Champions League First Knockout Round 1st Leg Tips: Back big guns to fire in Manchester
The new-look Champions League format ensures that 16 of Europe's finest face off in the knockout phase play-off first legs.
These eight two-legged ties will propel the winners into the last-16 and the heavyweight clash sees Manchester City and Real Madrid go head-to-head much sooner than might have been anticipated.
Celtic are back in Champions League knockout action after an absence and they entertain Bayern Munich in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Tip 1: Manchester City vs Real Madrid - Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to score anytime & Over 3.5 Goals @ 27/5
The Etihad Stadium will be at fever pitch on Tuesday as European champions Real Madrid arrive in town.
This is the fourth straight year Man City have faced Real and in each of the last three seasons the winner has gone on to lift the trophy.
City has conceded 54 goals in 37 games in all competitions this season, and they have come in chunks at times, shipping four or more in a single game four times - the first time in Pep Guardiola's managerial career that has occurred.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have scored 36 goals in their 12 games in 2025 and will likely feel attack is the best form of defence. In the last three seasons these sides have played games featuring seven, six and four goals.
A similar return can be expected here, with Erling Haaland (six goals in his last six games) and Kylian Mbappe (nine goals in his last eight games) being fancied to find the net in a pulsating clash.
Tip 2: Celtic vs Bayern Munich - Bayern to win & Under 3.5 Goals @ 7/5
This will be a first Champions League knockout tie in 12 years for Celtic and the Scottish side may struggle to come out with a positive result.
Brendan Rodgers lost key forward Kyogo Furuhashi in the January window, with new signing Jota likely to struggle with the pace of this contest given his relative lack of action.
Celtic have never beaten Bayern Munich, but both meetings in Glasgow have been tight.
In 2017/18, Kingsley Coman and Javi Martinez scored either side of Callum McGregor's second-half leveller for a 2-1 Bayern win.
The home side are restricted in attacking areas following Kyogo’s departure and they may have to try and keep this tight while conceding possession.
Celtic have won only six of their last 40 games in the Champions League proper, and, while the Hoops will be encouraged that Aston Villa, Barcelona and Feyenoord have all inflicted away-day defeats on Vincent Kompany's side this season in Europe, they are likely to come up short in a low-scoring encounter.
Tip 3: Juventus and PSV Eindhoven to draw @ 23/10
A repeat of the matchday one league phase clash sees Juventus welcome PSV Eindhoven to Turin.
The Bianconeri got the better of that, winning 3-1, but still finished two points and six places behind the Dutch outfit in the standings.
Juve went on to lose two of their remaining three at home and have only managed three wins in 10 games in all competitions recently.
PSV's record of two Champions League away wins in the last 21 attempts suggests a victory in Italy is asking a lot, but Peter Bosz's side drew away to Paris Saint-Germain and beat Liverpool at home in the league phase.
They will be focused on keeping this tie in the balance before heading back to the Philips Stadion and can earn a draw against a home side with 13 such results in 24 Serie A games already this season.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation