UEFA Champions League Predictions & Betting Tips 29/01/2025
UEFA Champions League Predictions & Betting Tips 29/01/2025
Manchester City risk missing out on a place in the next round of the UEFA Champions League following their shock 4-2 defeat to PSG in Paris. They MUST beat Club Brugge in Manchester if they fancy going through to the next round.
Barcelona's comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win 5-4 against Benfica in Portugal garnered significant attention, positioning them in 2nd place, 18 points behind Liverpool. They are among the qualified teams for the next round, with a game to spare.
We understand the last round will not be short of intriguing results, but we expect most of the favourites to wrap the group stage with wins.
This week’s UEFA Champions League gameweek 8 predictions were based on current form, data, and expert knowledge.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Gameweek 9 Predictions and Betting Tips: 29/01/2025
PSV and Liverpool to delight fans with goals: PSV vs Liverpool
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Liverpool may have qualified for the next round, but they will want to wrap the group stage up in style.
Champions League matches involving PSV usually end with three or more goals, just as their last game against Crvena Zvezda ended with five goals. Liverpool are superb goalscoring team, so we can expect three goals from this game.
PSV vs Liverpool prediction: Over 2.5 goals
Bayern Munich to dominate both halves: Bayern Munich vs Slovan Bratislava
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Slovan Bratislava have one of the worst defenses in the competition, and we can imagine them conceding in both halves.
Bayern Munich are keen on finishing in the top eight of the UCL, and a win over Slovan may help them achieve that. The Bavarians lost to Feyenoord in the last round, but we expect them to outclass Slovan, who struggle to score goals and sit in 35th place with seven defeats in seven games.
Bayern Munich vs Slovan Bratislava prediction: Home team to win both halves - yes
Dortmund to bounce back to winning ways: Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Shakhtar Donetsk may have won their last game against Brest, but they are unlikely to do the same in Germany.
Borussia Dortmund may have lost three of their last seven UCL matches, but they are unlikely to fall short at home against a Shakhtar Donetsk side that sits outside the top 24. The Ukrainians beat Brest 2-0, but they have been dreadful away from home, and we expect their struggles to continue in Germany.
Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk prediction: Home team to win
Bayer Leverkusen to bounce back to winning ways: Bayer Leverkusen vs Sparta Prague
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Bayer lost to 10-men Atletico Madrid in the last round, but we expect them to bounce back against struggling Sparta.
Sparta Prague lost five of their last seven UCL matches and sits outside the top 24. They are already out of the Champions League and will likely struggle to make a point in Germany. Bayer need to finish in the top eight for direct entry in the next round, and a win will do just that.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Sparta Prague prediction: Home team to win
Arsenal to avoid a defeat in Spain: Girona vs Arsenal
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Girona may be out of the competition, but they will want to avoid a defeat in their last UCL game against Arsenal.
There are ideas that this game may end in a draw because Girona, who are out of the competition, will try to avoid a defeat in their last game, while Arsenal are likely to finish in the top eight even if they lose to Girona. The Gunners would rather avoid a defeat in Spain than finish poorly.
Girona vs Arsenal prediction: Away team to win or draw
Barcelona and Atalanta to exchange goals: Barcelona vs Atalanta
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Barcelona struggle to keep clean sheets, and we don’t expect them to keep one against Atalanta.
Atalanta have one of the best attacks in the Champions League, and with Barcelona conceding in almost every UCL game, we think both teams will exchange goals in the upcoming game in Barcelona.
Barcelona vs Atalanta prediction: Both teams to score - yes
Real Madrid to maintain their winning momentum: Brest vs Real Madrid
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Real Madrid extended their winning run to two matches against RB Salzburg, and they are likely to make it three in a row against Brest.
Brest lost 2-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk away from home, and whilst they are expected to play in the UCL qualification, we doubt they will put up a worthy fight against Real Madrid, who still have a chance to finish in the top eight.
Brest vs Real Madrid prediction: Away team to win
Manchester City to bounce back to winning ways: Manchester City vs Club Brugge
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Manchester City lost 4-2 to PSG despite leading 2-0 in the second half, but they can make things right against Club Brugge.
Manchester City are outside the top 24 of the UCL standings, and only a win over Club Brugge can see them make the qualification spots. Club Brugge are already in the top 24, and they can still be within the cut even if they lose to Man City - but by a small margin. Both teams will approach the game differently, and we expect the hosts to win.
