Champions League Preview: Bayern v Arsenal, Real Madrid v Leipzig and the Player Props Worth Checking

Times are Amsterdam time (CEST). Take an hour off for UK time.

Source: UEFA's matchday 3 fixture list. Line-ups below are predictions from club press conferences and outlets, not team sheets.

Bayern are without Michael Olise, suspended after his sending off in the 3-3 draw at Viking. That's a big one for shot markets: Bayern's own preview says nobody in the Champions League has set up more shots than him since the start of last season. Jamal Musiala is still injured. Joshua Kimmich missed the final session for personal reasons but is expected to be available, and Neuer or Urbig in goal is a matchday call. Vincent Kompany is ill and might not even be on the touchline.

Arsenal are missing William Saliba, Piero Hincapié and Christos Tzolis. Martin Zubimendi is back, Arteta confirmed that himself.

The obvious name is Harry Kane. He's scored in nine successive Champions League appearances and scored against Arsenal in every season from 2014/15 to 2023/24. He's also Bayern's penalty taker, which makes his goal line volatile, and Arsenal have conceded a first-half goal in just one of their last ten Champions League games. I'd look at his shots and shots on target lines before the goalscorer price.

The more interesting question is who picks up Olise's volume. Sports Mole has Lennart Karl, Ismael Saibari and Luis Díaz behind Kane. Whoever's confirmed in the more central role is the shots line I'd compare with the fair odds. For Arsenal, Viktor Gyökeres leads the line in the predicted XIs. The rest of their front line varies between previews, so wait for the team sheet.

This is the one I'd expect to be loud. Madrid have scored in their last 44 Champions League home games. Leipzig have lost their last six league-phase away matches and shipped four at Como on matchday 1.

José Mourinho has already said Vinícius Júnior will start. He's banned in La Liga, so Europe is where he plays right now. Yan Diomande, who joined from Leipzig in the summer, was involved in all four goals against Sevilla but is expected on the bench, per AS. Rodrygo, Raúl Asencio and Ferland Mendy are out. Leipzig are without Christoph Baumgartner and Assan Ouédraogo, with Rômulo expected up front.

Kylian Mbappé has scored in his last four Champions League games, but he's been Madrid's main penalty taker, so the Kane warning applies. Vinícius is the cleaner shots angle: confirmed starter, fresh legs, and two goals against Leipzig in this competition before. A defence leaking goals like Leipzig's usually gives up shots too, which pushes up the fair price on Madrid's starters.

Watch the minutes, though. With the Clásico on Sunday, Mourinho has every reason to take people off early if it's done by the hour.

The early game, and the messiest team news. United have won one of their last ten Champions League away games and none of their last six in all competitions. Leny Yoro is suspended, Lisandro Martínez didn't travel, and Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Ayden Heaven are out. Marcus Rashford is still bothered by his hip. Matthijs de Ligt looks set for his first start since November 2025.

Bryan Mbeumo is in every United prediction I've seen. Bruno Fernandes is too, maybe as a false nine, but he's on penalties, so treat his goal line with care.

Como are without Assane Diao, Moise Kean and Trevoh Chalobah. That matters: Diao and Tasos Douvikas have both scored in each of Como's two Champions League games. Douvikas is in the squad and the predicted XI, so he's the striker to look at. I couldn't confirm who takes Como's penalties, so check that first. Against a patched-up United back line, I'd look at Como's attackers in the shots markets too.

One for the Dutch readers. Feyenoord have lost their last seven European away games and conceded in each of their last 21 away matches in UEFA competition. They've also scored in each of their last eight Champions League away games.

Betis are without Cucho Hernández and Junior Firpo, so Troy Parrott should lead the line. He scored three times in five Eredivisie games against Feyenoord with AZ. For Feyenoord, Anis Hadj Moussa has started the last five games and scored five in that run, and Luciano Valente is expected back on the left. Hadj Moussa is the one I'd check first for shots, but away at Betis Feyenoord may not see much of the ball, so his volume is less certain than in the Eredivisie.

Open the dashboard once line-ups drop (around 17:45 for Como v United, around 20:00 for the rest):

• Confirmed starters only. Every name above is a prediction until then.
• Shots and shots on target before goalscorer, especially for penalty takers. See shots on target betting and anytime goalscorer bets explained.
• Opponent shots conceded. Leipzig and United's defence are where I'd look first.
• Expected minutes. Big weekend games mean early subs.

If the price beats the fair odd, that's positive EV (what is expected value in betting). Combining a few in one game? Read bet builder tips first.