Champions League Matchday 1 best bets – Thursday, September 8

The group stage of the UEFA Champions League is finally kicking off. After eight matches on Tuesday, we will have another eight this Wednesday. Here are our best bets for the Champions League action on September 7.

Ajax vs Rangers

Steven Bergwijn appears to have finally found his form after a tumultuous year and a half in the English Premier League. He is back in the Dutch league, where he has six goals in five games this season. By all accounts, he is back to the elite level he was playing at before joining Spurs and his athleticism is giving Ajax’s opponents fits. Ajax advanced past to the Champions League knockout rounds last year, and although they have lost some key personnel since then, they will be hoping to join Liverpool among the top two in Group A. They should easily dismantle Rangers in this fixture and put plenty of goals on the board. Bergwijn is Ajax’s most dangerous attacking weapon and should have plenty of chances to score, so +175 is a great number to get him at.

Napoli vs Liverpool

Liverpool have had quite a disappointing start to their Premier League season. After expecting a title run, they have started with two wins, three draws and one loss — good enough for seventh place. That being said, Liverpool have too much talent to carry on down this path. They have an elite team from top to bottom and Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in the world. Simply put, this is not the end of dominance for Liverpool. The Champions League can act like a fresh start for them.

Liverpool, on their best day, are nearly unbeatable, so this pick is nothing against Napoli. The Azzurri have a talented squad and currently sit in first place in Serie A. They have had a great start to the season and look primed for a title run. However, in this fixture, they do not have the defensive talent to contain Liverpool. Napoli lost their best defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, to Chelsea in this past transfer window and they haven’t properly replaced him. Expect the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nuñez and Diogo Jota to create plenty of chances as Liverpool come away with a relatively easy away win.

Atletico Madrid vs Porto

Porto were one of the surprise teams of last year’s Champions League, making it all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to Chelsea. The Portuguese giants look primed to make another deep run this season, but this is a very tough opening game. While they didn’t lose a bunch of key playmakers from last year’s team, Porto lost a lot of their depth in the summer transfer window and that will leave them ill-equipped for this contest. Midweek Champions League games are usually a test of depth and fitness level, and that gives the home side the advantage in this fixture.

Atletico Madrid are one of the most consistent threats in the Champions League. Diego Simeone’s men always seem to go on a run, and while they haven’t won one yet, they are always a tough out. Part of that success is due to their ability to win group stage matches, and they should have success in this year’s group stage as well. Atleti also have more playmakers than this Porto side, and guys like Joao Felix and Yannick Carrasco should be the difference in this contest. Take Atletico to win at home, and watch them start their Champions League journey on the right foot.

Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich

This is the game of the matchday and it is set up to be a thrilling contest. This will be many soccer fans’ first time watching Bayern without Robert Lewandowski. A key part of the new-look Bayern squad is former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, who is off to a great start with his new club. Mane has three goals in five games and has proven to be a difference maker for the German giants. The Bayern attack is filled with talent but none have proven it more than Sadio Mane, who has 30 Champions League goals in his career to date. In his first CL game with his new club, we expect Mane to be a constant threat to Inter’s backline and end up on the score sheet. At +145 with Marantelli Bet, it is a great value bet.

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