Champions League Playoffs: First Leg Preview

The regular matchdays for the UEFA Champions League have wrapped up, and now we are eager to see how the play offs fare off, as we already got our top 8 teams placed and awaiting the round of 16, as the teams who finished between the 9th and 24th spot on the board battle it out to earn their spots.

The teams on the top 8 are Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Bayer, Lille, and Aston Villa, and they will be awaiting those who win in the upcoming two legs of the Playoff matches to start the round of sixteen.

The rest of the teams are all looking to fight it out on their way to the top, and we are getting 8 interesting clashes, which will be split into two days, with 4 being played on the first and 4 on the second day, before a week passes by for the second leg.

The teams who will be fighting it out, in their placement order, are Atalanta, Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern, Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Manchester City, Sporting, and Club Brugge.

We are eager to see the clashes, and it is time to break down some of what we expect to be the most fun clashes we will be getting in the first leg of the Champions League Playoffs.

Champions League Weekly Picks Betting Odds

Champions League Playoffs First Leg: Brest vs. PSG

As the domestic trophy case at the Parc des Princes expands ever more, PSG are still searching for that elusive first Champions League title, and an indifferent league phase has not exactly fuelled the belief that this year could be their year.

On the other side, Eric Roy’s Brest emerged as shock contenders for a spot in the coveted top eight, winning three of their first four games in the league phase and holding Bundesliga invincibles Bayer Leverkusen to a draw in the other.

We do have to point out that PSG’s astonishing head-to-head record against Brest over the past 40 years speaks for itself, and with Dembele unable to stop scoring at this present time, the hosts should not pose too many problems for the French champions.

Brest vs. PSG Final Betting Pick: PSG

Champions League Playoffs First Leg: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

The last two winners of the Champions League must now fight for their right to qualify for the last 16 of the 2024-25 edition, as Manchester City and Real Madrid collide in Tuesday’s colossal first leg at the Etihad.

Despite City’s relative difficulty in avoiding group-stage elimination, they are seen as favorites going into Tuesday’s first leg.

Also seeing their powers wane in Europe after notching their record-extending 15th crown at Wembley last year, Real Madrid’s customary place in the knockout rounds came under some threat owing to three defeats from their first five continental contests of the campaign.

Guardiola has inevitably made a surfeit of changes, and the champions of England have rediscovered a knack for goals – and indeed victories – on their Etihad turf recently.

The hosts’ offensive exploits on their patch spell trouble for Real Madrid and their decimated defense, but Ancelotti’s men never know when they are beaten in Europe, and we expect the holders to return home happier after an entertaining first-leg draw.

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Final Betting Pick: Draw

Champions League Playoffs First Leg: Brugge vs. Atalanta

With both teams showing promise in the tournament, the clash between Club Brugge and Atalanta promises to be an intriguing encounter.

The hosts have a clean bill of health and no suspended players ahead of what should prove to be a tough first leg against Atalanta on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s guests could be without the services of Sead Kolasinac, Marco Carnesecchi, Gianluca Scamacca, Giorgio Scalvini, Ademola Lookman and El Bilal Toure for their trip to Belgium this week due to injury.

Even though the team will be working through a big list of absenses, we think that Atalanta has all it requires to get the win at Brugge’s field.

Brugge vs. Atalanta Final Betting Pick: Atalanta

Champions League Playoffs First Leg: Celtic vs. Bayern

Celtic has been on a nice run with 4 wins in their last 5 matches, but Bayern has also been relentless, with 5 wins in their last 6 matches, but the quality of competition shows.

Celtic has been achieving big wins lately but not against the strongest teams, while Bayern has been consistently winning against strong competition and is looking to keep that pace here in the first leg of the Playoffs.

We’re backing Bayern to come away with a 3-1 lead at the halfway point in this Liga dos Campeões Playoffs, as the German giants have scored at least three goals in four of their last six matches, which may be a pace that Celtic won’t be able to keep up with.

Celtic vs. Bayern Final Betting Pick: Bayern