There are plenty of new faces in the Champions League this season, with the increased 36 team format welcoming some new names to the elite level of European football. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side were hugely impressive in the Premier League last season, and they head to Switzerland to open up their UCL campaign against Young Boys. Sporting Lisbon have long been in the mix in European football, and they take on French juggernauts Lille, whilst Benfica travel to one of the toughest atmospheres in football at Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade.
Young Boys vs Aston Villa – Aston Villa to win
7/10 at Betzone
It was a superb Premier League campaign last season that enabled Aston Villa to force their way into the Champions League picture and they will want to hit the ground running in their opener. Swiss side Young Boys are a plucky outfit, and they know what it takes to challenge some of the best sides in Europe, particularly on their home patch. Unai Emery remains one of the best managers in the business in European football though and he should compile a plan together to get Villa off to a winning start in the Champions League.
Sporting Lisbon vs Lille – Sporting Lisbon to win.
5/6 at Rhino Bet
Portuguese giants Sporting Lison have knocked on the door in the Champions League over the past couple of seasons, without much success and they will be hoping that they can put down a marker here against Lille. The French giants have been ticking along nicely both domestically and in Europe and they will be bang up for this challenge in Lisbon. However, Sporting look to have the bit between their teeth this season and with some interesting fixtures on their card, they will be all too aware of the importance of starting with a win here.
Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica – Benfica to win.
19/20 at Fitzdares
Another Portuguese side in Benfica have an even longer European drought to overcome and they also have a tougher opener on their card against Crvena Zvezda. The Serbian giants have a rich history in Champions League football, and they will be backed to the hilt by their passionate home fans in Belgrade, but they know that Benfica will start as favourites. This could be a very fiery encounter, between two sides that certainly won’t back down, but Benfica should have the quality to pick up an opening round win here.
UCL Result Leg Acca – 17th – 19th September 2024
