Champions League Matchday 1 free betting tips | September 16, 2025

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League begins on Tuesday with six exciting Matchday 1 fixtures.

Arsenal will start their campaign in Spain against Athletic Club, while Real Madrid host Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu. The standout clash of the evening features Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in Turin.

Read on to see our free soccer betting picks for all six UCL matches on September 16.

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Athletic Club vs Arsenal

Tuesday, September 16 – 6:45pm CEST – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres hit a Premier League brace against Leeds on August 23 and scored again in Saturday’s 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest, so confidence and shot volume are trending up. He also packed a UCL punch for Sporting Lisbon last season, netting five goals. With Athletic Club missing suspended center-back Yeray Álvarez, his near-post runs on crosses look primed to land him a goal on his Champions League debut for the Gunners.

PSV Eindhoven vs Union Saint-Gilloise

Tuesday, September 16 – 6:45pm CEST – Phillips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Five of PSV’s six UCL games at Phillips Stadion last season produced four or more goals, and that form has carried into the Eredivisie this term with action-packed home wins over Sparta Rotterdam (6-1) and FC Groningen (4-2). Union Saint-Gilloise arrive as Belgian champions and have started their defense with scorelines of 5–0 against OH Leuven and 3–2 over Gent. All signs point to an up-tempo match filled with goals.

Benfica vs FK Qarabag

Tuesday, September 16 – 8pm WEST – Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

Benfica have been efficient at Estádio da Luz lately, winning 2–0 against Nice in UCL qualifying, 3–0 over Tondela in the league, and 1–0 in their playoff with Fenerbahçe. FK Qarabağ arrive after a taxing qualifying path and a 3–2 home loss to Ferencváros and are only in the league phase for the second time in their history. The step up in Lisbon should be too much for the visitors.

Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund

Tuesday, September 16 – 8pm CEST – Allianz Stadium, Torino, Italy

Kenan Yıldız comes in hot after notching a goal and an assist in Juventus’ 4–3 Derby d’Italia win over Inter on September 13. Borussia Dortmund’s defense is shorthanded, with Nico Schlotterbeck not set to feature in Turin, and their weekend Bundesliga win hinged on a first-half red card. Those factors should open lanes for Yıldız to find the back of the net or set one up for a teammate.

Real Madrid vs Olympique de Marseille

Tuesday, September 16 – 9pm CEST – Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain

Kylian Mbappé netted in Real Madrid’s 2–1 win at Real Sociedad at the weekend, and he finished last season as La Liga’s top scorer with 31, making him a prime candidate to break the deadlock at the Bernabéu. He’s also made a habit of punishing Marseille in his PSG days. With Madrid opening their UCL campaign at home, the +240 with top sports betting sites for Mbappé to score first looks like a great play.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Villarreal

Tuesday, September 16 – 8pm BST – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

Tottenham come in off consecutive 3–0 wins over Burnley and West Ham in the Premier League, so they should carry momentum into Tuesday’s UCL opener at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Villarreal games have produced goals; a 5–0 win over Girona showed their attacking threat, but a 2–0 loss at Atlético Madrid on Saturday showed their vulnerability. A Spurs win with plenty of goals looks on the cards in London.