Six Premier League sides are in UEFA Champions League action this week, and it’s Arsenal who are leading the charge.
The 2025/26 season sees a continuation of UEFA’s revamped Champions League format, with 36 teams participating in the league phase.
Mikel Arteta’s side have made a flying start, winning both of their opening matches without conceding a single goal. With one of the best defences in Europe, they’re already being tipped as early favourites to go all the way.
While Liverpool remain the most successful English club in the competition’s history with six titles, Manchester City are the most recent Premier League representative to clinch the coveted trophy after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the 2022/23 final.
Chelsea have lifted the trophy twice, while Arsenal, Tottenham, and Newcastle are still chasing their first taste of European glory.
It’s shaping up to be another thrilling week of Champions League football.
To celebrate its official global partnership with the competition, bet365 is giving fans the chance to win a pair of tickets to a Gameweek 5 fixture of their choice, taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 25 and 26, through the free-to-enter Big Ticket Giveaway.
The ballot is now open, but entries close this Thursday, so don’t miss your chance to win one of ten pairs of tickets.
Easy to enter
Simply create or log in to your bet365 account.
Go to the giveaway page, select the match you’d like to win and click “enter”.
Remember to get your entries in no later than 11.59pm (UK time) on Thursday, October 23.
Winners will be notified by email within six days of the entry closing date.
Each winner will receive a pair of tickets to their chosen match.
During the 2024/25 season, bet365 gave away over three thousand free tickets for matchdays in the UEFA Champions League - one of the largest ticket giveaways in UEFA history.
You can also check out the bet365 betting hub for all the latest UEFA Champions League betting odds, including outright winner, top goalscorer and match odds (registration required, T&Cs apply, 18+ only).
Make your picks
To help you make your picks ahead of this week’s action, we’ve previewed each Premier League side’s upcoming European fixtures...
Newcastle v Benfica
Tuesday, October 21
The Magpies welcome Portuguese giants Benfica to St James’ Park this week, hoping to turn around a tough run of form that’s seen them lose their last three home games in the Champions League.
They opened this season’s campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Barcelona, but bounced back in style with a dominant 4-0 win away at Union Saint-Gilloise.
Newcastle and Benfica have only met three times before, twice in the 2013 Europa League and once in a friendly. Benfica edged one win, with the other two ending in draws. Interestingly, both teams found the net in all three encounters.
See the latest UEFA Champions League odds here
Villarreal v Man City
Tuesday, October 21
The 2021 Europa League winners host the 2023 Champions League winner this week, as Villarreal welcome Manchester City to the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The Spanish side currently sit third in La Liga and boast an impressive home record, having won eight of their last 10 matches on home soil.
However, Pep Guardiola will look to their opponent’s recent record in Europe, which has seen Marcelino García Toral’s side lose to Tottenham Hotspur and draw with Juventus. City, meanwhile, have recorded a 2-0 victory over Napoli and a 2-2 draw with Monaco.
See the latest UEFA Champions League odds here
Arsenal v AtléticoMadrid
Tuesday, October 21
Arsenal are off to a strong start in this season’s competition, winning both of their opening matches without conceding a goal.
Their most recent victory came in Bilbao, where they struck twice in the final 20 minutes to secure a 2-0 win over Athletic Club.
On the other hand, Diego Simeone’s side endured a dramatic opener against Liverpool at Anfield. After falling 2-0 behind in the first six minutes, they managed to level the match before falling to a last-minute 3-2 defeat. But the Spanish side bounced back with a 5-1 win in their second game against Eintracht Frankfurt.
All eyes will be on Atlético’s in-form striker Julián Álvarez, who has already racked up seven goals and three assists across nine appearances in La Liga and the Champions League this season.
See the latest UEFA Champions League odds here
Chelsea v Ajax
Wednesday, October 22
Ajax head to Stamford Bridge still looking for their first points in this season’s Champions League. The Dutch side have endured back-to-back defeats in their opening two matches without managing a goal. Their 2-0 home loss to Inter Milan was followed by a 4-0 defeat at Marseille.
Two-time winners Chelsea lost their opening match against Bayern Munich, falling to a 3-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena. However, they recovered with a 1-0 home victory over Benfica.
The Premier League’s youngest squad, with an average age of 23.3 years, have been inconsistent in the Premier League this season. Still, they head into the match on the back of a thrilling 2-1 win against last season’s champions Liverpool.
See the latest UEFA Champions League odds here
Monaco v Tottenham
Wednesday, October 22
The Londoners are only in the Champions League on the back of their Europa League success. They sit ninth in the table having earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Villarreal and a 2-2 draw against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
Monaco meanwhile are still seeking their first win in Europe this season following a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Club Brugge, and a draw against Manchester City.
Despite scoring in each fixture, they have also conceded six goals in their first two games.
See the latest UEFA Champions League odds here
Eintracht Frankfurt v Liverpool
Wednesday, October 22
After making a perfect start to their Champions League campaign following wins against Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray, Arne Slot will be hoping his side can repeat their excellent group stage form from last season.
But they take on an Eintracht side that has netted 17 goals in 6 Bundesliga matches this term. The German side put five past Galatasaray in their opening European fixture.
Worryingly for Liverpool, they have now gone four games without a clean sheet. But they remain favourites for an away win.
See the latest UEFA Champions League odds here
For your chance to win tickets for the UEFA Champions League, visit bet365.
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*This giveaway is being organised by bet365. Full terms and conditions apply and can be viewed here, with significant terms and conditions listed below.
- 18+ only.
- The giveaway for each match fixture will be a separate promotion subject to these terms and conditions. Please check the opening and closing dates for each fixture giveaway.
- This promotion is free to enter. No purchase is required.
- This promotion is offered across the bet365 platform, and your chance to win will be shared with entrants from other eligible countries.
- To enter a prize draw, create or log in to your bet365 account, go to our giveaway page and select the match you would like to win by clicking “enter” by the deadlines indicated.
- Winners will be notified by email within 3 days of the Entry Closing Date for the relevant draw. Winners must complete the web form provided within 24 hours following the email to accept the prize. Your prize is not guaranteed unless you complete the web form in time.
- Entry into a match giveaway must be made by no later than 11.59pm (UK time) on the closing date specified for that fixture.
- Winners will be selected by random electronic draw. A separate draw will be held for each match giveaway.
- This promotion is open only to verified bet365 account holders aged 18 years or over, who can see this promotion after login.
- You may only enter the giveaway for one match per week of the UCL competition. A maximum of four prizes can be won per person over the lifetime of this promotion.
- In each match giveaway, 10 winners will each win 2x match tickets to the selected UEFA Champions League men’s football match.
- Prizes may only be used by the selected winner and a guest of their choice (aged 18+). Prizes may not be transferred, sold or exchanged.
- Unless otherwise stated, the prize does not include hospitality, travel, accommodation, travel insurance, food and drink or spending money. Such costs are the exclusive responsibility of the winner.