Many fans eagerly await as the new Champions League season starts taking shape. The 2025/26 season will begin with the qualifying round as teams seek to make it into the league phase of the competition. To place your first 2025/26 Champions League bet, mark the following dates:
First Qualifying Round:
- First leg: 8-9 July 2025
- Second leg: 15-16 July 2025
Second Qualifying Round:
- First leg: 22-23 July 2025
- Second leg: 29-30 July 2025
Third Qualifying Round:
- First leg: 5-6 August 2025
- Second leg: 12 August 2025
Playoff Round:
- First leg: 19-20 August 2025
- Second leg: 26-27 August 2025
League phase draw: 28 August 2025
The champions, PSG, will be looking to defend their title against the likes of the exciting Chelsea young team, who surprised the champions in the Club World Cup final, among other top clubs.
Tottenham, Newcastle, Frankfurt, Atalanta, Athletic Bilbao, and Napoli are other clubs back in the competition. Union Saint-Gilloise makes its debut appearance in what will be an exciting season to bet on the Champions League.
If you want to bet on Champions League odds, you can sign up at Betsafe and check out our diverse markets. Read on as we explore all you need to know about the 2025/26 season.
Champions League New Format
The Champions League competition introduced a new format that took centre stage from the 2024/25 season and will be adopted moving forward. Unlike the traditional setup, the new era introduced an exciting and more competitive format.
Participation remains open and based on sporting merit. The conventional 32-team group stage was dropped, and the competition adopted the 36-team league phase. Each team will play 8 opponents, 2 from each of the 4 seeding pots, with 4 games at home and 4 away.
The top 8-ranking teams on the table after the 8 games will directly qualify for the round of 16. Teams in positions 9 to 24 must battle each other in the knockout playoffs to secure their spots and join the top 8 in the round of 16.
In the old format, the 6 losing teams in the playoffs were automatically transferred to the Europa League group stage. However, unlike previous seasons, the drop-down of teams was removed, and teams ranked 25 to 36 in the league table are now eliminated from all UEFA competitions.
The competition retains its identity in the knockout stage, with ties contested home and away, with a single-leg final.
Interesting Champions League Results
The Champions League has provided a number of fascinating results over the years. Borussia Dortmund surprised by making it to the finals in the 2023/24 season. The team reached the final by knocking out some Champions League winner odds favourites like Atletico Madrid and PSG. In the end, they were defeated by Real Madrid.
Manchester City's first Champions League title was also memorable. They defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the 2022/23 final. It secured a treble for the side, having already won the Premier League and FA Cup.
How to Bet on the Champions League
If you're looking to bet on the Champions League or explore other top football tournaments with Europa League bets, Betsafe offers a user-friendly platform that makes the process easy.
Betsafe provides football odds on all the popular Champions League qualifier markets at Betsafe. Some options include:
- To Qualify: This straightforward bet is on which team will progress to the next round.
- Double Chance: You can bet on a team to win or draw in any match.
- Over/Under: This option lets you bet on whether the total goals in a match will be over or under a set number.
- First Leg/Second Leg Result: You can bet on the individual results of a tie's first and second legs.
Beyond these popular pre-game Champions League odds, Betsafe offers an extensive in-play betting suite, also accessible via our intuitive and user-friendly mobile app, so you can do all your Champions League betting while on the go as the action unfolds.
Champions League Betting Tips
An effective strategy is vital when placing a bet on the Champions League. One important factor to consider is a team's recent form. This can help you make informed bets on markets like 'To Qualify' or 'Match Result' rather than relying on team reputation alone.
Home advantage matters in odds for Champions League. Playing at home can fire up a team, as support from fans and the familiar pitch are undoubtedly advantageous. Consider how teams do at home versus away. This opens the door to 'Home Win' or 'Draw No Bet' markets for strong home sides.
Head-to-head history is another important aspect to consider. How teams fared against each other in previous clashes can provide insights into potential outcomes. Check out their Champions League history or recent league games. If one team consistently performs well against another, consider the 'Win or Draw' market.
Finally, don't chase losses. Set a budget for betting on Champions League odds and stick to it. This is also important for betting on Premier League odds or any other betting markets. Instead of increasing stakes after a loss, consider switching to lower-risk markets like 'Double Chance'.
Popular Champions League Markets
Every Champions League season provides various avenues for bettors to wager on. Some of the popular markets for betting on the Champions League include:
- Match Winner: You predict the team that will win.
- First Scorer: You bet on the player likely to score the first goal in the match.
- Both Teams to Score: This option wagers on the possibility of the two teams scoring a goal each.
Why Bet on the Champions League at Betsafe?
Betsafe provides multiple betting Champions League markets for every match. You can bet on the qualifiers, league phase and knockout stages on our platform with competitive Champions League odds. We provide extensive, up-to-date statistics to help you make smart bets.
The Betsafe website is user-friendly and allows you to place your bets smoothly and without hassle. Your details and financial transactions are kept secure using SSL encryption. If you need help with the Champions League qualifiers or have questions on any topic regarding our platform, our 24/7 customer support is a click away.