Manchester City vs Club Brugge prediction: Home team to win
Young Boys and Crvena Zvezda will delight fans with goals: Young Boys vs Crvena Zvezda
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Matches involving either team most times end with three or more goals, and we think the upcoming game will follow suit.
Young Boys averaged 3.71 goals per game in 7 UCL matches, while Crvena Zvezda averaged 4.85 goals per game in 7 UCL matches. Both teams may have issues upfront, but their backlines are fond of conceding at least three goals per game. We can anticipate the same to happen in Switzerland.
Young Boys vs Crvena Zvezda prediction: Over 2.5 goals
Lille and Feyenoord to exchange goals: Lille vs Feyenoord
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Lille scored and conceded against Liverpool at Anfield; surely they can get a goal against a good goalscoring side like Feyenoord.
Feyenoord scored three goals against Bayern Munich, and surely they can get on the scoreboard against Lille as guests. Both teams are expected to qualify for the qualification round, and expecting goals from both ends isn’t a stretch.
Lille vs Feyenoord prediction: Both teams to score - yes
Juventus and Benfica to exchange goals: Juventus vs Benfica
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Benfica scored four goals against Barcelona, and we think they will want to impress their fans in Italy with high-quality attacking football.
Juventus may not concede many goals, but they are unlikely to keep a clean sheet against Benfica. Although Juve has only conceded 5 goals in 7 games, how can they effectively silence the Portuguese team that has scored 14 goals in 7 matches? Both teams will fight for the points, hence getting on the scoresheet.
Juventus vs Benfica prediction: Both teams to score - yes
Aston Villa to bounce back to winning ways: Aston Villa vs Celtic
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Aston Villa fell short last time out against Monaco, but they can do better against Celtic.
Celtic struggled against struggling Young Boys, and we doubt if they can stand tall in England. Aston Villa are a superb side at home and rarely drop points at Villa Park. A win can see Villa book a direct entry to the next round of the competition, and we think they can achieve that, thanks to Celtic’s inconsistency in away games.
Aston Villa vs Celtic prediction: Home team to win
AC Milan and Dinamo Zagreb to exchange goals: Dinamo Zagreb vs AZ Milan
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Despite winning their last five UCL matches, AC Milan will face resistance from Dinamo Zagreb.
Dinamo Zagreb are one win away from booking a place in the top 24, and they will give everything for that to happen. However, they can get on the scoreboard because AC Milan may not start with their strong squad as they are expected to book a place in the qualification round.
Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan prediction: Both teams to score - yes
Inter Milan to wrap the group stage with a win: Inter Milan vs Monaco
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Only three points separate both teams, but Inter Milan rarely drop points at home.
Inter Milan won five of their last seven UCL matches, and they would rather want to finish the group stage with a win. They haven’t lost at home, and Monaco’s inconsistency in away games may see them fall short in Milan.
Inter Milan vs Monaco prediction: Home team to win
Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig to delight fans with goals: Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Both teams have suffered defensively, and we think their defense howlers will come to play in the upcoming game.
Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig conceded 14 goals each in 7 UCL matches and averaged over 2.5 goals per game. With both teams already out of the Champions League, we can anticipate end-to-end football from both clubs.
Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig prediction: Over 2.5 goals
Atletico Madrid to outclass RB Salzburg in Austria: RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- RB Salzburg are out of the competition and doubt they will put up a worthy fight against Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid are pushing for a top-eight finish in the Champions League and their current form (four wins in their last UCL matches) coupled with RB Salzburg’s exit from the competition suggests Diego Simeone’s side is likely to get the win.
RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid prediction: Away team to win
Sporting CP to bounce back to winning ways: Sporting CP vs Bologna
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Sporting CP need a draw at least to ensure a place in the qualification stage, and Bologna are unlikely to stop them.
Sporting CP lost to RB Leipzig in the last round, but they remain in the race to qualify for the next round. Bologna are already out of the competition and have nothing else to fight for. However, this competition is full of surprises, so we are not letting Sporting's home advantage deter us.
Sporting CP vs Bologna prediction: Home team to win or draw
Stuttgart and PSG to exchange goals: Stuttgart vs PSG
- Date: 29/01/2025
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Both teams can still miss out on a place in the next round, so they can be anxious and make some mistakes at the back.
Stuttgart scored 12 goals and conceded 13 goals in 7 UCL matches, and PSG scored 10 goals and conceded 8 goals in 7 games. Both teams, who sit in the top 24 at the moment, need the win to cement their place in the qualification round; hence, we can expect attacking football from both clubs. Having conceded more goals than matches played in this competition, we can anticipate at least one goal from both ends.
