The 2025-26 Champions League continues on Wednesday with another 6 matchups to get excited for. Among the standout clashes are German giants Bayern Munich hosting Club World Cup winners Chelsea, while EPL champions Liverpool will face Atletico Madrid. Other games include reigning Champions League winners PSG facing Atalanta while Ajax meet Inter Milan. We’ve put together our Champions League best bets for Wednesday, September 17, and you can also find out all of our expert soccer picks for the rest of the week’s UCL action, along with all the big EPL and MLS matchups.
Champions League best bet: Bayern Munich ML over Chelsea & Over 2.5 goals (+108)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Chelsea return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 season, but the Club World Cup winners will be believing that they can cope with the rise in calibre of opposition. The Blues eased to glory in last season’s Conference League, crushing Real Betis 4-1 in the final, and they defeated Champions League winners Paris St-Germain 3-0 in July’s Cup World Cup final to show their capabilities on a going day. However, that success came on the back of a long, hard season and their opening test in the league phase of the competition is a tricky one as they travel to a battle-hardened Bayern, who have made a blistering start in the Bundesliga.
Bayern made the quarterfinals of last season’s Champions League, losing to Inter following a last-16 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, but they finished only 12th in the league standings and will be keen to secure a place in that elusive top 8. The Bavarians are a perfect 3 from 3 in the German top-flight, having racked up 14 goals, and they may simply have too much firepower for a Chelsea team that is still working out their strongest XI after a summer overhaul.
Enzo Maresca’s men have started the Premier League campaign with 2 wins and 2 ties, with them conceding an injury-time equalizer to share the spoils in a 4-goal thriller at Brentford on Saturday. All signs point to a high-scoring matchup but ultimately Bayern look a cut above at home and should collect all 3 points.
Read our full Bayern Munich vs Chelsea prediction
Champions League best bet: Liverpool ML over Atletico Madrid & Both Teams To Score (+182)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Liverpool were held at bay for 95 minutes at Turf Moor, requiring a last-gasp winner from the penalty spot from talisman Mohamed Salah to beat Burnley, but neutrals could be in for a more entertaining matchup when the Reds begin their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. Visitors Atletico Madrid, unlike the defensively minded Clarets, have scored in all 4 competitive games this season and clinched their first victory of the campaign at home to Villarreal on Saturday, but a trip to Anfield is a more difficult prospect.
Arne Slot’s men have won 4 of their 5 competitive games this season and scored 9 goals, including a massive result against Arsenal before the international break. They have recorded shutouts in their last 2 matches, but before that, they had shipped 6 goals in 3 games, and they may be vulnerable at the back again on Wednesday. The Reds have won their last 3 meetings with Atletico Madrid, and Los Colchoneros have had a difficult start to the campaign, so backing Liverpool to win and both teams to score looks solid value.
Read our full Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction
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