After a break of over 40 days, the Champions League is finally back. Champions League Matchday 7 features some big matches, and we’ll cover all nine kickoffs on Tuesday. Inter Milan vs Arsenal headlines the Tuesday slate, as the Gunners are a perfect 6-0 so far.
Other key matches include Borussia Dortmund vs Tottenham and Real Madrid vs Monaco. Real Madrid recently sacked coach Xabi Alonso, and it’ll be interesting to see how they perform in their first high-stakes game since Alvaro Arbeloa took over on an interim basis.
Here are previews for each Tuesday game, including our best bet at the end.
Champions League Matchday 7: Kairat vs Club Brugge – Astana, Kazakhstan – Tuesday, 10:30 am EST
Through three home Champions League matches, Kairat (0-1-5) are yet to score a goal. They’ll be looking to give their home fans something to cheer about when they take on Club Brugge (1-1-4) in Astana, Kazakhstan at 10:30 am EST.
Brugge have conceded at least three goals in each of their last four Champions League games. Meanwhile, Kairat have conceded in all but one of their UCL matches. Don’t be surprised if both teams end up on the scoresheet in this one.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals (-102)
Champions League Matchday 7: Bodo/Glimt vs Manchester City – Bodo, Norway – Tuesday, 12:45 pm EST
Manchester City suffered an unacceptable 2-0 defeat against rivals Manchester United in Saturday’s Premier League Derby match. Now, City (4-1-1) will make the trip to the Arctic Circle for a Champions League game against Bodo/Glimt (0-3-3).
City can almost certainly clinch a spot in the top eight with a win here, and they’ll certainly want to bounce back after a poor showing over the weekend. Bodo/Glimt can score goals, but City have too much strength in depth for the hosts. Go with Man City -1.5 (-118).
Best Bet: Man City -1.5 (-118)
Villarreal vs Ajax – Villarreal, Spain – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
It’s now five months into the 2025-26 season, and Ajax (1-5) are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home. That will encourage Villarreal (0-1-5), who haven’t won a single Champions League match thus far.
Combined, these teams have conceded 31 goals in 12 Champions League games this season but have only scored nine times. Villarreal’s UCL form is a stark contrast to their La Liga form, where they’re in third place.
Ajax won 4-2 away at Qarabag in their last UCL match, and their form has improved over the past couple of months, apart from an embarrassing 6-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the KNVB Cup last week. If Ajax win, they’ll keep their slim knockout stage hopes alive, and there’s value in betting on them to do so
Best Bet: Ajax (+400)
Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund – London, England – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
While Tottenham have been dreadful in the Premier League as of late, they’re in the mix for a bye to the round of 16. So too are Borussia Dortmund, as both sides are 3-2-1, one point outside of the top eight.
It’s unclear if Spurs coach Thomas Frank will even be in charge for this match after an embarrassing 2-1 home defeat against relegation-threatened West Ham on Saturday. Meanwhile, Dortmund are unbeaten in their previous seven matches, in all competitions.
They have allowed 10 goals in three Champions League away matches, though. Tottenham are an absolute mess at the back and up front, but they’ve played better in the UCL.
I’d take both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in this one. It’s happened in all but one of Dortmund’s Champions League matches thus far and each of Spurs’ last three overall.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals (+100)
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen – Piraeus, Greece – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
An intriguing Champions League Matchday 7 clash pits Olympiacos (1-2-3) against Bayer Leverkusen (2-3-1). Both teams have hopes of making the knockout stage. While Bayer Leverkusen are in 20th, Olympiacos sit two points outside of the knockout stage picture at the moment.
Leverkusen have dropped back-to-back matches and will be missing number one keeper Mark Flekken here. Olympiacos’ key striker Ayoub El Kaabi played in the Africa Cup of Nations Final on Sunday and won’t be available either.
Both teams failed to score in their last match, and this could be a cagey affair. Go with under 2.5 goals (-102).
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals (-102)
Sporting vs PSG – Lisbon, Portugal – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
Somehow, this is the first competitive meeting between the two sides. Sporting (3-1-2) are 3-0 at home in the Champions League this season, but haven’t played a club of PSG’s stature at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. PSG (4-1-1), the defending champions, are the joint top scorers in the competition.
The Parisians have found the net 19 times in six games, and Vitinha has led PSG with four goals. You can get the Portuguese midfielder to find the net here, at +725 odds. It’s the best pick on the odds board today.
Best Bet: Vitinha to Score (+725)
Inter Milan vs Arsenal – Milan, Italy – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
After opening up their Champions League campaign with four straight wins, Inter Milan (4-2) have dropped two straight. Now, the Nerazzurri take on Champions League leaders Arsenal (6-0) at the San Siro in the standout Champions League Matchday 7 game.
This is Arsenal’s fourth consecutive road match, in all competitions, and they’re looking exhausted. Don’t be surprised if Mikel Arteta rotates his squad, as Arsenal will still likely finish in first place in the group stage with a loss and a win over Kairat in the League Phase closer.
The Gunners still have a chance to win, even with squad rotation, but did fall to Inter 1-0 in last season’s League Phase. Three points would be massive for Inter’s bid to finish in the top eight, so expect them to go for it here. Still, Arsenal have conceded just one goal in six Champions League matches.
Take a “No” on both teams to score in what could be a tight match.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score: “No” (-110)
Champions League Matchday 7: Real Madrid vs Monaco – Madrid, Spain – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
Here’s a match between two clubs in crisis mode. Real Madrid (4-2) bafflingly sacked Xabi Alonso last week and proceeded to lose 3-2 to second-tier Albacete in the Copa del Rey in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first match.
Real managed a 2-0 victory over Levante in La Liga over the weekend, but their performances have been quite uneven lately. Meanwhile, Monaco (2-3-1) have lost four straight games in Ligue 1, but have played quite well in cup competitions.
There’s value in betting on Monaco to secure a draw or win here, at +240 odds. Real are still imbalanced despite the heroics of Kylian Mbappe, who’s facing his former club.
Best Bet: Monaco to Draw or Win (+240)
Champions League Matchday 7: Copenhagen vs Napoli – Copenhagen, Denmark – Tuesday, 3:00 pm EST
Copenhagen (2-1-3) and Napoli (2-1-3) enter this match barely in the knockout stage as things stand. The hosts have conceded three more goals than any other team currently in the knockout places. Five of Copenhagen’s six UCL games this term have finished with four goals or more.
Napoli, on the other hand, have conceded 10 goals in just three away matches in the Champions League. Antonio Conte will be missing some key players here, but three points are crucial with a game against his former club, Chelsea, looming next week.
It wouldn’t be surprising if this one turns into a goal fest. Bet on over 2.5 goals.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals (-110)
About the Author
