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Completely happy Wednesday! Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League is formally underway and after some big results on Tuesday, hopes are excessive that Wednesday may ship equally necessary outcomes. Plus Mauricio Pochettino unveils his first USMNT squad. I am Pardeep Cattry with a midweek check-in.
📺 Footy repair
All instances U.S./Jap
Wednesday, Oct. 2
🇪🇺 UCL: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Atalanta, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 UCL: Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇺🇸 MLS: Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ➡️ FS1
🌎 Concacaf W Champions Cup: Frazsiers Whip vs. NJ/NY Gotham, 8 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
Thursday, Oct. 3
🇪🇺 UEL: Ferencvaros vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 UEL: Porto vs. Manchester United, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
⚽ The Ahead Line
🏴 Arsenal give PSG a actuality test
Getty Photographs
Arsenal notched their first win of the UEFA Champions League marketing campaign on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, a end result that exposed simply as a lot concerning the managers because it did concerning the groups as an entire.
The Gunners performed their sixth sport with out injured Martin Odegaard and although there’s undoubtedly some attacking spark lacking, supervisor Mikel Arteta’s solution-oriented strategy means his facet just isn’t essentially ravenous for targets. Whereas set items have turn into a power in latest weeks, Arteta modified issues up on Tuesday and supplied the highlight to Kai Havertz. The German worldwide seized the second, scoring the opening objective within the twentieth minute and main Arsenal’s attacking technique. The efficiency served as a reminder that Havertz has targets in his sport, however as James Benge writes, he’s actually been a consistent contributor for Arsenal all year.
- Benge: “His report on the Emirates in 2024 is spectacular certainly: 9 targets and three assists at a fee of 1 each 99 minutes. Barely a sport goes by with out that insufferable interpolation of his switch price into Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka.’ … Havertz settled into the function of Arsenal’s lead presser, the Gunners excelling from the off at funneling PSG out to the flanks. From there they’d pressure the go up the road, significantly down their proper hand facet, the place Jurrien Timber appeared to thrill in inflicting his hereto unknown bully ball qualities on Bradley Barcola.”
Tuesday’s end result, although, is equal components a mirrored image of Arsenal’s profitable execution of their sport plan as it’s PSG’s failure to make extra of their alternatives. The guests had 65% and outshot Arsenal 10 to 6, however mustered simply 0.31 anticipated targets – their lowest complete within the Champions League since Opta started recording the information. Manager Luis Enrique’s choice to omit Ousmane Dembele from the squad loomed giant as PSG struggled for targets however as Jonathan Johnson notes, the players on the pitch underwhelmed as much as Enrique did.
- Johnson: “Because it turned out, albeit not too surprisingly, Dembele’s maverick creativity and trickery was sorely missed on the suitable whereas light-weight makeshift attacking experiments can work in Ligue 1 however not within the UCL. The insistence on an out-of-form Warren Zaire-Emery was additionally questionable from Luis Enrique provided that his slide has been evident for fairly a while. Lee Kang-in and Need Doue have been most well-liked going ahead whereas Vitinha was reinstated to the midfield after harm but it was over an hour earlier than the Spaniard elected to make any modifications. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi did present loads of width going ahead with the Portuguese specifically exhibiting his attacking tooth when he hit the submit at 1-0 down.”
The end result bodes effectively for Arsenal, who now test off one in every of their hardest video games of the league section, however leaves loads of query marks for a youth-focused PSG facet that also has high-profile matches in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid on the schedule.
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🔗 Midfield Hyperlink Play
🇩🇪 Bayern Munich’s level to show
Days after a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, a decisive week for Bayern Munich continues on Wednesday with the day’s most attractive match – a faceoff with Aston Villa, who host their first Champions League sport in 4 many years.
The unbeaten Bayern are the favorites in opposition to Villa, however that doesn’t essentially imply that this might be an easy outing for the guests. The hosts are simply two factors off high spot within the Premier League and boast an in-form Ollie Watkins, who has 4 targets and three assists up to now this season and hopes to translate that success into a starting role for England. Standing in his method on the worldwide stage is Bayern’s Harry Kane, who has 10 targets and 4 assists to begin the season however might not be his traditional dominant self on Wednesday.
