Back this Odds Now 4.78/1 Champions League play-offs acca

The 2024-25 season is well underway after the majority of Europe's major domestic leagues kicked off at the weekend. 

We weren't exactly starved of sporting competition throughout the summer due to the European Champions and then the Olympics, but it's nevertheless nice to have club football regularly on our screens once again. 

The action continues midweek as several of Europe's clubs look to take a major step towards a place in the Champions League tournament proper through the play-offs.

There are seven play-off matches taking place in total this week - three on Tuesday and four on Wednesday. 

After landing several of our selections at the weekend, we thought we'd look to continue our hot streak with a tasty acca for you all to dive into ahead of the games on Tuesday.

Let's get into it!

Brad Walker's best bets for Tuesday, August 19, 2024

*Best UK prices as of 10:30AM 20/08/2024

Selection #1 - Bodo Glimt to beat Red Star Belgrade @ 3/4

Norwegian champions Bodo Glimt must overcome 1991 European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade if they are to reach the Champions League proper for the first time in their history. 

Glimt host their Serbian counterparts in the first leg of their play-off tie and come into the fixture unbeaten in their nine home outings in Norway's Eliteserien. They have also won both of their home matches in the Champions League qualifying rounds - scoring eight and conceding just once in the process. 

Meanwhile, Belgrade are yet to play in this season's competition but lost all three of their away outings in the Champions League group stage during 2023-24. In fact, they failed to win any of their six matches in the competition last term, conceding 15 goals in the process. 

In a tough match to call, the two sides' track records suggest backing Glimt is the sensible option here. 

Red Star didn't win any of their six group stage matches last season, which includes two defeats to English champions Manchester City. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Selection #2 - Dinamo Zagreb to beat FK Qarabag @ 10/11

Dinamo Zagreb have hit the ground running in the Croatia Prva HNL. They've won both of their two home encounters, scoring eight goals in the process and are yet to concede at the Maksimir Stadium.

While they bowed out of the Champions League during the qualifying rounds last season, Sergej Jakirovic's side lost just one of their six home fixtures across their subsequent Europa League and Conference League campaigns. 

They prepare to face a Qarabag side who have impressed during their 2024/25 Champions League pursuits, most recently ousting Bulgarian champions Ludogorets 8-4 across their two ties in the previous round. 

However, while Gurban Gurbanov's men have rightly heralded praise for their efforts so far, Zagreb remain the obvious shout to win the first leg given their impressive home record and the disparity in quality of each side's domestic leagues.

Selection #3 - Lille to beat Slavia Prague @ 3/4

The easiest of the three selections to pick takes place at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Tuesday evening. 

Bruno Genesio's Lille side come into the new season having finished fourth in Ligue 1 last term. A hard-fought 3-2 aggregate victory over Fenerbahce in the previous round see the French outfit on the brink of reaching the tournament proper for the first time since 2021/22. 

Lille recently kicked off their Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-0 away victory at Rennes and prepare to welcome a Slavia Prague team which lost three of their six away outings in the Europa League last season. 

Coupled with Lille's impressive home record - they lost just two home matches in Ligue 1 in 2023-24 - the French club should move a step closer to reaching the league phase with victory here. 

Lille celebrate during their 2-1 home victory over Turkish side Fenerbahce during the previous round. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)