Champions League Predictions for Knockout Playoffs: Champions League Picks & Best Bets
My Champions League predictions for the first leg of the knockout playoffs feature Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Newcastle, and Borussia Dortmund.
It's the time of year when the aforementioned giants usually turn it on, wiping the slate clean of previous poor results or misfortune. Most are among the Champions League odds contenders, and I'm backing them to get off to a strong start in the home-and-away aggregates, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals.
🔮 Champions League predictions: Knockout playoffs first leg
Here are my Champions League predictions for the knockout playoffs as part of our soccer picks this week.
| Match | Bet | Odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid vs. Benfica | Real Madrid ML | -110 via BetMGM | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Atletico Madrid vs. Club Brugge | Atletico Madrid ML | -120 via FanDuel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Newcastle vs. Qarabağ FQ | Newcastle ML & Over 2.5 goals | +100 via BetMGM | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund | Borussia Dortmund ML | +100 via FanDuel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 Best Champions League bet: Real Madrid ML (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Things did not go well for Real Madrid at Benfica on the final day of the group stage. The 4-2 setback should fuel Real Madrid's fire, though, and I expect a significantly better away performance.
That bitterly disappointing performance from Los Blancos allowed Benfica to secure a spot in these playoffs on goal difference. Benfica finished 24th overall, with three wins and five losses. Real Madrid will not only be up for this match, but it will also play a much more disciplined style of football while displaying its wealth of experience. I'd play this bet to -120, and it's my pick of the week.
🔥 More Champions League predictions
Atletico Madrid vs. Club Brugge pick: Atletico Madrid ML (-120) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Take nothing away from a Club Brugge team that won one, lost one, and tied one at home in the group stage. Their best home result was a 3-3 tie against Barcelona, but it also lost 3-0 to Arsenal.
Atletico Madrid hasn't played to its potential in this competition, even losing a shock decision, 2-1 at home to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. However, I expect Diego Simeone's team to rebound well and enjoy a business-like performance against a team that has substantially less experience. I'd play this bet to -130, and it's my best Champions League bet this week.
Newcastle vs. Qarabağ FQ pick: Newcastle & Over 2.5 goals ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (+100)
Newcastle will consider itself lucky to draw Qarabağ. The Azerbaijan side finished 22nd in the group stage, tied with three other teams on 10 points.
While Qarabağ played well at home, winning one, losing one, and drawing one, Newcastle should be able to secure the victory, especially after its impressive draw against PSG in Paris on Matchday 8.
All three Qarabağ home matches had at least four goals, making the second part of this combo bet an ideal addition.
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund pick: Borussia Dortmund (+100) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Unbeaten in 11 matches at Signal Iduna Park, Borussia Dortmund is the best home team in the Bundesliga. They have one more point at home than Bayern Munich, and that's the indomitable side I expect against a solid Atalanta team.
Borussia Dortmund struggled at home in the group stage, but this is the knockout stage, and the German giants rarely slip up at Signal Iduna Park at this juncture of the competition. Atalanta, meanwhile, lost two in a row to finish the group stage.
🔢 Champions League odds: Knockout playoffs leg 1
Live Champions League odds; updated in real time.
Juventus vs. Galatasaray odds: Tuesday, 12:45 p.m. ET
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 17
- Kickoff: 12:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex (Istanbul, Turkey)
- How to watch: Paramount+
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund odds: Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 17
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Signal Iduna Park (Dortmund, Germany)
- How to watch: Paramount+
PSG vs. Monaco odds: Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 17
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Stade Louis-II (Monaco)
- How to watch: Paramount+
🔮 PSG vs. Monaco prediction
💡 PSG and Under 4.5 goals
While PSG hasn't shown it lately, it is the superior collective. Both teams have endured a significant list of injuries, but the defending Champions League winners received excellent news regarding Ousmane Dembélé and João Neves. Both will play in Tuesday's first leg.
Read more via Gary Pearson's PSG vs. Monaco prediction
Real Madrid vs. Benfica odds: Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 17
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estádio da Luz (Lisbon, Portugal)
- How to watch: Paramount+
Newcastle vs. Qarabağ FQ odds: Wednesday, 12:45 p.m. ET
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
- Kickoff: 12:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Azersun Arena and Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium (Baku, Azerbaijan)
- How to watch: Paramount+
Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos odds: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium (Piraeus, Greece)
- How to watch: Paramount+
Inter Milan vs. Bodo/Glimt odds: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Aspmyra Stadion (Bodø, Norway)
- How to watch: Paramount+
Atletico Madrid vs. Club Brugge odds: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Jan Breydel Stadium (Bruges, Belgium)
- How to watch: Paramount+
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