Champions League Groups Draw 2018 – Betting Odds & Predictions

Cititzens favourites after Group Stage Draw

Champions League Betting

The dust has settled on the group stage draw for the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League which was made in Monaco on Thursday, August 30th. Now the participating teams can start preparing for the action. The first matchday of this season’s action is on September 18/19th when the teams will get their first taste of Europe’s top club competition for the term.

Of the four English teams that found themselves in this season’s draw, Manchester City will be the happiest of the bunch with a relatively easy draw. Liverpool meanwhile have landed some tough opposition, Spurs have to challenge Barcelona and Manchester United will get a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo after drawing Juventus.

Champions League 2018 Odds*

Manchester City 9/2
FC Barcelona 13/2
Juventus 13/2
PSG 7/1
Real Madrid 9/1
Bayern Munich 10/1
Liverpool 11/1
Atletico Madrid 12/1
Tottenham 20/1
Manchester United 28/1
Napoli 50/1
Roma 50/1
Inter 50/1
Bar 80/1
* (betting odds taken from Paddy Power on August 30th, 2018 at 6:40 pm)

Visit Paddy Power

Group A: Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, Monaco, Club Brugge

We don’t see any scares or upsets happening in Group A. Atletico Madrid, whose Metropolitano Stadium will host this season’s final, are the early 1/2 odds-on favourites to win this group* (betting odd taken from August 30th, 2018 at 6:40 pm). We can’t oppose that at all because Dortmund have become a fading threat and Monaco just are not likely to be up to the challenge. Dortmund and Atletico will meet for the first time since the 1996/97 season.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, Monaco, CLub Brugge

Group B: Barcelona, Tottenham, PSV, Inter Milan

Tottenham once again gets drawn in a group alongside one of Europe’s elite. It was Real Madrid last season, this term it is Barcelona. But not only do the Lilywhites have to raise themselves for that challenge, but there is the danger of Inter as well. The Italians are a growing force and will have plenty of underdog bets coming their way to quality. But we are going to back Spurs to hold off the Italians, given when the Lilywhites produced last season. Spurs are 3/1 second favourites to win in the group* (betting odd taken from August 30th, 2018 at 6:40 pm).

Spurs have met Barcelona before, way back in the 1982 Cup Winners’ Cup which Barca won 2-1 on aggregate. Tottenham have had a couple of thrilling encounters with Inter. There was that meeting in the 2010 Champions League which Spurs managed to dig in and win 6-5 on aggregate in a crazy tie. A few seasons later in the 2013 Europa League, there was a 4-4 aggregate draw between Spurs and Inter, the English club getting through to the quarter-finals on away goals.
Group B: Barcelona, Tottenham, Inter, PSV

Group C: PSG, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade

There is a tough challenge ahead for Liverpool. They were only in the third seed pot for the draw, despite being runners-up last season. So they have to deal with PSG from Pot 1 and Napoli from Pot 2. That decreases their chances of making it through to the knockout stage. There are no easy games against either of those two.

We are sticking with the obvious option of PSG to win the group, but Noapli look just a strong this season and have the experienced hand of Carlo Ancelotti there now after losing Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea. They will pose Liverpool a huge threat.

Liverpool’s only previous clashewith PSG was in the 1997 Cup Winner Cup when they both won their respective home games. Liverpool met Napoli in the group stage of the 2010/11 Europa League with Liverpool banking a solid home win after a 0-0 draw out in Naples.

Prediction: PSG, Napoli, Liverpool, Crvena Zvezda

Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray

The least inspiring of all the groups in this season’s Champions League. This isn’t one that is going to draw a lot of attention at all. We are simply backing Porto to win.
Prediction: Porto, Schalke, Lokomotiv Moscow, Galatasaray

Group E: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens

Bayern Munich are the 1/12 odds-on favourites to win this group* (betting odd taken from August 30th, 2018 at 6:40 pm) and we can see them doing it fairly unchallenged as well. The rest of the competition in Group E aren’t up to their high standards. The most interesting thing is going to be who comes out in the scrap between Benfica and Ajax for second place. We are tipping Benfica.

Prediction: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens.

Group F: MAN CITY, Shakhtar, Lyon, Hoffenheim

Pep Guardiola will be delighted with the draw Manchester City have received for the Group Stage of the 2018/19 Champions League. It should be a walk in the park for them and they are running on as favourites to win the Champions League following the draw at 9/2 odds with Paddy Power.

City and Shakhtar were together just last season in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The two of them traded home wins, City lost away from home against them in a dead rubber on matchday six having already won the group. They have never met Lyon before.

Prediction: Man City, Lyon, Shakhtar Hoffenheim.

Group G: Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen

This should be a routine exercise for the top two seeds in the group. Real Madrid and Roma are going to be strong enough to get through and we are sticking with the Spaniards to top it. Well worth a straight forecast on Madrid-Roma.
Prediction: Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen

Group H: Juventus, MAN UTD, Valencia, Young Boys

Manchester United will be gritting their teeth at this one. We can’t oppose Juventus in getting the group win as they will be so tough to get the better off. Manchester United will be under threat from Valencia for the other qualification spot though, particularly after the poor start to the season the Red Devils have had.

The head to head between Man Utd and Juventus is even with five wins each and two draws. Their most recent meeting was in the 2003 Champions League with United landing back to back wins over the Italians in the second group stage. United are D4 D1 L1 in their last six against the Old Lady.

Manchester United met Valencia in the group stage of the 2010/11 edition with the Red Devils getting four points on the board. Each of the last five between them have ended under 2.5 goals and Untied and undefeated in six previous Champions League games against the Spaniards.

Prediction: Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia, Young Boys