Kane picked up an ankle harm within the late phases of Bayern’s draw in opposition to Leverkusen, a sport wherein he had a really restricted impression – he did not take a shot in his 86 minute shift, drawing some criticism that he goes absent in huge video games. The England captain traveled to Birmingham and skilled on Tuesday, however manager Vincent Kompany admitted his ability to participate on Wednesday would be a game-time decision.
With or with out Kane, Kompany’s Bayern must show they don’t have a one-note assault that works solely when the Englishman is at his greatest. The excellent news for the guests is that they’ve just a few gamers they’ll lean on – midfielder Jamal Musiala might be there to play a behind-the-scenes function, whereas James Benge picks newcomer Michael Olise as the player to watch after scoring a brace in Bayern’s lopsided win over Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 1.
- Benge: “The winger should fancy this one. The final time he bumped into Aston Villa he and his Crystal Palace teammates uncovered vulnerabilities in Unai Emery’s protection that do not appear to have been addressed over the summer time. The French worldwide has hit the bottom working with Bayern, three targets and two assists in his final three video games placing him within the excellent place to excel on his return to the nation the place he was born.”
🔗 High Tales
🇺🇸 USMNT roster: Mauricio Pochettino named his first USMNT rostery, sticking with a well-recognized group of gamers forward of friendlies in opposition to Panama and Mexico.
🔴 Excessive-flying Arsenal: Newcomer Mikel Merino said he’s in awe of his Arsenal teammates in training, whereas Bukayo Saka believes this is the year the Gunners will win the Premier League title.
🔵⚫ Inter’s huge win: Inter beat Crvena Zvezda 4-0 on Tuesday, demonstrating their credentials as a contender to win the Champions League within the course of.
🇪🇺 Execs and cons: The Morning Footy crew presents their early opinions of the new Champions League format, together with the professionals and cons of the Swiss-style event.
🧤 Slonina’s goal: USMNT hopeful Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina stated he wants to be the starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup.
✅ Profitable attraction: Manchester United won their appeal of Bruno Fernandes’ red card over the weekend, which means he might be accessible for his or her Premier League fixture in opposition to Aston Villa on Sunday.
🇪🇸 Iniesta to retire?: The Morning Footy crew displays on the legacy of World Cup winner Andres Iniesta, who is reportedly set to announce his retirement after a profession that spanned 20 years.
⚽🏀 Henry’s Mutombo tribute: Thierry Henry pays his respects to NBA hall of famer and his friend Dikembe Mutombo, who died on Monday.
💰 The Again Line
💵 Greatest bets
- UEFA Champions League: Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich, Wednesday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Ollie Watkins to attain (+195) – Bayern would possibly rightfully be the favorites to take all three factors on this one, however Aston Villa have been pretty prolific in entrance of objective this season thanks partly to Ollie Watkins, who already has 4 targets in seven video games this season. Anticipate him to have a say in Wednesday’s conflict and provides Villa followers one thing to cheer about of their first Champions League residence sport in 4 many years. - UEFA Europa League: Porto vs. Manchester United, Thursday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Groups to tie 1-1 (+550) – In a vacuum, Manchester United could be favored in a matchup like this one however the crew’s rising behavior of mediocrity means Porto have a shot on this one. United have sufficient to squeeze a degree out of this one however their incapacity to get out of their very own method means they won’t get rather more out of it, and run the chance of going winless in two video games to begin their Europa League marketing campaign.
For extra picks, predictions, skilled ideas and the newest betting information, do not miss out on CBSSports.com’s betting residence web page.
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☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros assist followers get their day began on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the largest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you will by no means need to miss an episode.
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🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the latest place for followers to make amends for all the largest information and outcomes impacting international soccer, match highlights from the highest soccer competitions and all of the can’t-miss targets from the day’s motion, beginning Thursday and airing seven days per week.
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