Champions League 2023/24: Bookies Forced to Cut Arsenal’s Odds

The 2023/24 Champions League group stage kicked off this week with clubs dreaming about progressing to the final at Wembley Stadium next year.

The Premier League’s quartet of teams enjoyed mixed fortunes, with only two of them picking up victories in the opening round of matches.

Read on as we take a look at how English teams fared this week before assessing how UK betting sites reacted to the results.

Manchester City were given a mini-fright by Red Star Belgrade in their opening Group G game, with the Serbian side snatching the lead just before half time.

Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team fought back after the break to secure a 3-1 victory courtesy of goals by Julian Alvarez (2) and Rodri.

The top football betting sites kept Man City as the 2/1 favourites to retain the title ahead of Bayern Munich (5/1) and Real Madrid (15/2).

Arsenal were priced at 11/1 with Betzone to win the tournament after being drawn in Group B alongside PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla and Lens.

However, following their emphatic 4-0 home victory over the Eredivisie side, the Gunners were slashed into 8/1 to lift the trophy.

Given the manner of their performance, those odds will likely disappear if Mikel Arteta’s side triumph in Lens in their second group game.

Manchester United and Newcastle United were both pushed out in the outright market on betting apps after failing to record victories in their opening group games.

The Red Devils are now priced at 28/1 after slipping to a 4-3 defeat at Bayern Munich, while Newcastle are 33/1 following their goalless draw at AC Milan.

Both teams produced disappointing performances in their respective matches and will need to improve if they want to progress in the competition.

• Manchester City - 2/1
• Bayern Munich - 5/1
• Real Madrid – 15/2
• Arsenal - 8/1
• Barcelona - 11/1
• Paris Saint-Germain - 12/1
• Inter Milan – 20/1
• Atletico Madrid – 25/1
• Napoli - 25/1
• Manchester United – 28/1
• Newcastle United - 33/1
• AC Milan - 40/1
• RB Leipzig – 50/1
• Borussia Dortmund – 66/1
• Benfica – 80/1
• Sevilla - 80/1
• FC Porto - 80/1
• Lazio - 100/1
• Real Sociedad - 100/1
• Feyenoord - 150/1
• Lens - 150/1
• Union Berlin – 150/1
• PSV Eindhoven – 175/1
• Braga - 250/1
• Galatasaray - 250/1
• Royal Antwerp - 250/1
• RB Salzburg - 250/1
• Celtic - 500/1
• FC Copenhagen - 500/1
• Red Star Belgrade – 500/1
• Shakhtar Donetsk - 500/1
• Young Boys - 500/1