Football betting tips: Champions League
2pts Leverkusen to win (Draw No Bet) at 6/5 (SpreadEx, Sporting Index)
1pt Alejandro Grimaldo to score anytime at 13/2 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power)
1pt Grimaldo to provide 1+ assists at 5/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
0.5pt Grimaldo to score 2+ goals at 60/1 (Paddy Power)
Eddie Howe's love for the Carabao Cup, a competition Newcastle won last season and lost in the final of in 2023, has meant his team have played a lot of games already this term. This is their third successive midweek fixture with a fourth to come next week.
The Magpies' last away game saw them stun the usually consistent Everton 4-1. Prior to that they had lost four straight matches on the road, with their record away from St James' in all competitions still making for grim overall reading (W2 D3 L4).
Those struggles are nothing new for Howe's men, with one point from their final three away matches last season almost costing them a place in this very competition, so a trip to the 2024 German champions will be no easy task.
Former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has steadied the BAYER LEVERKUSEN ship (W11 D3 L4) after Erik ten Hag was sacked after just three matches.
Two of the Dane's four defeats have come at Bayern Munich (3-0) and at home against PSG, with the European champions inflicting a bizarre 7-2 thrashing in a match played as 10 versus 10 from the 37th minute.
That freak result aside, they've been pretty consistent, sitting fourth in the Bundesliga, a fair position according to expected goals data.
Last time out in the Champions League they impressively beat a below par, much-changed Manchester City 2-0 at The Etihad.
All things considered Newcastle are too short at 13/10, and with a draw by no means a disaster for either side LEVERKUSEN (DRAW NO BET) at 6/5 is advised; the 2/1 about a home win is a tempting alternative though.
I will have a play at some larger prices when it comes to Leverkusen captain ALEJANDRO GRIMALDO, who appears to have overpriced in the goal involvement markets.
At 13/2 TO SCORE ANYTIME and 5/1 for 1+ ASSISTS we are much better off splitting our stake across those rather than taking the 5/2 for him to score or assist.
The Spanish left wing-back has been sensational this season, scoring eight and providing six assists in 20 appearances for club and country, twice scoring 2+ GOALS which can be backed at 60/1.
He is touch and go for this tie having missed out at the weekend through injury, but Hjulmand and Leverkusen director of football Simon Rolfes both say they are hopeful he will return on Wednesday night - the club cryptically confirmed he is back in training via social media.
˙ƃuıʞ ʞɔıʞ ǝǝɹɟ ǝɥ⊥ pic.twitter.com/iiPwI01jxr
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 8, 2025
Should he make the XI - and the price is good enough - it's worth backing the brace with a firm offering Super Sub as with him less likely to complete the 90 minutes, the bet will remain live with his replacement.
Odds correct at 15:00 GMT (9/12/25)
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