The UEFA Champions League formally makes a much-anticipated return on Tuesday, however this season’s competitors is not going to be like those that got here earlier than it.
The switch to the Swiss-system format provides extra groups, extra video games and extra days of competitors to the schedule, all with the hopes of accelerating the competitiveness as early because the league part, which replaces the group stage. By way of fixtures alone, Matchday 1 lives as much as the billing with a handful of thrilling video games to kick off the competitors. Liverpool’s journey to AC Milan headlines the primary day of motion on Tuesday, whereas Kylian Mbappe is about to make his Champions League debut in a Actual Madrid shirt the identical day as they host Stuttgart.
English and Italian champions Manchester Metropolis and Inter face off on Wednesday, and the Champions League motion continues on Thursday with Arsenal touring to Europa League champions Atalanta and Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen return to the competitors with a visit to Feyenoord.
Forward of the primary batch of Champions League matches this season, the CBS Sports activities workforce provides their knowledgeable picks and predictions. Have a look beneath.
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Listed here are our knowledgeable picks for this matchday:
Tuesday
Sport of the day: Milan vs. Liverpool
Participant to look at:Â Christian Pulisic: We could be very a lot on the planet of small pattern sizes, however two objectives and two assists in his first 4 Serie A video games is pretty much as good a return because the USMNT star might want for. Within the doubtless occasion that Pulisic begins off the appropriate, he might discover himself empowered to assault a comparatively weak level of this Liverpool aspect, Andrew Robertson not fairly the pressure he was both with or with out the ball. If Pulisic can ghost into area within the penalty field and get pictures, he would possibly simply have the ability to win a recreation that appears set in opposition to Milan. — James Benge
Man of the match:Â Mohamed Salah: The Liverpool striker is anticipated to be the participant to create extra and may rating a minimum of one if the English aspect fulfills expectations in opposition to AC Milan. Salah had a robust begin to the season as he scored three objectives in 4 video games and in addition supplied three assists to his teammates. There is no such thing as a cause to assume he will not replicate his efficiency within the Champions League debut. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction:Â Milan 0-2 Liverpool: The Reds successful whereas scoring twice appears to be the most well-liked decide inside our panel. The Rossoneri might maintain it tighter however Arne Slot’s males are heavy favorites to take the factors regardless of dropping at residence to Nottingham Forest over the weekend. The Italian aspect has hardly been spectacular to date this early season regardless of a prolific victory over a sorry Venezia aspect, whereas Liverpool have been fairly convincing up till that setback at Anfield. Few will have the ability to overlook that this was the 2005 UCL last and an absolute basic with a 3-3 draw which the English giants gained on penalties. That alone ought to assure that it is going to be a particular European night in Milan whatever the outcome. — Jonathan Johnson
Greatest guess:Â Liverpool over 1.5 objectives (-142): Whereas this is not probably the most interesting quantity from the match, Liverpool shall be trying to rating in opposition to a Milan aspect which were suspect defensively after dropping to Nottingham Forest over the weekend. For Premier League groups, it’s important to get off to a quick begin because of the quantity of video games on their plates so there is not any cause to not maintain issues easy right here. — Chuck Sales space
Wednesday
Sport of the day: Man Metropolis vs. Inter
Participant to look at: Erling Haaland: He is fairly good, this man. A mere two objectives within the win over Brentford suggests slipping requirements from the perennial hat trick hero, however, properly, it is hardly a return to be sniffed at. Inter have been a fairly distinctive defensive pressure since a minimum of the beginning of final season, however, frankly, they’ve not confronted anybody pretty much as good as Haaland.  — James Benge
Man of the match:Â Rodri: When Manchester Metropolis gained the 2023 UEFA Champions League last in opposition to Inter he was the person of the match, and in addition the participant who scored the deciding purpose in opposition to the Nerazzurri. He missed the primary couple of video games of the season on account of a hamstring harm, however he is now able to make his comeback as there are various expectations round his efficiency on Wednesday. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction:Â Metropolis 2-1 Inter: Metropolis successful by one purpose whereas scoring twice themselves appears to be the overriding favourite state of affairs on this one. The Premier League leaders up in opposition to the Italian champions ought to ship a robust dose of opening-day high quality for us. It was the 2023 last which many will recall being cagey so don’t be stunned if this one is determined by a slender margin of a purpose or so. — Jonathan Johnson
Greatest guess:Â Underneath 2.5 objectives (+134): When two groups who might play one another for the Champions League last once more meet to kick off a league stage play, it is secure to count on a cagy affair. Neither workforce actually must win the match to advance within the new setup however early factors do not damage both. I might count on objectives to be laborious to come back by so getting the underneath at plus odds feels good right here even when Erling Haaland can destroy this at a second’s discover. — Charles Sales space
Thursday
Sport of the day: AS Monaco vs. Barcelona
Participant to look at:Â Raphinha:Â Maybe nobody in European soccer had a greater weekend than Raphinha, scorer of three and supplier of one other as Actual Valladolid have been put to the sword on the Olympic Stadium. The Brazilian’s place at Barcelona has not at all times regarded safe since he arrived from Leeds United, however he appears to have met a great match in Hansi Flick, who has liberated him in additional central positions. —Â James Benge
Man of the match:Â Lamine Yamal: The Spanish gem was the person of the match on Sunday in opposition to Girona as he scored a brace within the fifth win in a row for the aspect coached by Hansi Flick, who has had an impressive begin of the season to date. The Blaugrana will make their worldwide debut in opposition to Monaco and there are actually many expectations round them and the teenage Spanish attacker, who is anticipated to be one of many stars of the Champions League season. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Monaco 1-2 Barcelona: Few are giving Les Monegasques an opportunity on this one given Barca’s begin to the season in La Liga. Though the Catalan giants are robust favorites to win, the principality outfit’s continental pedigree shouldn’t be forgotten and this can be a good probability for Adi Hutter’s aspect to point out that in entrance of a uncommon robust turnout of supporters at Stade Louis II. Nothing says an enormous European recreation just like the normally sparsely populated however at all times picturesque venue being full to the rafters and that would help Monaco in operating the Blaugrana shut. — Jonathan Johnson
Greatest guess:Â Barcelona to attain in each halves (+154): Underneath Flick, Barcelona have been scoring early and sometimes in video games. They solely know one velocity and it is all out assault so the objectives will movement on this one. I used to be between the over 3.5 however took a barely safer route for Barcelona to web one purpose in every half. — Charles Sales space
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