultimately decides the 8 teams that will play in the knockout phase of the tournament. Knockout games are played in a two-legged (home and away for each team) format, with the exception of the final which is normally held in the last 2 weeks of May.

It's like a more in-depth, much more complex and longer lasting World Cup format with the ultimate champion staking its claim as the best club team on the planet.

Backing a Tournament Winner

Picking a tournament winner is no mean feat. Since it was founded in 1952, 22 teams have triumphed, and even since its rebranding in 1992 there have been 13 different winners. In fact, the UEFA Champions League is so competitive that no team has retained the title since AC Milan won in 1989 and 1990. Over the past two decades, 80% of winners were either winners or runners-up in their domestic league during the preceding season.

Interestingly though, every Champions League winner between 2012 and 2015 had finished runners-up in the preceding domestic season; so it seems talent and hunger is a useful combination. In recent seasons Real Madrid have triumphed, with Champions League wins in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 competitions. If you’re not quite ready to pick a tournament winner, backing a team to reach the final, or to exit at a specific stage of the tournament, can be a better way to capitalize on your knowledge.

Top Goal Scorers Market

Unlike domestic leagues like the Premier League in England, deciding on who will score the most goals in the Champions League comes down to two key factors: weak opposition in the group stages and the potential for the team to progress. Sometimes this means backing the big names, but surprises aren't uncommon. Take into account the player’s form in their domestic season to see whether they’re in firing form.

Tips for Group Stage Betting

With fewer teams involved in each group, betting in the group winner market and backing teams to qualify (or not) have far fewer variables than the tournament market on the whole. As a result, odds will be slightly lower, but you have a good chance of earning small, regular returns. If you think you’ve spotted a particularly divided group, or a striker who could surprise, but perhaps not last the distance to finish as top goal scorer in the tournament, many online gambling sites also allow you to bet on group and team top goal scorers. The group stages are also better indicators of the ultimate winner than you may think. Many recent Champions League winners have won their groups on the way to the final, so don’t be afraid to make bold predictions based on success early on.

Betting the Individual Matches

Individual match betting in the UEFA Champions League also has a distinct flavor. As well as assessing the usual mix of form, strengths, weaknesses and strategy, there are additional considerations to factor in. Talk of a ‘Champions League hangover’ dominates domestic leagues following midweek Champions League fixtures, and there can be no doubt that this factors into managers' calculations. With key matches approaching in domestic leagues, you may want to consider whether a manager will rest his best players players: particularly against weaker opposition.

This can have an effect on numerous markets, from the final result to more specific markets, including total goals scored. Once the tournament reaches the knockout phases, match tactics are also affected by the fact that matchups are contested over two legs. Reluctance to concede away goals, the advantage of playing the home leg first and the need to overcome aggregate scores should all be factored into gamblers’ betting strategies.

In-Play or Live Betting the Champions League

If you’re considering getting into Champions League betting, the chances are you’ll want to get right into the action. In-play betting when it comes to soccer betting, is the best way to do just that. When betting on player markets, such as first, last, or next goal scorer, it’s worth tracking a player’s domestic form to see if there’s been a dip since their last Champions League outing. On the broader markets, tracking the ebb and flow of a game is vital.

Watch for key changes like cards, substitutions and changing formations, which can give an indication that a team is about to switch up their game. Live statistics, shown in the in-play betting console of top gambling sites, are also vital in obtaining an objective overview and monitoring tricky stats.

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Champions League Betting Markets

Futures betting on the Champions League is very popular and online bookmakers will create a plethora of betting markets for those who want to enjoy a longer-lasting wager on this competition.

Champions League futures bets include:

• Tournament Winner
• Top Goalscorer
• Winning Nation
• Group Winner
• To Qualify from Group
• To Reach Final
• Stage of Elimination

Many of these futures markets are available during the course of the Champions League campaign. You might bet on the Tournament Winner market in September and then revise your opinion in February and decide to place another bet on the latest market.

Champions League match bets include:

• Match Winner
• Correct Score
• Both Teams to Score
• Over / Under Goals
• First Goalscorer
• Asian Handicap
• Double Chance

In addition, many betting customers like to place Champions League accumulator bets on this competition. During the group stage, there are eight matches taking place on the same evening and that offers up the chance to place accas and other multiple bets on the action.

Champions League In-Play bets include:

• Match Winner
• Final Score
• Team To Score Next
• Player to Score Next
• Half-Time 1x2
• Half-Time Score
• Total Goals

Previous Champions League Final Winners & Results

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