The UEFA Champions League is one of the most popular sporting events in the world of football that attracts the attention of millions of fans, including gamblers. In Nigeria, the interest in betting on the Champions League is constantly growing due to the wide access to bookmakers. Also, the interest in this event is understandable because of the fact that football is the most popular sport among African countries.
In this article, we take a look at the main aspects of Champions League betting in Nigeria. Keep reading to choose a reliable bookmaker for your predictions.
Where is the best place to place bets on the UEFA?
Football is the most popular sport for predictions. All bookmakers who specialise in sports betting accept predictions on football and, in particular, on the UEFA on its dates. We have compiled the top 5 companies that have a licence to provide football betting services. If you don't know which online operator to choose, take a look at the list below:
- 1xBet;
- Betwinner;
- 22bet;
- PariPesa;
- Helabet;
- 1win;
- Megapari;
- 888Starz;
- Mostbet.
Beginner Guide - how does the Champions League work?
The UEFA Champions League is an annual football tournament among European clubs. In the 2024/25 season, the following main stages:
- Group stage: 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4 teams play each other home and away. The top two teams from each group qualify for the play-offs.
- 1/8 finals: elimination matches consisting of two matches (home and away).
- 1/4 finals and semi-finals: similar to the 1/8 finals.
- Final: one game to decide the winner of the tournament. The UEFA Europa League final for the 2024-2025 season takes place on 21 May 2025 at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
Which teams are in the Champions League?
At the moment, taking into account the ranking table, bookmakers and sports experts put forward the following favourites:
- Manchester City: one of the main contenders for victory, maintaining a strong squad and stability under Pep Guardiola since 2016.
- Real Madrid: a club with a rich history of winning the tournament and ambitions to be the best again.
- Arsenal: a return to the Champions League under Mikel Arteta makes them an intriguing rival.
- Paris Saint-Germain: a stellar cast is among the title contenders.
- Barcelona: as of January 2025, Barcelona are in 3rd place and are also a strong contender.
In short: how to make the right predictions on Champions League matches?
For football matches, especially for major events such as the Champions League, bookmakers offer a record number of markets. For example, for the nearest match Betwinner offers 1243 markets. Let's list the most popular betting options for the Champions League:
- Betting on the outcome. The most popular type of prediction, especially if you are a beginner. In it you bet on a win for one of the teams or a draw in regular time;
- Double Chance. This bet is similar to the previous one, but with lower risks, as you bet on two out of three possible predictions: first team win or draw (1X), second team win or draw (2X), one of the teams win without a draw (12).
- Both teams will score (Yes/No). A simple bet on whether a goal will be scored in the match.
- Total. A bet on the total number of goals scored by two teams. For example, ‘Under 3.5’ means that for the bet to win, no more than 3 goals must be scored in the match.
- Handicap. This is a conditional advantage of one of the teams. It is deducted (for a minus handicap) or added (for a plus handicap) to the result, after which the bet is calculated. For example, ‘2 (+3)’ means that if the match ended in a defeat of the guests with a difference of two goals, then taking into account the ‘+3’ handicap it would win.
- Exact Score. A bet on how the match will end, e.g. 3:2.
- Special Bets. Predictions on events in the match. Such bets include, for example, ‘Penalty awarded and sending off (Yes/No)’, ‘Which player will score a goal at any time’, ‘Own goal (Yes/No)’, ‘Who will score first and the time of the first goal’, etc.
Conclusion
Betting on the Champions League can be an exciting and profitable activity. Use the information in this article to increase your chances of success, and remember that betting is primarily a form of entertainment, not a guaranteed way to make money.
In Nigeria, betting companies are regulated by the National Lottery Commission. To be on the safe side, make sure you use legal bookmakers.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Who has won the Champions League most often?
At the moment, the record holder for the number of victories is Real Madrid. The football club has won 15 cups.
Where to watch the Champions League?
The bookmakers we have mentioned in this article have a live streaming option. You can place a bet and watch what is happening on the screen at the same time. Sports TV channels also provide live streaming.