The UEFA Champions League is officially kicking off its round of 16 knockout series today and tomorrow with action spanning all across Europe.

With sixteen teams left bidding for one of the eight quarterfinal spots to continue in the battle for a chance to play for club soccer’s most coveted continental tournament title, let’s break down how each matchup looks and their respective soccer betting odds.

UCL Round of 16 First Leg Knockout Round Preview & Betting Picks

Tuesday Matchday UCL Predictions

• Liverpool vs Galatasaray: While I’ve never played a second of Champions League soccer, or professional soccer at all (I’m good at writing and betting, not playing), I know one thing from having experienced a Galatasaray home game in Istanbul.

RAMS Park does not welcome visiting teams kindly, especially teams that seem ripe for a beating like Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

With the spread set at +0.5 and +120 for Galatasaray, back the home team to start setting the trap for a second consecutive Liverpool KO punch.

• Barcelona vs Newcastle United: Can we all agree on the fact that Newcastle United may have bitten off more than they can chew after being pinned against Barcelona in this round of 16 knockout series?

While Barcelona is leading the La Liga tournament and looking in tip-top shape to make quick work of Newcastle, the home team is currently 12th in the Premier League standings, and don’t really have that much to offer soccer betting fans tonight.

Unless Newcastle can muster a way to stop Barcelona’s attack, led by Lamine Yamal, taking Barcelona to win straight up at +146 odds has to be the best UCL betting pick of the day.

• Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid: Staying on the subject of Spanish teams thriving against British teams struggling, before you do anything else today, make sure you smack a couple of bucks on Atletico Madrid’s +130 odds to cover the -1 goal line against Tottenham in London tonight.

Why?

In case you haven’t been keeping up with Spurs, they’re a couple of losses away from needing life support this season in the Premier League.

Now, clinging on to the hopes that a strong European campaign can somehow salvage their season, Spurs are en route to facing an Atletico Madrid team that forgot its past defense-heavy antics and has turned into one of the more entertaining attack-friendly teams in soccer.

If Atleti takes to the field in London tonight banking on it’s offense to take over the game from the start, it will be game over and probably series over for Tottenham right then and there.

So, at a positive value, trust Atleti to win and cover.

• Bayern Munich vs Atalanta: I don’t even need to check out our Champions League winner odds list to know that Bayern Munich has to be at least atop the three favorites.

This feels like it doesn’t matter when you read this, or whoever Bayern Munich is playing, they’ll always be online betting favorites and there’s practically nothing anybody can do about it, especially Atalanta, who’ll be hosting Bayern tonight at home in Bergamo.

In short, if Atalanta had so many issues dispatching Borussia Dortmund, Germany’s second-best team, who just happen to have gotten beaten by Bayern a couple of weeks ago 3-2, there’s little to no hope on trusting the Italian side can stop Vincent Kompany’s team from crushing them.

Funnily enough, for this being such a lopsided affair, Bayern covering the one goal spread is currently at +105, making this a perfect pick to chase.

Wednesday Matchday UCL Predictions

• Arsenal vs Bayern Leverkusen: Kicking off the action tomorrow, why anybody would think betting against Arsenal right now is a good idea is something I don’t even feel like starting to decipher.

Continuing to dominate in the EPL this season, sitting atop the standings and with a comfortable seven-point lead to keep Manchester City away, I’m rocking with Arsenal at -1 (-106) all day, every day and so should you.

• Chelsea vs PSG: Moving into a more leveled series, can Chelsea pull off the series upset against Luis Enrique’s juggernaut PSG squad?

I personally don’t think so, considering PSG would love nothing more than to make quick work of Chelsea at home before having to head to London next week.

With PSG’s moneyline odds set at -109, taking the home team with the better momentum and current championship pedigree feels like the smartest bet here.

• Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt: I don’t care who Bodo Glimt is playing anymore, just know one thing, I will be taking them as my UCL pick through and through.

Why?

Do we need to head back in time and remember how Bodo took care of Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan?

Now, having to face Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, I can’t see a scenario in which the Norwegian side drops the ball here.

At +157 odds to win straight up at home to start this series, count me in for buying into a Bodo win.

• Manchester City vs Real Madrid: In what feels like the tightest series in the lot, but always keeping in mind that the most dangerous team in Europe when it comes to knock-out stage series is Real Madrid, I have to say I’m leaning towards taking Madrid to start the series out with a home win tomorrow.

Yes, it’s apparent City enter as the team with better form and momentum, but when it comes to UCL soccer, sleeping on Real Madrid is never an option.

With its moneyline at +240, trust “Los Blancos” to win at any cost necessary.