Champions League Matchday Predictions for 2026/27: Matchday 2

A season opener could hardly have been crazier: Lens came back from a deficit in Prague thanks to two goals in stoppage time and celebrated its first away victory in European competition since 2005. Five days later, however, Dino Toppmöller was still out of a job. Sporting is in great form domestically and easily shook off an early own goal against Galatasaray on the first matchday. Luis Suárez converted a penalty, and Rodrigo Zalazar curled a free kick into the net. The Portuguese side looks more solid.

Tip: 2 + Both teams to score

At Old Trafford, the newcomer from Azerbaijan learned a hard lesson in a 0-4 loss; now its first home game in the Champions League is on the horizon. In its domestic league, Sabah has won every game so far. Slavia is undefeated in the Czech Republic after nine rounds, but squandered a lead twice against Lens and conceded the decisive 2-3 goal in stoppage time. Konečný, who was sent off, is suspended. Jindřich Trpišovský’s team has gone nine games without a win in the Champions League group stage across two seasons and will likely do everything in its power to end this streak.

Tip: 2 + Over 3.5 goals

The English champions got off to a solid start with a 1-0 win in Naples, as Martin Ødegaard converted an assist from substitute Christos Tzolis in the 75th minute. Still, the Gunners aren’t entirely without worries: Defensive leader William Saliba is out for the long term, and they also suffered a 0-3 loss at Brighton in the league. Lille lost a wild back-and-forth battle with Betis 2-3 and will have to play without Ethan Mbappé, who was sent off for an elbow to the face. Davide Ancelotti’s team is conceding too many goals, which plays right into the hands of Bukayo Saka and company.

Tip: 1 + Over 1.5 Goals

At the Metropolitano, Atlético hosts the Red Devils. At Anfield Road, an early goal by Marcos Llorente wasn’t enough for the Rojiblancos; they ultimately lost 1–2. However, Diego Simeone’s team regained its confidence with a 2–1 victory in the derby against Real Madrid. United routed Sabah 4–0, but in the Premier League, Michael Carrick’s team is still struggling to find its form. Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško will find little space against Atlético’s tight defensive unit, while Julián Álvarez lies in wait for counterattacks.

Tip: 1 + under 1.5 goals

In Madrid, Real Madrid capitalized on two mistakes in Inter’s build-up play; Carlos Augusto’s goal came too late. In Serie A, things are going much more smoothly for Cristian Chivu; the Nerazzurri are tied on points with league-leading Roma. Bruges impressed with their attacking spirit in a 2-3 loss to Aston Villa; Nicolò Tresoldi scored from the penalty spot and then hit the post. In domestic play, Ivan Leko’s team recently sent Antwerp and Genk home with decisive victories.

Tip: 1 + Both teams to score

Barça is virtually unstoppable: seven league games, seven wins, 31 goals scored. In the 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, Raphinha scored twice, and Lamine Yamal converted a free kick. Now, Hansi Flick faces one of the loudest cauldrons on the continent. Galatasaray took an early lead in Lisbon but collapsed after the equalizer and lost 1-3. In the Süper Lig, they suffered a 0–4 loss at Trabzonspor. Victor Osimhen remains a major threat, especially since Barcelona’s high defensive line leaves them vulnerable to through balls.

Tip: 2 + Both teams to score

The 1-4 loss in Como continues to take its toll: Martín Demichelis’ team struggled to get a foothold on Lake Como; only Maksimović managed to pull one back temporarily after an assist from Christopher Nkunku. In the Bundesliga, they’ve only managed to climb to ninth place so far. PSV ended a streak of five straight opening-day losses with a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar; Sergiño Dest equalized shortly after halftime. Peter Bosz’s team won 3–1 on the road against Ajax in the league but stumbled against Twente. Both coaches rely on aggressive pressing, so gaps are bound to open up.

Tip: X

The Norwegian league leader certainly made an impression in its 1-3 loss in Stuttgart: Zlatko Tripić responded promptly to Ermedin Demirović’s opening goal, but the Stuttgart player went on to score a hat trick within twelve minutes. In the Eliteserien, Viking is tied for first place with Bodø/Glimt; most recently, it posted an 8-1 victory over Kristiansund, among other results. Bayern kicked off the season with a 5-0 win over Bodö, with Jamal Musiala making a brilliant return. Harry Kane scored his eighth consecutive goal in the Champions League.

Tip: 2 + Over 3.5 goals

Two clubs left empty-handed after the first round: Villarreal briefly tied the game in Dortmund thanks to a goal by Mouriño, but ultimately lost 2-3 in a frantic closing stretch. Napoli fell to Arsenal 0-1 at home and will have to make do without injured goalkeeper Alex Meret for the time being. The pressure is mounting on Massimiliano Allegri; in Serie A, his team is languishing in ninth place. Iñigo Pérez is still waiting for his first win in the Champions League. It promises to be a tense matchup in which neither side is likely to take too many risks.

