Champions League Predictions This Week: All Matchday 1 UCL Games

While some favourites are expected to cruise to comfortable victories, we are also predicting several major surprises. Here are our Champions League predictions this week for all Matchday 1 UCL games.

LASK could provide one of the first major surprises of the Champions League campaign. Although AEK Athens will have home advantage, we believe the Austrian side can exploit weaknesses and produce an impressive away performance.

Prediction: AEK Athens 1 - 2 LASK

Prediction: Club Brugge 2 - 1 Aston Villa

This should be one of the most entertaining games of Matchday 1. While neither side possesses the same star power as some of Europe's biggest clubs, both teams should create plenty of attacking opportunities. Dortmund's home advantage could ultimately prove decisive.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3 - 2 Villarreal

Prediction: Porto 1 - 3 Manchester City

Lille and Real Betis could produce a closely fought contest. Neither team is likely to dominate for long periods, and we expect the game to remain level heading into the closing stages before Betis find a late equaliser.

Prediction: Lille 2 - 2 Real Betis

This is arguably the standout fixture of Matchday 1. José Mourinho returns to face a club he previously coached to a historic treble, while Denzel Dumfries faces his former club. We expect Real Madrid to dominate at home, with Kylian Mbappé potentially stealing the show with a brace.

Prediction: Real Madrid 4 - 2 Inter Milan

Hansi Flick's Barcelona are widely expected to win this one comfortably, and we agree. However, Feyenoord could cause a few problems defensively and find the net themselves. Barcelona's attacking firepower should nevertheless make the difference.

Prediction: Barcelona 5 - 2 Feyenoord

Viking are set to experience Champions League football for the first time, but their historic occasion could end in disappointment. Stuttgart should have too much quality, particularly with home advantage.

Prediction: Stuttgart 2 - 0 Viking

Iraola's first Champions League game in charge of Liverpool promises to be a fascinating encounter against Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid. Anfield should be rocking, but we are backing the visitors to silence the home crowd with a surprise victory.

Prediction: Liverpool 1 - 2 Atlético Madrid

This could be one of the most one-sided games of Matchday 1. PSG possess vastly superior attacking quality, and Luis Enrique's side should dominate from the opening whistle. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé could both get on the scoresheet.

Prediction: PSG 5 - 0 Slovan Bratislava

We expect a tight and competitive encounter between Sporting CP and Galatasaray. However, Victor Osimhen could be the difference-maker for the Turkish side, with the striker capable of producing a decisive Champions League performance.

Prediction: Sporting CP 2 - 3 Galatasaray

Napoli have not enjoyed the best start to their domestic campaign, but they could rise to the occasion in Europe. Arsenal's demanding Premier League schedule could also catch up with them, leading us to predict a high-scoring draw.

Prediction: Napoli 2 - 2 Arsenal

Roma have made a promising start to their Serie A campaign, and we expect them to carry that momentum into Europe. Fenerbahçe should make things difficult at home, but Roma could edge an entertaining contest.

Prediction: Fenerbahçe 2 - 3 Roma

Both PSV and Shakhtar have been performing well in their respective domestic leagues. Nevertheless, PSV's home advantage should give them the edge in what could be an entertaining encounter.

Prediction: PSV Eindhoven 3 - 1 Shakhtar Donetsk

One of the biggest potential surprises could come from Como. Playing in their first-ever Champions League campaign, they could produce a memorable result against RB Leipzig and announce themselves on the European stage with a home victory.

Prediction: Como 2 - 1 RB Leipzig

Bayern Munich could be unstoppable in this fixture. Bodø/Glimt face an enormous challenge against one of Europe's strongest sides, and Harry Kane and Michael Olise could lead a dominant attacking display.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 6 - 0 Bodø/Glimt

Manchester United should have little trouble securing three points here. We are going for a classic 3-0 victory, with Bruno Fernandes expected to play a role in all three goals through goals or assists.

Prediction: Manchester United 3 - 0 Sabah

The final game on our list could be another closely contested affair. Both teams should have periods of control, but neither may have enough quality to pull away, making a draw our preferred prediction.

Prediction: Slavia Prague 1 - 1 Lens

Matchday 1 promises plenty of drama, with comfortable wins expected for sides such as PSG, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, while LASK, Club Brugge, Atlético Madrid and Como are our picks to produce some of the biggest surprises.

The headline clash between Real Madrid and Inter Milan could also deliver plenty of goals, while Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid and Napoli vs Arsenal could be much tighter than their respective reputations suggest.