Champions League Matchday 1 tips & predictions | September 18

Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign continues with six intriguing matchups on Thursday morning (AEST).

Paris-Saint Germain kick off their title defence at home against Atalanta, while Chelsea face a tough trip to Bavaria and Atletico Madrid look to silence Anfield.

Here are BettingSite.com.au’s free tips and match predictions for September 18, with odds from the top soccer betting sites.

• 

  Fast Payouts

Olympiacos vs Pafos FC

Thursday, September 18 – 2:45am AEST – Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece

Playing Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium is never an easy task, and the Greek giants arrive with proven European credentials as winners of the 2023–24 Conference League. Pafos, meanwhile, are making their first appearance in the Champions League after a demanding qualifying campaign, and they head into this clash on the back of a 1–0 home defeat to Apollon Limassol. Facing Olympiacos in Piraeus just four days later shapes as a major test.

Slavia Prague vs Bodø/Glimt

Thursday, September 18 – 2:45am AEST – Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czechia

Eight of Slavia’s past nine European home fixtures have delivered at least three goals, and Bodø/Glimt come in fresh from a 5–0 Champions League playoff thrashing of Sturm Graz and a 7–1 Eliteserien victory over Kristiansund on Saturday. All signs point to another free-scoring contest.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Atalanta

Thursday, September 18 – 5am AEST – Parc des Princes, Paris, France

PSG will be determined to get their Champions League title defence off to a strong start at home. Atalanta pose a threat, but playing away makes this a tougher assignment. With PSG opening Ligue 1 with four straight wins, they look hard to beat on their own deck.

Ajax vs Inter Milan

Thursday, September 18 – 5am AEST – Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Lautaro Martínez finished last season as Inter’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League, and he’s kept his sharp touch with goals for both club and country over the past month. With Ajax still bedding in under John Heitinga, Martínez’s near-post movement and knack for finishing from crosses shape as the biggest Nerazzurri weapon to exploit any lapses at the back.

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

Thursday, September 18 – 5am AEST – Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Harry Kane bagged a double in Bayern’s 5–0 Bundesliga win over Hamburg on Saturday and will spearhead the attack in Wednesday’s Champions League opener against Chelsea. His European record at the Allianz is outstanding, scoring four against Dinamo Zagreb last season and a brace in the knockout stages against Leverkusen. With penalties also in his locker, Kane looks the most likely to strike first.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

Thursday, September 18 – 5am AEST – Anfield, Liverpool, England

Mohamed Salah slotted a 95th-minute penalty to give Liverpool victory at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, adding to the goal he scored for Egypt during the international break. He’s hurt Atlético before, striking twice in the 3–2 win at the Metropolitano in 2021, and remains the Reds’ all-time leading scorer in European competition. With Anfield behind him, Salah’s danger in front of goal only grows stronger.

Sports betting tips