I have two player props for the final league-phase matches in the Champions League.
The pregame narrative: Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz faces a promising matchup against Sparta Praha, and I say there’s value in backing the youngster to score at plus-money odds. Also, bet on Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere to rip a couple of shots.
Check out the best Champions League prop bets for Matchday 8.
Champions League prop bets
Go to full Champions League betting markets.
Best Bet: Wirtz anytime goal scorer (+115)
Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman is among the brighter young stars in the German top flight.
The catalyst of the club’s historic season, Wirtz is making bigger strides in 2024-25.
- Nine goals on 7.1 expected goals (xG) in the Bundesliga.
- Averaging 3.3 shots per match.
- Made 13 carries leading to a chance, most in the Bundesliga.
He faces a favourable matchup against Czech side Sparta Prague, which has conceded 19 goals and the second-most shots in the competition.
Leverkusen is eighth in the table, with a single goal making the difference for Round-of-16 qualification. So, it will be crucial for Xabi Alonso’s side to keep its foot on the pedal and pile up goals.
Wirtz serving as the club’s main penalty taker is an added bonus for this prop.
Considering the markets are pricing Leverkusen to score at least three goals, I feel good about his chances of netting a goal.
Key stat: Wirtz leads the club with five goals in the Champions League.
Quick picks
De Ketelaere over 1.5 shots (-120): Charles De Ketelaere has been a standout figure for Atalanta.
The Belgian attacker has scored four goals in his last three Champions League fixtures, averaging 3.3 shots during that stretch.
Barcelona’s defence has been proven vulnerable to strong attacking sides, as exhibited by conceding four goals on 10 shots from Benfica last week.
De Ketelaere, standing at an imposing 6-foot-4, can also generate shots from set-piece plays.
With striker Ademola Lookman ruled out due to injury, he will become even more important to Gian Piero Gasperini’s gameplan and could play the full 90 minutes.
Picks made at 11:33 a.m. on 01/28/25.
