Best European Football Leagues to Bet On

Arsenal will kick off their 2026/2027 Premier League title defence on Friday, August 21, 2026, when they welcome newly promoted Coventry City to the Emirates Stadium for an 8:00pm BST fixture. The Gunners enter the new campaign as back-to-back Premier League champions and fresh off a commanding 3-0 triumph over Manchester City in the FA Community Shield, while the Sky Blues return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years after clinching the 2025/26 Championship title under manager Frank Lampard.

Mikel Arteta has retained a star-studded squad for the 2026/2027 season, with captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka expected to play pivotal roles after injury issues disrupted their consistency last term, while new signing Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, and Viktor Gyokeres provide formidable depth across the pitch. The Gunners secured their second consecutive league crown with a hard-fought 1-2 victory away at Crystal Palace on the final day of last season, and they will be determined to start the new campaign with a statement performance against a Coventry side that conceded just 45 goals during their dominant Championship-winning campaign.

Brentford welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, August 22, 2026, for the opening fixture of the 2026/27 Premier League season. The Bees, managed by Keith Andrews, finished ninth last term and are looking to push for European qualification, while Spurs enter the new campaign under Roberto De Zerbi after a major summer overhaul following their narrow escape from relegation in 2025-26. Both sides have invested heavily in their squads during the transfer window and will be eager to start the season with a positive result in this London derby.

Brentford's squad for the 2026/27 season features several exciting new additions, with club-record signing Mamadou Sangaré expected to make his competitive debut in midfield alongside Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen. Brazilian striker Igor Thiago, who netted 22 Premier League goals last season, will lead the attack supported by Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara, while Caoimhín Kelleher starts in goal behind a defence of Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins and Keane Lewis-Potter. The Bees come into this match on the back of a strong pre-season, though they ended the previous campaign with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool and a 2-2 stalemate with Crystal Palace in their final two home outings.

Everton and Crystal Palace kick off their 2026/27 Premier League campaigns on Saturday, 22 August 2026, meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool for a 14:00 GMT fixture that marks the opening weekend of the new season. The Toffees are aiming to build on David Moyes' stabilising influence and secure a first top-half finish in six years, while the Eagles begin a new chapter under French manager Pierre Sage following a historic 2025/26 season that saw them lift the UEFA Conference League trophy. With both clubs eager to claim early momentum, this Merseyside encounter promises to be a competitive start to the domestic calendar.

Everton's squad for the 2026/27 season has been strengthened by five permanent summer signings, including £16m Championship Player of the Year Hayden Hackney and attacker Brennan Johnson, who joined in a swap deal from Crystal Palace. David Moyes will be without injured midfielders James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam, while summer arrival Christian Norgaard is also unavailable, meaning Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall may drop into a deeper role alongside Hackney. The expected starting XI features Jordan Pickford in goal, with Merlin Röhl, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaliy Mykolenko across the back, supporting forwards Iliman Ndiaye, Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry. The Toffees ended the previous campaign with a 1-0 reverse at Tottenham and a 1-3 home defeat to Sunderland, though pre-season brought encouraging signs including a 3-1 win over Newcastle United.

Hull City welcome Manchester United to the MKM Stadium on Saturday, 22 August 2026 for a Premier League clash that marks the Tigers' return to the top flight after a nine-year absence. Following their dramatic 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final, Hull City begin their 2026/2027 campaign against a Manchester United side that finished third last season under Michael Carrick. The lunchtime kick-off at 12:30 BST will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, with both teams fielding their new-look squads for the opening weekend.

Sergej Jakirović's Hull City squad for the 2026/2027 season features goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, defenders John Egan, Charlie Hughes and Ryan Giles, midfielders Regan Slater, Matt Crooks and Mohamed Belloumi, and forwards Oliver McBurnie and Liam Millar. The Tigers showed resilience in their promotion run, battling to a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Millwall in the play-off semi-final first leg before securing their place at Wembley. New signings are expected to bolster the squad as they look to compete at Premier League level.

Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa get their 2026/27 Premier League seasons underway on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with a 14:00 BST kick-off at the American Express Stadium. The Seagulls are targeting a strong start after qualifying for the Conference League with an eighth-place finish last term, while the Villans arrive on the south coast as Europa League holders and fresh from a fourth-place finish that secured Champions League football. With both sides renowned for their progressive, attacking philosophy, the opening weekend fixture promises to be one of the most compelling ties of Matchweek 1.

