Champions League Tuesday Tips: Back Haaland to strike, Villa draw and Dortmund goalfest

AEK Athens v LASK Tip - Back goals galore in Greek win

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Tuesday 8 September, 17:45 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 2 & HBO Max

AEK have lost six straight Champions League group games but are 8/111.73 favourites against fellow qualifiers LASK, who produced that incredible comeback to send Celtic packing in the last round.

Outside of this competition, AEK have won nine of 11 home European ties and seven of their last eight home games in all competitions - by a 13-0 aggregate - but LASK also bring goals with 33 scored this season and over 2.5 goals landing in 13 of their last 14 outings.

With eight of AEK's last 10 European games also clocking over 2.5 goals, that looks the way to go in what could be a low-key thriller.

Brugge v Aston Villa Tip - Belgians good for a point

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Tuesday 8 September, 17:45 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 1 & HBO Max

It's been a tough start to the season for Europa League champions Aston Villa with just one point and no goals from three league games, and they're only slight 6/42.50 favourites for this tricky trip to the Belgian champions, who've reached the UCL knockouts in their last three appearances.

Brugge 17/102.70 have been beaten in just three of their last 22 European home ties (W13 D6) but they've conceded a bagful of goals in the UCL, 43 in the last two campaigns in fact, so Unai Emery will fancy his side to break their goal drought here, although it may not be enough to beat lively opposition.

Borussia Dortmund v Villarreal Tip - Back BVB in another shootout

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Tuesday 8 September, 20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 2 & HBO Max

Dortmund smashed Villarreal 4-0 here last season and are 4/51.80 to take maximum points again thanks to their strong home form of W17 D4 L2 in their last 23 outings in this competition. The Spaniards are winless in four this season and have lost four straight UCL away days without scoring a goal.

Goals have not been an issue for Dortmund - they scored 4+ in their first three UCL games last season while in total 70 goals have gone in during their 16 group games over the last two years. Expect more here in a home win.

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Porto v Man City Tip - Haaland to bag in 3/14.00 City win

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Tuesday 8 September, 20:00 kick-off
Live on Amazon Prime Video

This is a good early test for Enzo Maresca as Porto have won five from five, conceded just one goal so far this season and have lost just once in 14 European home games. The Dragons are 18/54.60 home underdogs, with Man City also 100% in the Premier League this season, but the 7/101.70 favourites haven't been great in the Champions League recently.

City have lost six of their past nine UCL road trips and were largely unconvincing against both Bournemouth and Coventry, despite winning. With Porto's home record, City will have to work for this - but it's easy enough to see Erling Haaland once again proving to be the difference.

Lille v Real Betis Tip - Honours even in France

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Tuesday 8 September, 20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 3 & HBO Max

Two sides stepping up from the Europa League last year with plenty of similarities. Betis are back in the Champions League after 21 years and Manuel Pelligrini's side beat Real Madrid on Friday to equal their best four-game league start in a decade.

Davide Ancelotti, legendary coach Carlo's son, leads Lille who come here after a 2-2 draw with PSG to stretch their unbeaten start to the campaign so they're 5/42.25 home favourites. But 9/43.25 Betis are in good enough form to fancy their chances.

Betis aren't great on the road, while Lille's European game have usually been tight, so this one has some decent conditions for a draw.

Real Madrid v Inter Milan Tip - Inter to make their point in Madrid

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Tuesday 8 September, 20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 1 & HBO Max

Jose Mourinho leads Real Madrid in the Champions League again and faces Inter in his first game back - the Italian team he led to the title back in 2010. After two comfortable wins, defeat to Betis on Friday was a big bump in the road for Mourinho - though Real remain odds-on favourites here at 8/131.61.

Inter are a big price at 4/15.00 having come from 2-0 down to beat Napoli this weekend to maintain their 100% start to the season, but they've lost the last four head-to-heads and eight of nine trips to the Bernabeu. Real have suspension and injury worries in midfield, while Inter have been flying this season, so I can see this being stalemate.

Champions League 2026/27 FAQs

How can I watch Champions League in the UK?

UK viewers can watch live Champions League 2026/27 football on Amazon Prime and TNT. Matches will be broadcast on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

What are the dates for the UCL and where is the final?

The Champions League group stage begins on Tuesday 8 September and will conclude on 27 January.

• Knockout phase play-offs - 16/17 and 23/24 February 2027
  
• Round of 16 - 9/10 and 16/17 March 2027
  
• Quarter-finals - 6/7 and 13/14 April 2027
  
• Semi-finals - 27/28 April and 4/5 May 2027

The final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday 5 June 2027.

What is the Champions League format?

The Champions League proper begins with the League Phase which features 36 teams who all play eight matches.

The top eight sides in the league qualify automatically for the round of 16. The teams finishing in 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off with the winners reaching the last 16. Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated.

After that the Round of 16, Quarter-finals and Semi-finals are played across two legs, with the aggregate winners progressing.

The final is a one-legged match with the winner lifting the trophy.

Who are the favourites to win the Champions League?

On the eve of the start of the league phase, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain 9/25.50 are the favourites. They have won the tournament for the past two seasons and are trying to equal Real Madrid's record of completing a hat-trick of wins.

English champions Arsenal are part of a trio of joint-second favourites which also includes Bayern Munich and Barcelona - all 11/26.50 in the Betfair Sportsbook outright winner market.

What about the other Premier League teams' chances?

Of the other four English teams in the Champions League, Man City 17/29.50 have the best chance of winning, according to the Betfair Sportsbook.

Aston Villa 33/134.00, Liverpool 11/112.00 and Man Utd 16/117.00. All of the odds quoted here will change as the tournament progresses.

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