The playoffs are all done, the draws completed, and the talking now stops: it is time to start the UEFA Champions League Group Stage for the 2022-23 campaign.
It should a holiday.
Today, there are eight group stage matches–two in the early window, six in the late one–and Wednesday will be the same. Because of the World Cup, we will do it all again next week, too.
And don't forget, there are 16 Europa League and 16 Europa Conference League games as well (mostly Thursday) this week and next.
So there will be value plays all over the place for bettors.
Hopefully, the VAR works better here than it does in the Premier League.
Here is what former Scottish referee Steve Conroy said to OLBG:
"I don’t think they're held in such high esteem as they would like to think themselves, Anthony Taylor has PSG vs Juventus tomorrow and he doesn't have his own team, he's got a german VAR and german assistant VAR, a few weeks ago Michael Oliver in the Super Cup final, had a Polish VAR and a Lithuanian fourth official. Normally, you'd have a team all from your own country. That shows that they are not held in as high self esteem as they think."
Speaking of Premier League teams, Chelsea will open up the competition in Zagreb with a very tough contest. Looking at Scottish sides, Celtic has a glamour tie today with defending European Champions Real Madrid.
There are some very good games on the slate, for fans and bettors.
Have a look below.
Check Fubo.tv and World Soccer Talk for channel listings
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
(all games on Paramount+, some odds via OLBG)
Early window 12:45 p.m. EDT
Dinamo Zagreb +575 v Chelsea -220, draw +360
Late window 3 p.m. EDT
Benfica -375 v Maccabi Haifa +900, draw +500
Celtic +370 v Real Madrid -140, draw +300
PSG -345 v Juventus +900, draw +460
Red Bull Salzburg +275 v AC Milan +100, draw +260
Sevilla +850 v Manchester City -335, draw +440
GAME PLAYS:
Zagreb double chance win or draw +175
Benfica -1.5 -125
Real Madrid ML -140
PSG -1.5 -129
AC Milan ML +100
Manchester City -1.5 -105
PROP PLAYS:
Benfica over 2.5 goals -105
PSG over 2.5 goals +110
Manchester City over 2.5 goals +125
Kylian Mbappe (PSG) to score -125
Neymar (PSG) to score +100
Erling Håland to score 2+ goals +320
Karim Benzema to score -125