Fabian Hurzeler has assembled a Brighton squad for the 2026/27 campaign built around Bart Verbruggen in goal, a defensive unit featuring Luka Vušković, Pascal Struijk, Mats Wieffer, and Ferdi Kadıoğlu, and an attack led by Georginio Rutter, Diego Gómez, and Charalampos Kostoulas. The Seagulls ended the previous season with mixed results, suffering a 0-3 home defeat to Manchester United on the final day, though they had earlier demonstrated their Amex dominance with a convincing 3-0 victory over Wolves.

Manchester City open their 2026/27 Premier League campaign on Sunday, 23 August 2026, as they welcome AFC Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium for a 14:00 BST kick-off. Following a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield at the Principality Stadium, manager Enzo Maresca will be eager to secure his first competitive victory on home soil and set an authoritative tone for the season ahead. The Cherries arrive in Manchester looking to build on an impressive sixth-place finish last term and prove they can once again trouble a City side that is still adjusting to life under new leadership.

The Manchester City squad for the 2026/27 season features a formidable attacking core led by Erling Haaland, with Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden providing creative support in Maresca's tactical setup. New arrivals have bolstered the ranks as City look to reclaim domestic dominance, though winger Jeremy Doku faces a late fitness test ahead of this fixture. The Cityzens will be desperate to bounce back from their recent struggles, having suffered a 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa in their final home outing of the previous campaign and managing only a 1-1 draw when these sides last met at the Vitality Stadium in May.

The 2026/27 Premier League season gets underway on Sunday, 23 August 2026, when Newcastle United welcome Liverpool to St James' Park for a 4:30pm BST curtain-raiser. The fixture represents a fresh start for both clubs, with the Magpies preparing for their first competitive outing under new manager Matthias Jaissle, while the Reds line up for Andoni Iraola's inaugural competitive match in charge following the summer departure of Arne Slot. Newcastle will be eager to improve on a disappointing 12th-place finish from the previous campaign, whereas Liverpool arrive on Tyneside looking to rebound from a fifth-placed season and mount a credible title challenge.

Newcastle's squad for the 2026/27 campaign has been significantly reshaped after losing influential figures including Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier during the transfer window. Jaissle has invested in a youthful rebuild, recruiting Bazoumana Touré, Aladji Bamba, Lukás Hornícek and Sean Steur, though the inexperience of this overhauled roster presents a stern test against seasoned opposition. The Magpies concluded last season with inconsistent results, falling to a 2-0 reverse at Fulham, managing only a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, before registering a 3-1 win against West Ham United in their final home outing.

The 2026/27 Premier League season opens with a West London derby as Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24, 2026, in the first Monday Night Football fixture of the campaign. This marks Xabi Alonso's first competitive match in charge of Chelsea, with the Spaniard appointed on a four-year contract after the Blues finished 10th last season and lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City. Fulham, now under new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa following Marco Silva's departure, will look to start their season strongly in front of their home fans, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports at 8:00 PM BST.

Fulham's squad for the 2026/27 season features a mix of established Premier League talent and exciting new arrivals, with Bernd Leno between the posts and a defensive line including Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and USA international Antonee Robinson. The Cottagers have strengthened their attack with Spanish striker Gonzalo García arriving from Real Madrid for £34.2 million and Northern Irish midfielder Shea Charles joining from Southampton for £26 million, while Sander Berge, Emile Smith Rowe, and Rodrigo Muniz provide creativity and goals. Fulham ended the previous campaign with mixed results, securing a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United but also drawing 1-1 at Wolves in their penultimate fixture.

Atalanta and Sassuolo will face off in a Serie A clash on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 18:45 UTC at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, marking an early fixture in the 2026/2027 campaign. Both clubs enter the new season under fresh leadership, with Maurizio Sarri taking charge of Atalanta and Alberto Aquilani appointed as Sassuolo manager during the summer transition. The head-to-head record heavily favors the home side, with Atalanta holding 18 wins to Sassuolo's 6 across 29 previous meetings, suggesting the Bergamo outfit will approach this opener with confidence.

Atalanta's squad for the 2026/2027 season sees Marten de Roon retain the captain's armband, while Marco Carnesecchi is expected to start between the posts. The attacking unit features Nikola Krstovic and Giacomo Raspadori, though the Bergamo side will be without Kamaldeen Sulemana, Charles De Ketelaere, Honest Ahanor, and Isak Hien due to injury. Their pre-season preparations included mixed results from the previous campaign, having secured a thrilling 2-3 victory away at AC Milan but settling for a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina in their final outings.

