UEFA Champions League Betting
The UEFA Champions League is the biggest club football competition on the planet. Formerly the European Cup, it’s contested by elite European teams.
The best way to enjoy the Champions League is to watch the games and bet on the outcomes, with bi-weekly fixtures throughout the European football season.
Here’s our lowdown on Champions League betting, and we reveal the best betting markets and options at 96.com, the home of football wagering.
UEFA Champions League Format & Schedule
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) underwent a significant reshuffle at the start of the 2024/25 season, with a single league replacing the individual groups.
As a result, the UCL now consists of three distinct phases: the qualification rounds, the league phase, and the knockout stage.
The Qualification Rounds (June to August)
Qualification for the UCL is complex and driven by UEFA. A specific number of teams qualify automatically via their league position in the top European leagues, while others must progress through pre-season qualification rounds before making it to the real tournament.
England and Scotland are good illustrations of this. The top four or five teams in England qualify for the UCL annually. In Scotland, only the champions progress to the tournament proper, while the second-placed team must progress through qualifiers. This is because the English Premier League is higher-ranked in the UEFA ladder than the Scottish Premier League.
UCL qualification matches start in midsummer and are contested until the tournament gets underway in September.
The League Phase (September to January)
The UCL league phase replaced the individual groups at the start of the 2024/25 season. Following a Swiss-system format, all 36 teams in the Champions League are placed in a league table, bringing plenty of Champions League betting opportunities.
Each team plays eight matches in the league phase, four at home and four away. The fixtures will be drawn from pots based on the competing teams’ UEFA country rank.
At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams progress automatically to the knockout rounds, while the teams between the ninth and 24th positions will meet in a two-legged playoff round.
All teams that finish 25th or lower in the league phase will be eliminated.
The Knockout Stage (February to May)
The knockout stage is the business end of the UEFA Champions League. From the round of 16 to the semi-finals, the matches are played over two legs, with the winners progressing to the next stage.
The away goals rule no longer exists in the UCL, which has changed the dynamic of the ties significantly.
The last two teams standing will meet in the final, which is always held at a neutral European venue, announced at the start of the campaign.
Popular Markets for Champions League Betting
At 96.com, the top UCL betting site, you can bet on all the competition’s matches, from the early knockout rounds to the final. If you’re keen to bet on the world’s most exciting club football competition, here are the most popular markets at 96.com:
Outright winner
The easiest Champions League betting market is to back any team to win the tournament outright. You can place this bet before a ball is kicked at the start of the campaign or at any stage of the season.
Just be mindful that the longer you wait, the shorter the odds will be, particularly for the favourites. If you’re planning your UCL outright bet on recent champions, here are the last ten teams to win the tournament:
| Year | Venue | UCL Winner |
| 2025 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | Inter/PSG[1] |
| 2024 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | Real Madrid |
| 2023 | Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey | Manchester City |
| 2022 | Stade de France, Paris, France | Real Madrid |
| 2021 | Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal | Chelsea |
| 2020 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal | Bayern Munich |
| 2019 | Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain | Liverpool |
| 2018 | NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | Real Madrid |
| 2017 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | Real Madrid |
| 2016 | San Siro, Milan, Italy | Real Madrid |
Top Scorer
Another popular outright market for the UEFA Champions League is the player you think will score the most goals.
Again, at a UCL betting site, you can place your bets at any stage, but pay attention to players from the biggest clubs in the tournament, as they will nearly always go deep into the knockout rounds, giving your player more opportunities to find the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in the competition’s history with 140 goals in 183 appearances, while Lionel Messi bagged 129 goals in 163 appearances for Barcelona and PSG.
To help you select Europe’s top marksman for your Champions League betting, here are the top scorers in the last ten UCL campaigns:
| Year | Player | Club | Number of Goals |
| 2025 | Raphinha Serhou Guirassy | Barcelona Borussia Dortmund | 13 |
| 2024 | Kylian Mbappe Harry Kane | PSG Bayern Munich | 8 |
| 2023 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 12 |
| 2022 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 15 |
| 2021 | Erling Haaland | Borussia Dortmund | 10 |
| 2020 | Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 15 |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 12 |
| 2018 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 15 |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 12 |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 16 |
Match Betting
On top of outright wagers, you can bet on every UCL match with the following markets:
- 1×2: This is a match winner bet. Back a team to win, draw, or lose any UCL fixture.
- Draw no bet: Take the draw out of the equation and back a team to win on any Champions League gameweek.
- Totals: Rather than picking a winner, bet on the total number of goals you think will be scored in a UCL match, over or under 2.5 or 3.5, for instance.
- Specials: Bet on the first player to score or the number of cautions a team will receive in any UCL match, plus other specials.
- Both teams to score: Do you think both teams will score in a UCL fixture? Place this popular football bet at 96.com to keep things simple.
Live Betting
You can also consider live betting at 96.com when Champions League fixtures are underway. Bet on the next player to score or the number of corners awarded in the second half.
When live betting, remember that odds and markets change rapidly, so keep your phone open and ready as the game plays out.
UCL Betting Site Strategy
So, what’s the best approach to Champions League betting at 96.com? Here are some expert tips to help you pick more winners than losers:
League Stage Betting Tips
- The league stage is seeded. So, in the early weeks of the UCL, you will find top-ranked teams playing lower-ranked teams. This can be a good opportunity to place totals bets, as these are usually higher-scoring affairs.
- Be mindful that some big teams rest their best players in the league stage, particularly if they’ve already done enough to qualify. This can affect their winning chances, and you should bear this in mind before betting.
- Home advantage is important, so think carefully before backing a team to win away from home in the UCL.
Knockout Phase Tips
- After the playoff round, only the best teams remain in the competition. As such, knockout matches are usually close-fought with little to separate the teams. So, do your research to identify value in various markets, as it’s often difficult to pick a winner.
- Each knockout round (barring the final) is played over two legs. So, you can bet on knockout ties as a whole or each individual match.
- Always check for injuries and suspensions before betting on the knockout games. These can make a huge difference in which teams advance to the next round.
General UCL Betting Tips
- Always bet within your means and gamble responsibly. Set your limits and adjust your wagers to preserve your UCL bankroll.
- Take advantage of the latest offers and promotions at 96.com to boost your bankroll when betting on the UCL and other football tournaments.
Champions League Betting at 96.com
The UEFA Champions League is a sports bettor’s dream. The tournament features the best teams and players and boasts incredible action throughout the campaign.
So, for a piece of the action, register for 96.com today and access the best UCL odds and extensive markets for Europe’s biggest football competition.