Champions League Matchday 1 Review, Matchday 2 Preview & Tips

Last week, the Champions League Group Stages got underway, with all the top European teams in action across Tuesday and Wednesday night and there were some rather unexpected results in amongst the 16 games that took place.

A number of top teams landed big wins, Man City, Barcelona, Ajax, Sporting Lisbon, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli were amongst those that picked up maximum points and bolstered their goal difference in the meantime.

However, it wasn’t a great night for British teams with four going down to defeat, Celtic, Rangers, Chelsea and Liverpool, the latter of which were well beaten 4-1 in Naples by Napoli, while Rangers went down to a 4-0 defeat away to Ajax.

So, as we head into the second set of matches in the Group Stages this week, there is already pressure on those teams that didn’t pick up maximum points last week, to get a positive result from this week’s games.

In this article, we are going to recap all the action last week, before we then preview the 16 games taking place across Europe this week.

As always, bet365 Sport offers an exceptional range of pre-match bets on all Champions League fixtures, as well as a great choice of outright bets on the tournament itself.

And remember, when the action is underway on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, you can also enjoy extensive In Play betting with the company on all games.

Let’s now recap how the first week of action turned out in European football’s top competition.

Champions League Group Stage Tables & Results

Group A

Matchday 1 Results

• Ajax Amsterdam 4-0 Rangers (Alvarez 17, Berghuis 32, Kudus 33, Bergwijn 80)
• Napoli 4-1 Liverpool (Zielinski 5(p), 47, Anguissa 31, Simeone 44), (Diaz 49)

Group A Table

1. Ajax – 3pts (+4)
2. Napoli – 3pts (+3)
3. Liverpool – 0pts (-3)
4. Rangers – 0pts (-4)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Liverpool v Ajax Amsterdam (8pm – Tue)

The bookmakers may be backing a comfortable Liverpool win here but I am not so sure. The Reds have not been themselves this season, bar the game with Bournemouth, and Ajax are a very difficult team to beat, as Rangers found out last week. The Reds beat Ajax 1-0 home and away in the Group Stages last season, but I feel that the Draw at 15/4 is the best pick here.  

• Rangers v Napoli (8pm – Wed)

After a 4-0 defeat to Ajax, Rangers must get something from this game but they face a Napoli side that thrashed Liverpool last week and who have started very well in Serie A this season. In truth, I can’t see the Scottish side doing well here and I’d take Napoli to win at 4/5.

Group B

Matchday 1 Results

• Atletico Madrid 2-1 FC Porto (Hermoso 90+1, Griezmann 90+11), (Uribe 90+6(p))
• Club Brugge 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Sylla 42)

Group B Table

1. Atletico Madrid – 3pts (+1)
2. Club Brugge – 3pts (+1)
3. FC Porto – 0pts (-1)
4. Bayer Leverkusen – 0pts (-1)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid (8pm – Tue)

Leverkusen lost last week to Brugge and have started the season poorly in Germany. Atletico are not the side they once were, but they are still a very dangerous team and I feel that they have more than enough quality to land the win here. Take Atletico to win a narrow one at 13/8.

• FC Porto v Club Brugge (8pm – Tue)

After seeing three goals in injury time in the last game against Atletico, two of which went against Porto in a 2-1 defeat, the Portuguese side need a win here and at home against Club Brugge I would expect them to get it. Take FC Porto for the win at 2/5.

Group C

Matchday 1 Results

• Barcelona 5-1 Viktoria Plzen (Kessie 13, Lewandowski 34,45+3,67, Torres 71), (Sykora 44)
• Inter Milan 0-2 Bayern Munich (Sane 25, D’Ambrosio (OG) 66)

Group C Table

1. Barcelona – 3pts (+4)
2. Bayern Munich – 3pts (+2)
3. Inter Milan – 0pts (-2)
4. Viktoria Plzen – 0pts (-4)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Viktoria Plzen v Inter (5.45pm – Tue)

Plzen were predictably put to the sword by Barcelona last week and I think they are going to find things almost as tough at home to Inter. The Italian side must win this one to stand any chance in this group but I think they will. Pick Inter for the win here at 2/5.

• Bayern Munich v Barcelona (8pm – Tue)

A game worthy of the final and one that has seen Bayern dominate in recent years. However, this is an improving Barcelona team than the one Bayern beat twice 3-0 last season. As such, I am backing Barcelona to make this very tough, but even so I think Bayern take the win at 10/11.

Group D

Matchday 1 Results

• Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 Sporting Lisbon (Edwards 65, Trincao 67, Santos 82)
• Tottenham 2-0 Marseille (Richarlison 76,81)

Group D Table

1. Sporting Lisbon -3pts (+3)
2. Tottenham Hotspurs – 3pts (+2)
3. Marseille – 0pts (-2)
4. Eintracht Frankfurt – 0pts (-3)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Sporting Lisbon v Tottenham (5.45pm – Tue)

Both these teams enjoyed strong wins last week, but Sporting’s home form in Europe has not been great the past couple of years and I think Spurs have enough attacking quality to pick up what would be a very important away win here. Bet on Spurs to take the points at 11/10.

