Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1 Odds & Predictions – Oct 21
- Eight games in competition’s opening week on Wednesday at 12:55 PM EST and 3:00pm EST
- Inter Milan could go for goals against while stuttering Liverpool meet Ajax
- See all odds and best bets for Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1, October 21, 2020
The Champions League resumes this week with eight fixtures on Wednesday following the first eight on Tuesday.
All three matches previewed in-depth here kick-off at 3:00 PM EST.
Champions League Matchday 1 Wednesday Odds
| Team | Moneyline Odds |
|---|---|
| Real Madrid | -360 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | +850 |
| Draw | +510 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Red Bull Salzburg | -186 |
| Lokomotiv Moskow | +480 |
| Draw | +340 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Manchester City | -400 |
| Porto | +1050 |
| Draw | +525 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Ajax | +390 |
| Liverpool | -141 |
| Draw | +290 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Inter Milan | -175 |
| Borussia Moenchengladbach | +475 |
| Draw | +320 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Bayern Munich | -195 |
| Atletico Madrid | +480 |
| Draw | +360 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Midtjylland | +480 |
| Atalanta | -200 |
| Draw | +370 |
| Team | Moneyline |
| Olympiakos | +143 |
| Marseille | +210 |
| Draw | +215 |
Odds taken Oct. 19 at DraftKings
Pick 1: Inter Milan vs Borussia Moenchengladbach
Inter Milan have stuttered in Italy’s Serie A recently but made a free-scoring start with striker Romelu Lukaku already in form.
They are rightly favorites in Group B against an unimpressive Borussia Moenchengladbach who have only one run-of-the-mill win in Germany’s Bundesliga.
The best value on offer is the spread of +132 for Inter to win by two goals at an Asian Handicap of 1.25.
Antonio Conte’s Inter side are favorites to win the tie at -175 with Moenchengladbach at +475 and the draw at +320.
Inter exited the Champions League at the group stage last season but made amends in European competition by reaching the Europa League final where they were beaten 3-2 by Sevilla.
Hold on tight – it's @ChampionsLeague week 🤗#DieFohlen #UCL #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/qlw1SWRKE0
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) October 19, 2020
They also recorded their best finish in Serie A in nine years as runners-up to Juventus.
They are currently in sixth place following a 2-1 defeat in Saturday’s derby against AC Milan – which was preceded by a 1-1 draw at Lazio.
Inter’s powerful Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has already hit four league goals this season.
Prior to that, they had opened the campaign among the goals with a 4-3 defeat of Fiorentina followed by a 5-2 win at newly-promoted Benevento.
Against that, Inter’s powerful Belgian striker Lukaku has already hit four league goals this season.
#BorussiaMönchengladbach coach Marco Rose expected tough games in the #ChampionsLeague and insisted the Germans ‘aim to advance’ ahead of the match against #Inter. https://t.co/m7F4LIgVmk #FCIM #Bundesliga #UCL #SerieA pic.twitter.com/R9ujpKV4sr
— footballitalia (@footballitalia) October 19, 2020
Moenchengladbach were fourth in last season’s Bundesliga but were knocked out of the Europa League at the group stage.
They are currently 11th in Germany with only a 3-1 defeat of 16th-placed FC Koln to their credit. They lost 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund on opening day and drew 1-1 at home with both Union Berlin and Wolfsburg.
Inter and Moenchenmgladbach have not met since a UEFA Cup tie in 1979 when the Germans won 3-2 in Italy after a 1-1 draw at home.
Pick: Inter Milan +123 (Asian Handicap -1.25 +123)
Pick 2: Ajax vs Liverpool
Ajax hit top form in Holland last week with a 5-1 thrashing of Heerenveen and must be worth a look to claim a point at home in Group D against an unusually uncertain Liverpool side.
The English Premier League champions have not won in three league and cup games with the run including a stunning 7-2 hammering at Aston Villa.
By contrast, Ajax have won four of their five Eredivisie fixtures with crushing of Heerenveen restoring order after a surprise 1-0 setback at Gronigen.
That draw is priced at an attractive +290 – and there is an adventurous offer of +390 for a surprise Ajax win with Liverpool at -141.
Liverpool conceded nine goals in their last two games.
Alisson and Van Dijk are hurt.
Ajax just beat Heerenveen 5-1.
Next up: Ajax vs. Liverpool pic.twitter.com/LyqsU0jiyv
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 18, 2020
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team have also been unsettled by a major injury suffered by influential defender Virgil Van Dijk in the 2-2 Merseyside derby against Everton last weekend.
Prior to that, the Anfield side lost a home tie on penalties against Arsenal in the low-key EFL Carabao Cup.
Ajax’s Serbian skipper Dusan Tadic and the Brazilian forward Antony have each scored three times this season.
That followed three straight opening EPL wins against Leeds United, Chelsea, and Arsenal- which have made the recent stumble in form all the more surprising.
Ajax’s Serbian skipper Dusan Tadic and the Brazilian forward Antony have each scored three times this season.
🇳🇱5️⃣ Our midweek hosts reverted to goalscoring form yesterdayhttps://t.co/w0a2nias3W
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) October 19, 2020
Klopp’s team were competition winners in 2019 but were eliminated in last season’s Round of 16 after losing 1-0 at Atletico Madrid and 2-3 at home.
Ajax left the UCL at the group stage and were knocked out of the Europa League last 32 by Getafe. They finished first in the truncated Dutch league.
Remarkably, Ajax and Liverpool have not met competitively since a second round European Cup tie in 1966-67 with Ajax famously winning 5-1 in Amsterdam after a 2-2 draw in England.
Pick: Draw (+290)
Pick 3: Olympiakos vs Marseille
Olympiakos and Marseille are the two outsiders in Group C and look good value for a draw at +215 on Wednesday in Greece.
The home side are priced at +143 with Marseille at +210 for an away win.
When @FlorianThauvin is 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 it, magic happens.
Full #OMFCGB highlights 👉 https://t.co/bLpUMHrXAa pic.twitter.com/qRS1sz7qiL
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) October 19, 2020
With three domestic wins and draw this season, Olympiakos are in form although the Greek league is not particularly competitive. They defeated eight-placed Atromitos 4-0 last weekend and are in second place.
In France’s Ligue1, Marseille were 3-1 home winners against Bordeaux after three straight draws.
The Greek side’s Moroccan striker Youssef Al Aribi hit a hat-trick in that win and has five league goals in total.
Again, again, again! GOELARABI! Hat-trick! 🔥💥⚽️ @elarabiyoussef #Olympiacos #slgr #OLYATR #Goal #Celebration pic.twitter.com/5to3vZY4lS
— Olympiacos FC (45🏆) (@olympiacosfc) October 17, 2020
Andre Villas-Boas’ French outfit are in the UCL for the first time since 2013-14 and did not compete in Europe last season.
They were second in France’s league when it was abandoned because of the pandemic. They are currently sixth.
Olympiakos reached the group stage after the playoff round – winning 2-0 at home against Omonia of Cyprus and then drawing 0-0 away. However, Marseille have beaten Olympiakos on three previous occasions with the Greek side winning once.
Pick: Draw (+215)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