The 2026/2027 Serie A season kicks off on August 23, 2026, with newly-promoted Frosinone hosting Juventus at the Stadio Benito Stirpe in a Matchday 1 fixture scheduled for 18:30 CEST. After finishing second in Serie B last season, Frosinone return to the top flight eager to make an immediate impression against one of Italy's most storied clubs. Juventus, under manager Luciano Spalletti, begin their campaign with renewed ambitions to challenge for the Scudetto after a frustrating 2025/26 campaign that saw them miss out on Champions League qualification.

Frosinone have been active in the transfer market ahead of their top-flight return, bolstering their squad with several key acquisitions including midfielder Florian Grillitsch from Napoli, winger Alessio Zerbin from Werder Bremen, and defender Gabriele Bracaglia from Red Bull Salzburg, while also securing loan extensions for Gabriele Calvani and Giorgio Cittadini. The Canarini will look to build on their strong Serie B form, which included a convincing 1:3 victory away at Avellino in February. However, they face a daunting task against a Juventus side that has historically dominated this fixture, with the Bianconeri unbeaten in all nine previous meetings between the two clubs.

AS Roma kick off their 2026/2027 Serie A season against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, August 24, 2026. Under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, the Giallorossi aim to mount a serious challenge for the Scudetto and secure a return to the Champions League. The Derby of Central Italy begins at 19:45 local time, with both sides unveiling refreshed squads following an active summer transfer window. Roma supporters will be eager to see how new additions blend with established stars like Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen.

Roma's squad for the 2026/2027 campaign is expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka, and Mario Hermoso. The midfield features Bryan Cristante and Manu Kone, with Matias Soule and Paulo Dybala operating behind striker Donyell Malen. The Giallorossi carry strong momentum into this fixture, having gone unbeaten through their final pre-season friendlies. Their recent competitive form includes a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Hellas Verona and a commanding 2-1 victory over Lazio in the Derby della Capitale.

Bologna will host Lazio at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Monday, August 24, 2026, in what promises to be an intriguing Serie A 2026/2027 season opener for both sides. The Rossoblu enter the new campaign looking to build on their solid performances from last term, while the Biancocelesti aim to bounce back from a disappointing end to the 2025/26 season that saw them miss out on European qualification. Both managers have had full pre-seasons to work with their squads, and fans can expect a competitive encounter as two of Italy's historic clubs battle for early momentum.

Vincenzo Italiano's Bologna will rely on a well-balanced squad featuring the likes of Santiago Castro, Riccardo Orsolini, and Remo Freuler, with Jhon Lucumí and Martin Vitík forming a solid defensive partnership. The home side carries encouraging form into this fixture, having gone unbeaten in their final three matches of the previous campaign, including a thrilling 3-3 draw against champions Inter and a hard-fought 0-1 victory away at Atalanta. Bologna has no reported injury concerns heading into this match, giving Italiano a full roster to choose from as they look to capitalize on their strong home record against Lazio.

The 2026-27 Ligue 1 season kicks off on August 21, 2026, as Olympique de Marseille welcome RC Strasbourg Alsace to the Orange Velodrome for the opening round. Both clubs enter the campaign under new management, with Bruno Genesio taking charge of Marseille after Habib Beye's dismissal, while Hugo Oliveira replaces Gary O'Neil at Strasbourg following the Englishman's move to Ipswich Town. Marseille will be eager to capitalize on their formidable home record against Strasbourg, having gone nine consecutive home league meetings without defeat to the Alsatian side. The Velodrome faithful will hope for a repeat of the attacking fluency shown in their last home outing of the previous campaign, a 3-1 victory over Stade Rennais.

Marseille's squad for the 2026-27 season retains a potent attacking core led by England international Mason Greenwood, veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and French forward Amine Gouiri. Club captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg anchors the midfield alongside Leonardo Balerdi and Ethan Nwaneri, while the defensive line features French World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard, Facundo Medina, and Emerson Palmieri. Goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange is expected to start between the posts. However, midfielder Quinten Timber will miss out through suspension. Despite the quality in Genesio's ranks, Marseille ended the 2025-26 season on a sour note with a 3-0 defeat away to FC Nantes, a result the new boss will be determined to erase from memory.

Angers SCO welcome Lille OSC to the Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday, 23 August 2026, for an important Ligue 1 fixture early in the 2026/2027 season. With kick-off scheduled for 21:00 local time, both clubs will be eager to build momentum after contrasting ends to the previous campaign, as Angers look to end a ten-match winless streak while Lille aim to extend their impressive recent dominance over this opponent.

