Champions League: A blockbuster opening day with Real-OM, PSG - Atalanta and Club Bruges - Monaco

"They are the best, Sie sind die Besten, These are the Champions." Let’s bet you recognised the anthem. And now it’s probably stuck in your head. Of course, we’re talking about the Champions League anthem.

You followed every stage of Europe’s most prestigious competition on our blog last year. And here we go again this week. The tournament is back for the delight of football fans.

Golden Vegas Sport is going all out so you can experience the UCL closer than ever, especially since this season is special: our Jupiler Pro League has two representatives, Club Bruges and Union.

Who will succeed PSG?

As always, you can place your bets before kick-off or live bet on your favourite online site in Belgium. With unique and advantageous conditions you won’t find anywhere else.

By the way, we’re offering a 25% BetXtra if you play live on every Champions League matchday, as well as on Europa and Conference League games. With UEFA’s new format, matches will now take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

While we wait to present you with one highlight match per day, it’s time—as always before a tournament—to guess the winner. Between PSG, Real, Manchester City or Barcelona, who will lift the famous trophy in May? Or will a surprise team upset all the odds?

*Odds subject to change. Event ends: September 16 at 8:45 PM.

Tuesday: Real face OM

This Tuesday’s opener is unmissable: Real Madrid against Marseille. Knocked out in the quarter-finals by Arsenal last season, La Casa Blanca owes its fans revenge. And Kylian Mbappé wants to conquer his first Champions League.

On the other side, OM look like the first potential victims. Since the Ligue 1 restart, the Olympians have alternated between good and disastrous, especially after defeats at Rennes (despite numerical advantage) and at Lyon.

But last Friday’s 4-0 win over Lorient gives them wings. Roberto De Zerbi’s men refuse to travel to the Bernabeu as willing victims. “We must also go there with ambition because we don’t wear a light jersey. We must play our game and try to get a result. That’s what this city, this club and its history demand of us,” said the Italian coach.

Pick your favourite right now on our platform.

*Odds subject to change. Event ends: September 16 at 9:00 PM

Wednesday: PSG defend their title

Of course, Wednesday’s schedule is full of big clashes: Bayern vs Chelsea or Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid. Fans of the Jupiler Pro League can even turn to Belgian football with Genk vs Charleroi, a postponed match due to European qualifiers.

But the main event is at the Parc des Princes. Four months after winning the first UCL in their history, Paris are beginning their title defence in a special context.

Luis Enrique’s men only had two weeks of holidays because of the Club World Cup, where they lost the final to Chelsea. That short break had consequences.

Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué are sidelined for a month. That shouldn’t stop the capital’s club from taking all three points against Atalanta Bergamo, even if last year the French showed how difficult early matches can be in this competition.

*Odds subject to change. Event ends: September 17 at 9:00 PM

Thursday: Club Bruges defend the Jupiler Pro League

They seemed to have missed their chance after losing the title on the last day to Union Saint-Gilloise. But this summer the Bruges side pulled off a feat. Brave and resilient, Vanaken’s teammates immediately reached the level.

Enough to defeat Salzburg and Glasgow Rangers in the qualifiers and secure exciting European midweeks. At the Jan Breydel, they’ve drawn a tough group: Atalanta, Bayern, Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal, Kairat Almaty and OM.

That’s why they can’t afford to slip up at home this Thursday against Monaco. In 2019, they suffered a heavy defeat against the Principality club (0-4). Let’s hope the story doesn’t repeat itself.

According to bookmakers, there’s no favourite. Will your patriotic fibre push you to bet on Bruges? One thing is certain: play responsibly so gambling remains fun.

*Odds subject to change. Event ends: September 18 at 6:45 PM