In The Mixer: Experts pick their Champions League best bets

In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with seven experts in football betting and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.

With the Champions League group stages starting this week, we’ve asked our experts for their best bets in any market.  We gave them a free run this week and the result is a few outside options in the outright market, a couple of top scorer selections and a smattering of potential group winners as well.

Group winners in focus

Aaron Ashley

Sports journalist at Racing Post

I think there’s still some juice in the price of Chelsea outright. The Blues defended resolutely to win the Champions League last season and the addition of Romelu Lukaku has given them significantly more firepower.

Thomas Tuchel has the squad depth to balance their domestic challenge with an European adventure and the group stage draw is a generous one, with Juventus, Zenit and Malmo unlikely to pose too many problems.

Chelsea are a difficult team to beat because they don’t concede many goals and they look well-suited to a two-legged tie under Tuchel’s tactics.

A treble on Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich to win their respective groups pays just under 3/1 and looks a bet worth having.

Aaron Rogan

Football Journalist at Free Super Tips

The Champions League group stage is most entertaining when you get an evenly-matched group. This year that’s Group, G which features French champions Lille, Sevilla, Salzburg and Wolfsburg.

With no super club in sight back Sevilla at 6/4 to top the pile. They pushed Chelsea close last season before losing out to Dortmund, but Sevilla have a lot of European experience and that should see them edge out their rivals. 

Gareth Freeman

Football Journalist at Free Super Tips

Liverpool are the favourites to win Group B but at around 2/1 to top that particular pile I think Atletico Madrid are worth some consideration there.  Diego Simeone’s men have started the season well, and with AC Milan and Porto completing the group the winner may not be decided just by the meetings between Los Colchoneros and the Reds.  

I also think Cristiano Ronaldo is worth an each-way bet to be the top scorer seeing as Manchester United have been drawn in what looks an easy group for them, he could even be close to double figures by the time the group stage ends.

Real and Bayern value picks in outright market

Joe Casey

Sports Journalist at Racing Post

Bayern Munich were missing Robert Lewandowski as they amassed 45 shots across the two legs against PSG last season, eventually losing out on the now discarded away goals rule.

With their marksman back, and having ransacked nearest Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig for their manager, centre-back and captain, they look primed for a big showing in the Champions League.

If Bayern have a substantial lead at the top of the Bundesliga come the Champions League knockout stages, they will prioritise regaining the European title they won in 2020.

Youngsters such as Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies will come to the fore this season and compliment their rock solid core and around 8/1 is more than fair.

James Milton

Sports Journalist at Racing Post

Paris St-Germain and Manchester City understandably dominate the outright market although the next four or five in the betting all look stronger than they were last season.

Real Madrid may be worth a small each-way bet at 14/1 and they face Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage for the second season running.

Inter finished bottom of the section last term and have lost title-winning coach Antonio Conte and star players Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi so Shakhtar, who beat Real at home and away and have significantly improved their attacking unit, look a nice price to qualify from Group D.

Haaland and Lukaku in top scorer mix

Tom Hill

Sports Journalist at ICS

Erling Haaland enjoyed himself during last season’s Champions League, with the Norway international scoring ten goals, even though Borussia Dortmund only reached the quarter-finals.

While the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku look like they can enjoy strong campaigns, it looks like sticking with Haaland is a sensible idea.

Dortmund have been drawn in Group C alongside Ajax, Besiktas and Sporting Lisbon, and there’s every chance Haaland could have already racked up the goals before the knockout stages.

At 6/1, he looks to offer decent value in the top goalscorer market, and it’s never a good idea to back against the Norwegian star.

Rob Eddy

Sports Journalist at ICS

Paris Saint-Germain’s recruitment in their pursuit of Champions League success has seen them installed as the outright favourites but they still seem too short, while second favourites Manchester City always find a way to lose.

Chelsea offer more value at 8/1 to land the big prize, having strengthened what was a good enough squad to win this tournament last year.

Romelu Lukaku makes a big difference to this already defensively strong side, while the Belgian striker looks a decent punt at around 8/1 to finish top of the goalscoring charts.

More betting news:

94/1 Correct Score Double 1 of 3 FST winners on Monday!

Massive 111/1 Champions League group winner accumulator!