The home side have struggled significantly in recent weeks, failing to secure a victory in their last ten Ligue 1 outings. Their form guide makes for grim reading, including a heavy 3-0 reverse away to Brest and a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Auxerre. For the 2026/2027 season, Angers are expected to field Koffi in goal, protected by a back four of Bamba, Camara, Lefort and Ekomie. Belkebla and Van den Boomen should provide the defensive midfield shield, with Raolisoa, Belkhdim and Mouton operating behind lone striker Koyalipou. The hosts will be without the suspended Carlens Arcus, while Haris Belkebla remains a doubt due to injury.

Le Havre AC will host AS Monaco at Stade CMA CGM Océane on Sunday, August 23, 2026, for the opening matchday of the Ligue 1 McDonald's 2026/2027 season. Both sides enter the new campaign with refreshed squads and renewed ambitions, making this Normandy clash an intriguing curtain-raiser. Le Havre will look to build on their survival credentials from last term, while Monaco aim to reassert themselves as genuine title contenders after a frustrating previous season.

Didier Digard's Le Havre have reshaped their roster for 2026/2027, bringing in defender Timothée Pembélé from Strasbourg, right-back Fodé Doucouré from Sunderland, and winger Godson Kyeremeh from West Bromwich on free transfers, while Japanese centre-back Ayumu Seko remains a key pillar. The squad features Lionel Mpasi-Nzau between the posts, Arouna Sangante and Yanis Zouaoui in defence, with Rassoul Ndiaye, Simon Ebonog and Felix Mambimbi driving the midfield. In their final outings of last season, Le Havre secured a 0-2 victory away at Lorient and battled to a 1-1 draw at Lille, showing they can compete with stronger sides on their day.

The UEFA Champions League 2026/27 playoff return leg sees LASK host Celtic at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, with the Austrian champions facing a formidable three-goal deficit after falling 3-0 at Celtic Park in the first leg. A place in the lucrative Champions League league phase hangs in the balance, and while Celtic hold a commanding advantage built on Benjamin Nygren's opener and a Camilo Durán double in Glasgow, LASK will draw on their passionate home support to attempt a historic comeback. This tie represents the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, adding extra intrigue to a high-stakes European night where the winners will advance to the league phase draw on 27 August.

LASK's squad for the 2026/27 season is anchored by the core that delivered their first Austrian Bundesliga title since 1964-65, with manager Dietmar Kuhbauer relying on goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth, a back three of Xavier Mbuyamba, Alemão and Andrés Andrade, a hard-working midfield featuring Kasper Jørgensen, Robert Ljubičić, Melayro Bogarde, Sascha Horvath and George Bello, and an attacking pairing of Samuel Adeniran and Moses Usor. The Linz side have shown resilience in recent months, though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sturm Graz in late April. European odds for the home win in this return leg sit around 2.40, reflecting both the difficulty of overturning the deficit and LASK's proven goal-scoring threat at the Raiffeisen Arena.

Sabah Baku host Hapoel Beer Sheva on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, in the decisive second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 Play-Off Round at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium. The Azerbaijani side face a stern challenge after falling to a 2-1 defeat in the first leg at the Rapid-Giulești Stadium in Bucharest, where Veljko Simić gave Sabah an early lead before Javon East and Igor Zlatanović turned the match around for the Israeli outfit. With a place in the lucrative Champions League league phase on the line, Sabah must win by a two-goal margin in front of their home supporters to keep their European dream alive.

Both managers are expected to field their strongest available selections from the 2026/2027 season squads. Sabah coach Valdas Dambrauskas can call upon goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov, a back four featuring Akim Zedadka, Steve Solvet, Rahman Dashdamirov and Tymoteusz Puchacz, with Umarali Rakhmonaliev and Ivan Lepinjica shielding the defence. The attacking unit of Aleksey Isayev, Veljko Simić and Joy-Lance Mickels will look to unlock a Hapoel defence marshalled by captain Miguel Vítor, with Ofir Marciano between the posts. Hapoel coach Ran Kozuk is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 system that worked in the first leg, deploying Guy Mizrahi, Itay Rotman and Pedro Amador alongside Vítor, while Eliel Peretz, Lucas Ventura and Niv Yehoshua control midfield. The front three of Javon East, Igor Zlatanović and Zahi Ahmed carry the goal threat, though Eylon Almog remains unavailable for the visitors.