The UEFA Champions League phase is set to commence this week, with Athletic Club facing Arsenal on Tuesday. Arsenal, who were runners-up in the English Premier League last season, reached the semifinals of the Champions League before falling to PSG. In contrast, Athletic Club placed fourth in La Liga and also reached the Europa League semifinals but were eliminated by Manchester United.
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET, to be streamed on Paramount+. Current odds present Athletic Club as +320 underdogs, a draw at +250, while Arsenal stands as -115 favorites. Before settling on your choice for the match, consider insights from soccer expert Martin Green of SportsLine.
Where to Watch Arsenal vs. Athletic Club
- When: Tuesday, Sept. 16
- Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- Stream: Paramount+
- Follow along: CBS Sports App
Betting Preview for Athletic Club vs. Arsenal
Odds: Athletic Club +320, Draw +250, Arsenal -115 | Total goals O/U 2.5
Arsenal has approached the end of a 20-year dry spell in the EPL with consistent second-place finishes over the past three seasons, also making the Champions League semifinals last year for the second time. Presently, they are the second-placed team in the EPL, behind Liverpool, following a resounding 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Conversely, Athletic Club has qualified for the Champions League this season for only the third time in their history and currently sits fourth in La Liga after a 1-0 defeat to Alaves last weekend. Inaki Williams and Nico Williams have been pivotal in Athletic Club’s ascent in the Spanish first division, although Nico may miss Tuesday’s match due to an injury incurred over the weekend.
Predictions and Expert Insight
Pick: Arsenal (-110) on the 90-minute money line
“Williams may not recover in time to face Arsenal, a significant setback,” stated Green. “While Athletic Club has home support, they may struggle against the pace and skill of Arsenal’s forwards, making an away victory seem likely.”
Pick: Viktor Gyokeres to score a goal (+150)
“In last month’s preseason friendly, Arsenal defeated Athletic Club 3-0, with Viktor Gyökeres netting the opening goal and additional strikes from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz sealing an emphatic win,” Green commented. Gyökeres, who has joined from Sporting Lisbon, is gaining confidence, boasting three goals in four appearances for the Gunners.
Additional Picks
Interested in more insights for the Champions League? Get expert picks for every UCL game here from our model that has simulated each match 10,000 times.