Tip: X

Como made a sensational debut on the big stage: In their 4-1 win over Leipzig, Nico Paz set up two goals, while Martin Baturina, Fotis Douvikas, Assane Diao, and Perrone each found the back of the net. Feyenoord was routed 1–5 in Barcelona, but domestically, things are going splendidly with a 7–0 win in Zwolle and a 5–0 victory over Utrecht. However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team is coming off a grueling top-of-the-table clash against league-leading AZ. A hostile atmosphere awaits Cesc Fàbregas’s possession-based style of play at De Kuip.

Tip: 1 + Both teams to score

The 0-1 loss in Athens marked LASK’s twelfth consecutive away defeat on the European stage. Now, the first home game of the league phase is coming up. Dietmar Kühbauer’s team is in third place in Austria, but has recently looked vulnerable defensively. Liverpool came back from a deficit against Atlético, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. Under Andoni Iraola, the Reds remain undefeated in the league, but new signing Bradley Barcola has yet to find his footing after a lackluster Anfield debut. The big match against City three days earlier could lead to some lineup changes.

Tip: 2

Wednesday’s top match: Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma leads Serie A undefeated and came away from Kadıköy with a 1-1 draw; Bryan Cristante scored from long range off an assist from Donyell Malen. José Mourinho, who led the Giallorossi to the Conference League title in 2022, thus returns to his former stomping grounds. Real defeated Inter but fell to Atlético in the derby. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring after 14 minutes, and Thibaut Courtois secured the victory in his 100th Champions League appearance. At the Olimpico, two teams that know how to make the most of the ball will face off.

Tip: X + Both Teams to Score

Unai Emery can at least breathe a sigh of relief on the international stage: The 3-2 win in Bruges was the team’s first victory of the season, and Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal in a Villa jersey. In the Premier League, however, the Europa League champions are languishing in 16th place, and the English press is already speculating about the Spaniard’s future. Fenerbahçe held Roma to a 1-1 draw, with Archie Brown equalizing off an assist from Mason Greenwood. İsmail Kartal’s team is unpredictable on the road, and Villa desperately needs a win in front of its home crowd.

Tip: 1

Arda Turan’s young team showed in Eindhoven that it can hold its own: Gleiker Mendoza scored the go-ahead goal shortly before halftime, and the match ended in a well-deserved 1-1 draw. In the Ukrainian league, Shakhtar is in second place and has won its last three games in a row. AEK edged out LASK 1-0, with Răzvan Marin curling a free kick into the corner. Top scorer Luka Jović was unlucky; his header was ruled offside. Marko Nikolić emphasizes a compact defense, and goalkeeper Brignoli was a reliable presence in the opener.

Tip: 1 + Under 1.5 goals

Anyone traveling to Bodø needs to be in it for the long haul—even Manchester City and Inter have learned that the hard way in recent years. In Munich, however, Kjetil Knutsen’s team suffered a decisive 0–5 loss; center back Odin Bjørtuft was also sent off with a straight red card and is suspended. BVB leads the Bundesliga with four wins in four games and defeated Villarreal 3–2 in a turbulent closing stretch, with Serhou Guirassy scoring twice. On the artificial turf at Aspmyra, it will still be a test of patience for Niko Kovač.

Tip: 2

The Match of the Day: The defending champions are on the road at the Etihad. Enzo Maresca has led City to the top of the table with five wins in five league games, while Erling Haaland scored a brace in Porto and now has 59 goals in 59 Champions League games. Paris has put its rocky start to the season—four games without a win—behind them: They crushed Slovan 6–1, with Ferran Torres scoring a hat trick and Ousmane Dembélé contributing to four goals. Most recently, Luis Enrique’s team also won the classic match in Marseille. Both sides boast formidable offensive firepower.

Tip: 1 + Over 3.5 goals

Betis celebrated its return after 21 years with a 3-2 win in Lille; the Andalusians trailed twice but fought back both times. In La Liga, Manuel Pellegrini’s team is in third place and has defeated Real Madrid, among others. Porto won all seven of its league games, including a 3-1 victory over Benfica, but fell to City 0-2 despite strong saves by Diogo Costa. At Benito Villamarín, Andalusian flair will meet Portuguese discipline.

Tip: X

Ermedin Demirović needed just twelve minutes to score three goals against Viking, two of which were set up by Deniz Undav. In the Bundesliga, however, things are going terribly: Three points from four games have them in 15th place, and they’ve recently suffered losses at Hoffenheim and against Dortmund. Slovan conceded six goals in Paris and sits only in fourth place in its domestic league. Yaya Touré is likely to have his team sit deep and hope for set pieces. Sebastian Hoeneß needs the road win to maintain a comfortable position heading into the league phase.

Tip: 2