The UEFA Champions League is back this Tuesday, September 16, and it’s going to be another thrilling round of high-level football. Fans all over Europe can get ready for some exciting matches as some of the biggest clubs on the continent take the field to grab early points in the group stage. With full stadiums, high hopes, and top-notch players ready to show their skills, every game is sure to be intense, filled with strategy, and full of unforgettable moments. From well-known teams trying to show they are the best, to eager challengers looking to pull off a surprise, Tuesday’s games are set to kick off another exciting Champions League season.
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Ath Bilbao vs Arsenal
Ath Bilbao is always a threat at “San Mames”. With a disciplined defense and players who fight until the last minute, they know how to create problems even for the strongest rivals. However, in Europe, they lack consistency, and against big teams like Arsenal, they often defend more than they attack. Last season, they reached the semifinals of the Europa League where they were outplayed by Manchester Utd.
The team is led by Ernesto Valverde, with the Williams brothers as the key players in attack, and in La Liga, they have achieved 3 wins in 4 matches this season, The last match was lost to Alaves at home, scoring 6 goals and conceding 4. It is very likely that they will have to play this match without Nico Williams, who got injured in the game against Turkey during the WC26 qualifiers.
Arsenal has a young and fast team with a strong offense. Gyokeres and Martinelli will keep up constant pressure, and in the midfield, they will be supported by Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Zubimendi. They are playing in top form in the Premier League and know how to control the game with high pressure and possession.
They have experience in European matches and usually take their chances. Last season, they were eliminated in the Champions League semifinals by the champion PSG. A big disadvantage will be the absence of Bukayo Saka in the attack, as he will not be part of this match due to injury.
Ath Bilbao is great at home, but beating Arsenal is a real challenge. We give the advantage in this match to the visitors, who have made serious preparations for this competitive season.
2 (Arsenal to Win)
Predicted CS: 1:2
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PSV vs Royale Union SG
PSV is really strong at home, with fans who create an intense atmosphere. The Dutch champions play fast and offensively, and van Bommel, Perisic, and the young Bajraktarevic regularly create a lot of chances. In the domestic league, they have achieved convincing victories, showing excellent form. In the 5 matches played this season, they scored 17 goals and conceded 8, which shows how offensively oriented the team is under Peter Bosz’s leadership.
Last season, they won the title due to the mistakes of their main rival Ajax at the end of the season. Also, in the Champions League last season, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Arsenal.
Royale Union SG is a Belgian team that surprised everyone with their performances in Europe. Last season, they were defeated by Ajax after finishing in 21st place in the league phase. However, we believe their quality is far below that of PSV. They play tactically mature and can surprise with quick counterattacks, but on such a tough away ground, they will face challenges.
In the league, they started excellently and after 6 matches, they remain unbeaten, with 5 wins and 2 draws. The team is led by Sebastien Pocognoli, and they don’t have big names, mostly featuring young players who can surprise with good play and dedication on the field.
We expect the home team to win because they have a better lineup, and the support from their fans is a big advantage.
1 (PSV to Win)
Predicted CS: 3:1
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Benfica vs Qarabag
Benfica is a regular participant in European competitions and is always a favorite against lower-ranked teams. With their offensive style and technical skills, they easily dominate these rivals. Last season in the European competitions, they outplayed Monaco but were eliminated by Barcelona after finishing in 16th place in the League phase. In the qualifiers for this season, they defeated Nice and Fenerbahce.
Under the leadership of Bruno Lage, they started excellently in the domestic league, achieving 3 victories and one draw, scoring 7 goals, and conceding two. They have a great attack with Schjelderup, Pavlidis, and Ivanovic.
Qarabag is dominant in Azerbaijan, but on the European stage, their level is much lower. They struggle against teams from the top 5 leagues and often lose by a convincing score. Last season, they were part of the League phase in the Europa League but finished at the bottom of the table with one win after playing 8 matches, which means 7 losses. However, just participating in an advanced stage of this competition is a huge success for them. In the qualifying cycle, they defeated Shelbourne, Shkendija, and Ferencvaros.
Benfica is a much stronger team, has the home advantage, and possesses far more experience in European competitions.
1 & T1 2+ (Benfica to Win & Benfica Over1.5)
Predicted CS: 3:0
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Juventus vs Dortmund
Juventus has a strong team with a solid defense led by Bremer and experienced midfield players like Thuram and Locatelli. The attack is spearheaded by Vlahovic and Yildiz. In recent years, their offense has been inconsistent, but at home, they are tough and rarely lose.
Last season, they finished in 20th place in the league phase and were defeated in their next match against PSV. Under the guidance of Igor Tudor, they started this season excellently in Serie A, achieving 3 wins in 3 matches. In these 3 matches, they scored 7 goals and allowed 3 goals. They conceded 3 goals in the last round when they beat Inter 4:3 at home.
Borussia Dortmund has a young and talented team that plays very offensively. With players like Svensson and Sabitzer, who have speed and creativity, they really boost the attack. However, they often make mistakes in defense. In Europe, they can surprise the favorites, but they lack consistency in their game.
The team is led by Niko Kovac, and they haven’t lost in their first 3 league matches, scoring 8 goals and conceding 3. Last season, they were defeated by Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
We expect both teams to enter this match carefully, and the home team’s strong defense to handle the attacks from the visiting team successfully. We anticipate a tough game where both teams will earn one point each.
X (Draw)
Predicted CS: 1:1
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Real Madrid vs Marseille
Real Madrid is the “king” of Europe, featuring players like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Mbappe in their attack, supported by Valverde, Tchouameni, and Diaz in the midfield. They play aggressively and apply a lot of pressure, especially at the “Santiago Bernabеu”.
Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, they started the La Liga season excellently, winning all three of their matches, scoring 8 goals while only conceding two. Last season, they failed to win the La Liga title and also did not secure the Copa del Rey. Their Champions League run ended in the quarter-finals after being defeated by Arsenal.
Marseille is a tough team from France, but they struggle when playing against big teams away from home. Their defense isn’t at the level of top teams, which is often the reason for their losses in the Champions League. This season, they have already shown defensive issues, losing twice in four matches, conceding 4 goals while scoring 9. The team is managed by the Italian Roberto De Zerbi.
Real Madrid has better individual players, plays more disciplined, and they expect to achieve an easy victory in front of their home crowd.
1 & 3+ (Real Madrid to Win & Over2.5)
Predicted CS: 3:1
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Tottenham vs Villarreal
Tottenham, with Thomas Frank, plays an offensive and modern style. With Richarlison and Johnson in the attack, the team creates a lot of chances and has good intensity. They started the Premier League with two wins, but then they were defeated by Bournemouth at home. In their last match, they played really well and beat West Ham 0:3 away from home.
Last season, they played poorly and finished in 17th place in the league. They qualified for this stage of the Champions League by winning the Europa League, beating Manchester Utd in the final.
Villarreal is an experienced European club that knows how to play tactical matches. With players like Pepe in the attack and a well-organized midfield, especially with the standout Canadian Buchanan, along with their experience in the Europa League, they are a serious opponent.
They started the La Liga season with 2 wins, draw, and last round they were defeated by Atl. Madrid. Scoring 8 goals and conceding 3 in these 4 matches. The team is led by Marcelino and they have high expectations this season.
Tottenham is the favorite at home, but Villarreal has a great attack and we expect them to have some brilliant moments in the match. We give the home team the edge for victory, but it is more likely that there will be goals from both sides.
GG (BTTS-Yes)
Predicted CS: 2:1
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This article is part of Champions League Matchday 1.
→ View full Matchday 1 predictions