When it comes to European club football competitions, there is nothing else that can match the excitement and quality that we see in the Champions League. This is the main one to win in Europe, and with teams all across the continent classed as genuine contenders to lift the trophy at the end of the season in May, it is a fantastic competition to watch and bet on.
All over the world, fans will tune in to the midweek Champions League games that take place across Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Whether it is an accumulator putting together some or all of the fixtures in one night, or just a single as you look for value in the game you are watching live, there are many ways in which you can get involved in betting on the Champions League.
How to Bet on the Champions League?
Qualifying for the Champions League begins in the summer and we start with many hopeful teams from all over the continent. Those are narrowed down each round until we have a group of qualifiers who have made it, and those teams join those who automatically qualify for the group stages.
32 teams begin their quest to make the final in the group stages and from those, 16 will qualify for the knockout round. This is where the serious competition begins, with the first round, quarter-finals and then semi-finals all leading towards the 2020 Champions League Final, which will take place in Istanbul.
For those who are not good enough to qualify for the knockout round, the Champions League offers them the chance to stay in Europe and drop down into the Europa League. Those who finish third in each group will do this, with just the fourth-placed team being knocked out of Europe altogether.
While it is not guaranteed to be in the Champions League, 24 of the 32 clubs that have made the group stages will get through to the knockout round of either the Champions League or the Europa League.
Champions League Betting Explained
As you would expect from what is regarded by many as the best club football competition in the world, there are many ways in which you can bet on the Champions League. With a fantastic range of betting markets to choose from, there really is something for everyone, from serious punters who want to place large wagers to those who are casual punters looking for fun and a way to get involved in a game they are watching live on TV.
If it’s an accumulator you are after then you will be pleased to know that the group stage of this competition gives you multiple games on each game day. Eight games are played on Tuesday nights, with a further eight on Wednesday nights, so you have a good number of games to choose from when you are placing your midweek Accas.
Those wanting to place a single bet on a live game they are watching are also spoilt for choice. Alongside the standard win market, you will find markets on goals, corners, bookings, correct score betting, handicap betting, goal scorer betting and much more to choose from. The markets on this competition are as extensive as on any other football tournament or league we have in the world, so punters betting on the Champions League can pretty much bet on what they like.
Alongside this, the ante-post betting markets for the competition are also very popular. Here you can place a longer-term bet, with the chance to back on who will win the competition, who will be the top goalscorer, who will win the groups and much more. You should also look for special betting markets here too, such as which of the English teams will progress the furthest in the competition.
Champions League Free Bets and Enhanced odds offers
It doesn’t really matter what league or competition you are betting on in any sport, something that all punters love is a good deal. Whether this is a free bet to take advantage of, or an enhanced odds offer you can use to get the very best odds on your selections. The general rule here with these is that there is more chance of finding these, and they are usually bigger when you are betting on a big competition. There are few bigger than the Champions League in football, so that means this is a great competition for those hunting free bets and looking out for enhanced odds.
Free bets are a great way to place your Champions League bets with no risk attached. Whether these are welcome offers from new bookmakers who you sign up with or other ways or receiving free bets, they allow you to get your wagers on risk-free. Champions League free bets are available on a regular basis and in the run-up to midweek Champions League games taking place, be sure to check out the SBAT site to see what free bet offers we have available.
Enhanced odds are something else to look out for. This is an offer where the bookmaker gives you bigger odds than the standard on offer, sometimes these are huge odds in comparison to what you could get elsewhere and this is all about maximising your betting profit when placing Champions League bets.
Be sure to keep your eye on the SBAT website for Champions League enhanced odds offers and free bets as the midweek games take place.