This article is part of our Football Predictions series.
Champions League Best Bets: Picks, Odds & Predictions for Wednesday, Dec. 10
Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League concludes with a nine-game slate Wednesday, and we've highlighted the best bets, strongest predictions and most valuable odds across the schedule. This week's selections include a PSG spread, a goals-focused pick in Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United and a Kylian Mbappe goal-scorer play for Real Madrid vs Manchester City.
Knowing injuries and predicted lineups, and eventually confirmed lineups, is crucial when betting Champions League matches.
Visit our Champions League lineups page for updated predicted and confirmed XI information.
UEFA Champions League SGP for Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United
Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals -117
Bayer Leverkusen are coming off their best performance in the UEFA Champions League after securing a 2-0 win over Manchester City the last time out. However, they've gone W1, L2 in all competitions since then, including back-to-back losses in the Bundesliga to Dortmund and Augsburg. This is a team that already lost to PSG, defeated City and Benfica, but also couldn't get more than a draw against PSV. The inconsistency has been the only thing consistent about Die Werkself.
This matchup against Newcastle United sees them as underdogs despite playing at home in BayArena, which goes to reflect how well Newcastle have been playing of late. The Magpies suffered a 2-1 loss to Marseille in their last Champions League match, but that was their only defeat in their previous five games across all competitions (W3, D1, L1). Newcastle are also on a run of six straight games seeing both teams score with over 2.5 total goals. Leverkusen should be capable of scoring at home, as they've done so in each of their nine competitive games at BayArena so far. With each of Newcastle's last six away contests finishing over 2.5 goals, and five ending with both clubs scoring, the stage is set for a thrilling end-to-end matchup.
UEFA Champions League Best Bet for Athletic Club vs PSG
PSG to cover -1.5 spread, +170
Athletic Club are celebrating the return of Inaki Williams, who will return to the squad after an absence of nearly two months, but the star winger is not expected to start. Despite Williams' return, Athletic Club have plenty of injury concerns. Yeray Alvarez (suspended), Aitor Paredes (suspension) and Aymeric Laporte (strain) are all out, meaning the only true center-back available is Dani Vivian alongside youngster Jon de Luis. That's a bad omen ahead of playing PSG's dangerous attack.
The French club will be shorthanded as well due to the absences of Ousmane Dembele (illness), Achraf Hakimi (ankle), Lucas Hernandez (suspension) and Lucas Chevalier (ankle), while Nuno Mendes (thigh) and Desire Doue (hamstring) are questionable. Still, PSG have far more depth than Athletic to withstand any potential absence. Despite playing on the road, PSG should have enough quality to get past Athletic's depleted defense and win here by a margin of at least two goals. Athletic haven't been a stout defensive side even when at full strength, and they'll end up looking overmatched against a PSG side that's averaging 3.8 goals scored per match in the current Champions League campaign.
See updated Champions League injury news before placing bets.
UEFA Champions League Goalscoring Bet for Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Kylian Mbappe to score anytime -114
Mbappe is doubtful to play Wednesday due to a hand and thigh injury, but he's expected to be a game-time call. It would've been easy to go with Erling Haaland for this one as well, as his odds (-115) are similar to Mbappe's (-114). However, the Frenchman has been on fire. Even though he didn't score against Celta Vigo in LaLiga the last time out, the star striker has been unstoppable at the European level.
Mbappe netted four times in the win against Olympiacos and has a whopping nine goals in five appearances. Mbappe didn't score against the best two teams he's faced so far, Liverpool and Juventus, but Los Merengues need him at his best against the Cityzens based on their recent struggles. Madrid have won just one of their last five matches across all competitions (W1, D3, L1). If they're going to snap that run, Mbappe will have to step up. He has four goals in seven previous matches against City in his career.
Champions League Betting Picks Wednesday, December 10
- Athletic Club vs. Paris Saint-Germain: PSG to cover -1.5 spread, +170
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Newcastle United: Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals, -117
- Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: Kylian Mbappe to score anytime, -114
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