The 2026/27 Champions League is right around the corner and our resident
football tipster
Nathan Joyes returns to provide his best bets including outright winner, league phase winner and a golden boot contender. Can PSG make it three titles on the bounce and create history or will an English club win for the first time since 2022? Let’s dive straight into his analysis.
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Champions League 2026/27 Season Betting Preview
Arsenal’s time to shine
PSG are 5/1 favourites with BetMGM who will be hoping to become the first ever team to win three Champions League trophies in a row. However, having lost the French Super Cup against Lens, before back-to-back 2-2 draws vs Rennes and Lille in Ligue 1, Luis Enrique’s side don’t look like their usual selves in the opening stages of the new season.
Admittedly, there’s only been three or four matches thus far, but with the sale of Bradley Barcola to Liverpool, the reigning champions have lost a key player in the final third of the pitch.
Promising young forward Ibrahim Mbaye has also been sold to Aston Villa, while there will be pressure on new signing Mika Godts to step up and deliver in front of goal.
Instead, Arsenal at 6/1 look to be a more inviting price. A penalty shootout away from their first Champions League title, the Gunners are edging ever closer under Mikel Arteta.
After their Premier League success, Arsenal have added Ezri Konsa, Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis to their already settled squad, while clearing out a few fringe players for sizable fees.
Arsenal beat Bayern and Real Madrid en route to the final last campaign, and it’s difficult to see them being too far away from the final once more. Arteta will have his eyes firmly on redemption and his squad looks more than capable of taking the extra step this season.
BET: Back Arsenal to win the Champions League at 6/1.
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GambleAware.org.Man City’s attractive price
For those looking for a slightly juicier price, Man City have been overlooked in the market. Yes, Pep Guardiola is no longer steering the ship, and the adjustment period may take time, but his exit could actually benefit the 2022 champions.
Enzo Maresca has taken over and there have been promising signs that he’s looking to allow his team to play with more freedom. Under Guardiola’s system, Man City have been guilty of looking to play the “perfect style of football” and sucking the life out of creative players - but from first glance, Maresca’s Man City are the complete opposite.
Yes, Rodri has left to join Barcelona. But Enzo Fernandez has come in - an ideal replacement all things considered. They have taken some gambles - including Palmeiras’ Allan - but if they work out, Man City won’t end the season trophyless.
For those not convinced by Man City, there’s an alternative angle worth backing - and it’s time to talk about their Norwegian monster up top. Erling Haaland, who was as short as 8/13 to win the Premier League golden boot before a ball was kicked, is as big as 8/1 with BetMGM to win the same trophy in the Champions League.
If Man City make it to the semi-finals - or even the quarters - his 8/1 price could be a fantastic each-way shout. After a strong World Cup, it’s impossible to ignore Haaland.
BET: Back Man City to win the Champions League each-way at 9/1.
BET: Back Erling Haaland to win the golden boot each-way at 8/1.
Real Madrid can set the pace under “The Special One”
After 13 years away, Jose Mourinho has returned to manage Real Madrid. For anyone that has watched his Netflix documentary, it’s clear the Portuguese head coach is still incredibly driven - and trophies are still just as important to him.
Real Madrid’s favourable draw makes them an interesting bet to come out on top of the league phase in pole position.
The “new” format sees the very best face the very best but Real Madrid’s draw has been rather kind to them. The La Liga side will take on the likes of AEK Athens, LASK Linz, Shakhtar and Leipzig - teams they should be beating.
They will have to face Arsenal, Inter and Roma, but compared to PSG and Arsenal’s draw, it could have been a lot worse for the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid have done some great business during the summer, bringing in Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers, as well as Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries and the biggest signing of all, Yan Diomande for £115m.
Mourinho has won his first three La Liga matches in a row, and seemingly has his squad on board, which makes them incredibly dangerous, especially in the Champions League.
BET: Back Real Madrid to win the league phase at 9/2.