• Marseille v Eintracht Frankfurt (8pm – Tue)

Both these teams need to pick up a win after losing their opening games last week and I think Marseille look well set to do that. Frankfurt have lost so many talented players since last season and the French side have got a solid squad that is well capable of the win. Marseille should win here and are a good bet at 17/20.

Group E

Matchday 1 Results

• Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Chelsea (Orsic 13)
• Red Bull Salzburg 1-1 AC Milan (Okafor 28), (Saelemaekers 40)

Group E Table

1. Dinamo Zagreb – 3pts (+1)
2. AC Milan – 1pt (0)
3. Red Bull Salzburg – 1pt (0)
4. Chelsea – 0pts (-1)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• AC Milan v Dinamo Zagreb (5.45pm – Wed)

A win for either of these sides would put them in a strong position in Group E and while Dinamo Zagreb are tough to beat at home, they are not the best travellers and you would expect Serie Champions Milan, on home soil, to do enough to take the points. Get on Milan here at 1/4.

• Chelsea v Red Bull Salzburg (8pm – Wed)

The only positive for Chelsea in last week’s defeat was the other game being a draw as that means a decent win here should put Chelsea in the top two of Group E. I expect with new boss Graham Potter in charge, the home side will be out to kick start their campaign and I think they will land the win. Take Chelsea at 1/3.

Group F

Matchday 1 Results

• Celtic 0-3 Real Madrid (Vinicius Jr 56, Modric 60, Hazard 77)
• Red Bull Leipzig 1-4 Shakhtar Donetsk (Simakan 57), (Shved 15,58, Mudryk 76, Traore 85)

Group F Table

1. Shakhtar Donetsk -3pts (+3)
2. Real Madrid – 3pts (+3)
3. Red Bull Leipzig – 0pts (-3)
4. Celtic – 0pts (-3)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Shakhtar Donetsk v Celtic (5.45pm – Wed)

Despite a bright start, Celtic were well beaten by Real Madrid last week at home and I can’t see them winning in Poland against Donetsk, who thrashed Leipzig on the road 4-1 in what was the best performance of any team last week I felt. Take the home side to land the win here at 11/5.

• Real Madrid v Red Bull Leipzig (8pm – Wed)

Real Madrid produced a superb second-half display to defeat Celtic comfortably last week and they now take on a Leipzig side that has suffered with erratic form this season so far. The German side are in a bit of a mess, and I cannot see anything other than a comfortable Real Madrid win here at odds of 4/7.

Group G

Matchday 1 Results

• Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Copenhagen (Reus 35, Guerriero 42, Bellingham 83)
• Sevilla 0-4 Manchester City (Haaland 20,67, Foden 58, Ruben Dias 90+2)

Group G Table

1. Manchester City – 3pts (+4)
2. Borussia Dortmund – 3pts (+3)
3. FC Copenhagen – 0pts (-3)
4. Sevilla – 0pts (-4)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Copenhagen v Sevilla (8pm – Wed)

Both these teams suffered heavy losses in their opening game and a defeat here could leave it almost impossible for that team to make a run at qualifying from this group. Sevilla have the quality but not the form and Copenhagen have home advantage, but even so, I am backing Sevilla to land the win here, but only just, at 11/10.

• Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund (8pm – Wed)

Erling Haaland meets his former team at the Etihad on Wednesday and I feel the big Norwegian will be desperate to score against his former team. City were superb in Seville and they should have few issues here at home, even if they concede a goal. Back City to win comfortably at 2/11.

Group H

Matchday 1 Results

• Benfica 2-0 Maccabi Haifa (Silva 49, Grimaldo 54)
• Paris St Germain 2-1 Juventus (Mbappe 5,22), (McKennie 53)

Group H Table

1. Benfica – 3pts (+2)
2. Paris St Germain – 3pts (+1)
3. Juventus – 0pts (-1)
4. Maccabi Haifa -0pts (-2)

Matchday 2 Fixtures & Tips

• Juventus v Benfica (8pm – Wed)

I am quite surprised to see Juventus better than even money to win this game as I think they are a better and stronger side than Benfica and they have home advantage, which will be key. Benfica are a tricky side and will make it tough, but I take Juventus to land an important win here at 6/5.

• Maccabi Haifa v Paris St Germain (8pm – Wed)

The Israeli side went down 2-0 last week against Benfica and while they are at home this week, they are taking on a PSG side in superb form and looking very likely to go deep in this tournament again. There’s no question here, take PSG to win at 1/6.