With 36 teams now in the hunt for European glory, the Champions League has taken on a change in format and interested observers will be keen to see how the competition plays out in 2024/25. Each side now has to navigate 8 group stage games, rather than 6 and with home and away games against 8 different sides in the group stages, each team will need to show increased versatility to progress to the knockout rounds, making getting off to a good start essential.
Juventus vs PSV – Juventus to win.
3/4 at Betzone
Following their incredible Dutch Premier League triumph last season, confidence in the PSV Eindhoven camp should be sky high but they look to have a stern test to open up their Champions League campaign here against Juventus. The Old Lady have started the new Serie A season very well and they will be looking to transcend that into their European form. This should be a very good game, between two sides who play very attractive football, but it could be home advantage that is enough to see Juventus over the line here.
Sparta Prague vs Red Bull Salzburg – Red Bull Salzburg to win.
15/8 at Rhino Bet
Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg lost the Bundesliga title to Sturm Graz last season, but they have morphed into one of the best sides in European football over the past 5 years or so. They have plenty of Champions League experience in their ranks and travelling to Sparta Prague shouldn’t daunt them too much ahead of this one. This should be a good game in the Czech capital, between two sides that play decent football, but Red Bull Salzburg should come out on top here and collect three important points.
Club Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund to win.
21/20 at Fitzdares
2024 finalists Borussia Dortmund were in fine fettle throughout the last Champions League campaign and came agonisingly close to beating Real Madrid in the final at Wembley, but they know that they are back to the drawing board here against Club Brugge. The Belgian champions have become accustomed to playing Champions League football in recent times and they will firmly believe that they can push Dortmund here. However, despite a big turnover in personnel, Dortmund are an experienced Champions League outfit, and they should get off to a winning start in Belgium.
UCL Result Leg Acca – 17th – 19th September 2024
