Matchday 2 of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League sees Liverpool, fresh off their first defeat of the season, travel to face a Galatasaray side aiming for an upset. Former Champions League winners Ajax and Marseille will face off in Marseille, while Bayern Munich and Inter Milan look to continue their momentum. We have predictions for every match on Tuesday at the Champions League, including Benfica vs Chelsea.
Liverpool at Galatasaray
Liverpool still top the Premier League as they look to repeat as Champions, but a loss to Crystal Palace on the weekend finally laid bare some of their deficiencies in the early season. They did get off to a winning start in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid on matchday 1, and won twice after that. Crystal Palace have been themselves as one of the most organized and talented teams in the Premier League this season, and Liverpool still look like favorites in Istanbul.
Galatasaray barely beat minnow Alanyaspor on the weekend 1-0, and were thrashed 5-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt in a game that began well, but quickly unraveled when the star-studded Turkish side were put under pressure and physically pressed. Galatasaray and other Turkish Super Lig clubs have not responded well to adversity in recent months, but this is still their best squad in a decade.
If Galatasaray are going to win, they need to score multiple goals, and the return of striker Victor Osimhen to the lineup is integral to that. Hugo Ekitike is expected to step up for Liverpool in the striker role. Galatasaray should find goals, but their ability to defend is questionable. Liverpool would love to unlock Florian Wirtz, the big signing from Germany has struggled to contribute in his early games at the club and has questions to answer. Prediction: Liverpool 3 Galatasaray 2
Slavia Prague at Inter Milan
Inter Milan are finally finding form and hosting Slavia Prague, they will look to make it four wins in four matches. Inter were the better side against Ajax on matchday 1, and had a comfortable weekend win over Cagliari. Prague are undefeated in the Czech league 7-3-0, but could only manage a draw against Bodo/Glimt on matchday 1 of the Champions League, a game they badly wanted to win for valuable points.
Cristian Chivu’s performance as Inter’s manager is improving, Lautaro Martinez is still world class, and Inter are not an easy out in any game where they can defend admirably. Slavia’s side still has a gap in quality to this one, and playing at San Siro, Inter should continue their winning ways. Slavia will be missing three or four normal starters for this matchup including Tomas Holes. Prediction: Inter Milan 3 Slavia Prague 1
Tottenham Hotspur at Bodø/Glimt
Tottenham Hotspur’s poor performance on the weekend against lowly Wolverhampton Wolves, which ended in a 1-1 draw after Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha scored a match tying goal in extra time, is a concern for Thomas Frank’s side. The Spurs attack has looked disjointed, there are questions on the wing and a striker, with Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons carrying a heavy burden. Spurs did win on their return to the Champions League 1-0 over Villarreal however, in a very flat game that saw them take an advantage due to Villarreal’s own goal error.
Bodo/Glimt began their Champions League campaign with a brave draw in Prague. They famously battled Tottenham in the semifinals of the Europa League in May, losing both games, including 2-0 at home. Tottenham’s problems at striker likely reduce their goal output, but a Bodo win would still come as a shock. Prediction: Tottenham 1 Bodo/Glimt 0.
Ajax at Marseille
Playing at home and coming off some impressive results, Marseille look like a side to be feared. It was a painful 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid to start their Champions League campaign, but they finally beat PSG at home in the Ligue 1, a brave 1-0 win, and then engineered a comeback to beat Strasbourg 2-1 on the weekend.
Ajax are a peculiar side, at 4-3-0 they are undefeated in the Dutch Eredivisie but they have looked terrible in a number of their matches and simply didn’t have the talent on the field to compete with Inter Milan on matchday 1 of the Champions League. Both sides have been Champions of this competition, before massive tv rights money left them behind. Marseille look closer to competing with Europe’s best again, while Ajax remain more of a famous name, than a current contender. Ajax are limited at striker, while American Timothy Weah features for Marseille. Prediction: Marseille 3 Ajax 0
Bayern Munich at Pafos
Bayern Munich have 11 consecutive victories since the new season began, Germany’s top club, might be the world’s best club at the moment. Harry Kane has 12 goals across the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, and new addition Luis Diaz has been creating numerous chances on the wing.
This game will be played in Cyprus, but Pafos would need a world beating performance to get a point from this. They managed a dull draw against Olympiacos to open matchday 1 and have 3 consecutive domestic wins since then. Pafos are defensively sound, they defended much of their first Champions League game with 10 men. Given what Bayern did to Chelsea, and everyone else, in recent games, that defensive wall is going to be under immense pressure. Bayern should continue to play like Champions. Prediction: Bayern Munich 3 Pafos 0