Champions League Matchday 1 betting picks – September 19, 2023

The UEFA Champions League returns this Tuesday with a packed slate of eight games to kick off the group stage. The likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Manchester City will be in action, and we have betting picks for those games and more.

Manchester City vs Crvena Zvezda

There is not too much to say about this game. Simply put, the defending champions should cruise to a victory in this contest. Crvena Zvezda are a small club in the Serbian Superliga, and they do not have the talent or resources that Manchester City do. The Cityzens should score multiple goals in this contest, and Julian Alvarez has a great chance to end up on the scoresheet. The Argentine forward has scored twice in the Premier League and should get his first UCL goal of the season here.

AC Milan vs Newcastle United

Both of these teams will expect to advance from their group, and it all starts on Matchday 1. AC Milan are having a strong season in Serie A, where they have three wins from four matches. They have a potent attack led by Rafael Leao, who should give Newcastle a lot of trouble. While the Magpies have been solid in the English Premier League, we like Milan to win at home and get off on the right foot.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund

After a tumultuous summer filled with rumours, Kylian Mbappe rejoined the PSG first team and is back to scoring goals at a ludicrous pace. He has seven goals from four appearances in Ligue Un and is still one of the best players in the world. Anytime his odds to score are this favourable in the anytime goalscorer market, it’s worth a bet.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs FC Porto

Porto have quietly been a solid UCL performer over the past five years, and they appear set up to go on another decent run. While Shakhtar Donetsk have a good team, Porto have been great in the Portuguese top-flight league and have displayed a strong lockdown defence. Expect them to limit Shakhtar’s scoring opportunities and kickstart their Champions League journey with a big win.

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