The second half of Matchday 3 in UEFA Champions League Action takes place this afternoon, following a Tuesday with a lot of action but not a significant amount of shock. Will we get a few more upsets today? It’s certainly possible – but even if we don’t, we’ll get to see significantly more top-end contenders, along with some of our favourite Canadian talent who spend their club time in Europe. Let’s dive into the schedule.
12:45 p.m. ET Headliner: Atalanta vs. Celtic FC
| Atalanta Win | -270 | Celtic FC Win | +700 | Draw | +410 |
| Over 3.5 Goals | +115 | Under 3.5 Goals | -143 | Broadcast | DAZN |
Once again, we have two early games on the schedule, and the most interesting of the bunch has a touch of Canadian flair to it. More on that in a bit.
On one side, we have Serie A side Atalanta, who have risen up the ranks in Italy over the past few years thanks to a shrewd, development-first approach. The team has done an incredible job of scouting, buying, and then selling up-and-coming talent, creating their own wealth to compete with the financial powerhouses in their country. They’ve also built up a more aggressive attacking system that runs counter to a historically defensive league. Considered also-rans for much of their history, they’ve spent the last decade hanging around the top five of the standings. They’ll be feeling strong going into today, with three consecutive wins by a combined score of 10-1.
Meanwhile, Celtic have been Scotland’s most famous representation on the club stage for over a century now, winning their national championship an incredible 42 times and never getting relegated in 134 years of league play. They don’t quite hold up to the level of the best in Europe these days, with their only Champions League win in 1967 coming in the European Cup era, but their familiar green and white stripes remain a staple of the tournament. So far this year, they’ve had two very different results in group play, winning 5-1 over Slovan Bratislava, only to get thumped 7-1 against Borussia Dortmund. Across all competitions, Celtic are undefeated since that Dortmund loss, winning two games and drawing their most recent match in the Scottish Premiership against Aberdeen.
These two teams have never faced each other, so regardless of result, history will be made today.
Game Bets To Consider
- Atalanta will press hard in this game, as they always do. Look to them to score over 1.5 goals today, currently priced at -286. If you want to be as aggressive as they are, you can even go higher – I wouldn’t be shocked if they bagged three (over 2.5 +105) or four (over 3.5 +255) today.
- Back to that Canadian flair, National Team defender Allistar Johnston is manning the back for Celtic today. He’s been a great add for them over the past two years, even if we’re predicting that today will be a tough night. There’s a couple of ways you can back him if you want to do so – I’d probably skip goals and assists, but maybe consider a shot at +100, four or more tackles at +120, or my personal favourite, a card of any kind at +200.
Bet on Atalanta vs. Celtic FC
ATA -222
CEL +610
3:00 p.m. ET Headliner: FC Barcelona vs. FC Bayern Munchen
| Barcelona Win | +165 | Bayern Munich Win | +295 | Draw | +155 |
| Over 3.5 Goals | -108 | Under 3.5 Goals | -114 | Broadcast | DAZN |
Today’s main schedule features a ton of top teams, but no game carries as much combined star power as this one between the two “FCB” squads – La Liga’s FC Barcelona and Bundesliga’s FC Bayern Munchen (better known here simply as Bayern Munich). Two teams that have been near the top of not just their nations, but global football for decades now converge for yet another historic battle.
Barca is back on top of the Spanish table after a year removed last year and comes into today’s match red-hot, with wins in four of their last five games – most recently, a 5-1 rout of Sevilla in La Liga action. They’ve split their UCL results so far, dropping their opener to Monaco by a 2-1 result but blowing out Young Boys in 5-0 fashion earlier this month. Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, who they originally acquired from Bayern, scored two goals in that game, along with the Sevilla match on Sunday.
Bayern had a surprising change of pace last year when they finished third in the Bundesliga standings – their first time not winning the league since 2012, and well behind the undefeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s final points total. They’re back on top so far to start the year, but with six other teams within four points of them, it’s difficult to rest too easily. A big statement was made on Saturday when they defeated VfB Stuggart, themselves a Champions League side, in a dominant 4-0 fashion, including a hat trick from English striker Harry Kane. Bayern has split their results in UCL thus far, winning 9-2 in their opener against Dinamo Zagreb but falling 1-0 to Premier League side Aston Villa.
Historically, Bayern have had a big edge in this matchup, winning 10 of 13 games, including the last six between them. Despite this, they remain underdogs today.
Game Bets To Consider
- Look to the strikers to create some noise today. Betano is offering super-enhanced odds on shots on target parlay featuring Lewandowski (over 1.5) and Kane (over 0.5). Normally +120, you can get this pair for +175 today.
- Canadian phenom Alphonso Davies represents the Red and White on Bayern’s side, as he has since 2019. If you want to mix him into the action, you can play it safe and take him for a shot attempt at -175, or if you’re feeling courageous, an assist at +560 could pay serious dividends.
Bet on FC Barcelona vs. FC Bayern Munchen
BAR +165
FCB +155
Other UEFA Champions League Games On October 23rd
There are seven other games being played on October 23rd.
The closest game on paper is also arguably the second-most star-studded, as current Premier League leaders Liverpool and Bundesliga co-leaders RB Leipzig face off in a battle that leans towards the former. As far as the most lopsided, look to last year’s Premier League winner and current favourite to win the Champions League, Manchester City, who have a massive -769 edge going into their match against Czech side AC Sparta Praha.
Continuing the trend of Canadian content, you can see a few more of our friends in the depths of the schedule. National team striker Jonathan David hopes to keep scoring in Lille OSC’s game against Atletico Madrid. Tajon Buchanan likely won’t draw in for Inter Milan against BSC Young Boys, but the winger/midfielder is getting close to returning to the pitch after his awful leg injury suffered in training with the national team earlier in the summer.
| Away Team |  | Draw | | Home Team | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stade Brestois 29 | +500 | +325 | -167 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 12:45 PM |
| Atalanta | -227 | +450 | +590 | Celtic FC | 12:45 PM |
| Manchester City | -769 | +925 | +2400 | AC Sparta Praha | 3:00 PM |
| FC Barcelona | +165 | +295 | +155 | FC Bayern Munchen | 3:00 PM |
| RB Leipzig | +280 | +290 | -102 | Liverpool FC | 3:00 PM |
| Atletico Madrid | -175 | +325 | +570 | Lille OSC | 3:00 PM |
| BSC Young Boys | +725 | +420 | -250 | Inter Milan | 3:00 PM |
| SL Benfica | -200 | +370 | +600 | Feyenoord Rotterdam | 3:00 PM |
| FC Red Bull Salzburg | -111 | +300 | +305 | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 3:00 PM |
Latest 24/25 UEFA Champions League Odds
Here are the latest UEFA Champions League odds, heading into the matches on October 23rd:
| Team | | Last Matchday | Team | | Last Matchday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | +275 | +275 | FC Barcelona | +1000 | +1000 |
| Real Madrid | +300 | +300 | Liverpool FC | +1200 | +1200 |
| Arsenal FC | +750 | +800 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | +1900 | +1900 |
| FC Bayern Munchen | +900 | +900 | Inter Milan | +1900 | +1900 |
Arsenal saw a slight uptick yesterday, following their 1-0 win against Shakhtar – it wasn’t the most convincing performance in the world, won on an own goal, but three points are three points. The rest of the top eight, most of whom play today, remain unmoved.
