Europe’s most prestigious club competition, the UEFA Champions League, is back for its 70th season and its first under the new format. The biggest soccer teams from across the continent will face each other for a chance to be crowned kings of Europe. Find out how the Champions League works and how to watch live and bet on the soccer games at Stake online sportsbook .
What is the Champions League?
The UEFA Champions League is a European club soccer tournament that takes place every season. The best teams in top leagues across Europe will qualify automatically based on their final league positions. Teams in smaller domestic leagues still have a chance to qualify through playoffs.
The aim of the Champions League is to allow the best soccer clubs to play against one another and determine which side is the very best. It features key players from some of the oldest and most historic clubs in the world going head-to-head. As a result, it’s one of the biggest and most popular sports competitions in the world.
History of the Champions League
The Champions League first began as the European Champions Cup in 1955, established by UEFA to determine the best club in Europe. Initially, it was a simple knockout tournament featuring the domestic champions of each European league. However, it has expanded its format over the years, and rebranded as the Champions League in 1992.
Which Teams Play in the Champions League?
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have the most European titles of any club, lifting the Champions League fifteen times, including five in the last ten seasons. They’re current La Liga and Champions League champions.
Bayern Munich
As six-time winners of the Champions League, the German sports club has a lot of history in the competition. This season, the final will be hosted in their home stadium.
Manchester City
Manchester City have turned into one of the best clubs in the world thanks to their ownership. Despite this, they only have a single European trophy in their history, which they won in the 2022/23 season.
Inter Milan
One of the biggest Italian soccer clubs, Inter Milan have won three Champions League titles, although their most recent was in 2010.
AC Milan
Milan has achieved the record number of European titles in Italian history, with seven Champions League final victories. The club’s last win was in the 2006-07 season.
Paris St-Germain
Paris St-Germain have seen a lot of investment into their squad from their owners but the coveted Champions League trophy still evades them despite winning their domestic league eight times in the last ten years.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid have secured three UEFA Europa League wins but have so far failed to win the Champions League though they were runners up in 1974, 2014 and 2016.
Aston Villa
The club will enter the Champions League for the first time since the 1982-83 season before it was rebranded.
When is the 2024-25 Champions League?
Here’s when each stage of the Champions League gets underway for the 2024-25 season:
First round of qualifying: 9th of July 2024
League stage: 17th of September 2024
Knockout playoffs: 11th of February 2025
Last 16: 4th of March 2025
Quarter-finals: 8th of April 2025
Semi-finals: 29th of April 2025
Final: 31st of May 2025
Format and Schedule of the 2024-25 Champions League
This is the first season under the new format of the Champions League. It now includes a league stage rather than opening with group fixtures before progressing to the knockout rounds.
36 teams qualify for the Champions League, either automatically or by winning in the qualifying round. All teams enter the league stage after qualifying.
During the league, each side will play eight different opponents, with four games at home and four away. The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the knockout stages. Teams that finish between 9th and 24th will enter playoffs, with eight additional teams progressing to the last sixteen.
The knockout phase consists of a home and away fixture between two teams, with the winner on aggregate score progressing to the next round, all the way up to the final, which is a single match. It will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, with the winners crowned kings of Europe.
There are lots of different ways to bet on soccer and the Champions League. Here are some of the most popular betting options. Check the links to learn more about how each betting market works and how to place them or use our complete betting guide over on our sports blog to learn more:
Livestream the Champions League & Live Soccer Betting
Thanks to Stake, you never have to miss out on all the exciting action of the Champions League. When you sign up to our sportsbook, you can enjoy live streams of major games and place live bets as you watch. Whether you prefer betting pre-match or live , there are plenty of options to choose from, and you can watch it all as it happens. Follow our responsible gambling guideline s to stay in control, and take a look at our excellent sports promotions to have more fun betting on the Champions League.
Champions League Betting Odds & Payouts
When betting on the Champions League, you need to be able to work out the potential payouts from your odds. There are three main formats, and the way you calculate your payout varies depending on the type of odds:
Decimal: Simply multiply your stake by the decimal figure to see the total amount you’d get back, including your stake, if your bet wins. For example, if you bet $10 at 3.00 and win, you’d receive $30 back.
Fractional: Multiply the numerator (the left or top number) by your stake and then divide by the denominator (the right or bottom number). The result tells you your profit. So if you bet $10 on ⅚ odds, you’d make $8.33 profit if your bet wins.
American: Odds with a - sign show you how much you need to bet to win $100 profit. Odds with a + sign show you how much you’d win if you bet $100 and you win. So if you bet $10 at odds of -130 and your bet wins, you’d make $7.69 profit.
Champions League Betting Tips, Predictions & Strategies
Here are our top tips for betting on the Champions League:
Check team form: Generally speaking, it’s always best to bet on the in-form teams, as teams playing well have the best chance of winning. Take a look at their domestic league form and Champions League performances for a better picture of how they’ll play.
Pay attention to schedules: Champions League games are played midweek, often in between busy domestic league fixtures. Playing many games in a short time may lead to fatigue and lower performance, especially if significant travel is involved.
Consider the importance of the match: Not every Champions League match will have the same performance. Teams may rest key players for games outside of the knockout rounds, especially if they have tough domestic fixtures coming up.
Look at the head-to-head record: Most teams in the Champions League have played each other before, and their previous matches can give you an idea of how the game will go.
For more help forming your Champions League betting slip, check out our Champions League 2024-25 predictions to discover the picks from our experts!
