From Actual Madrid’s journey to Kazakhstan to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea return with Benfica, Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League is jam-packed with loads of intrigue however the theme of the week simply is perhaps the chance to bounce again as a number of European heavyweights return to play after weekend losses.
That is true for Chelsea, who’ve simply three wins in eight video games throughout all competitions this season, a lot of their matches marred by crimson playing cards or their sputtering assault. There’s mounting strain on supervisor Enzo Maresca to discover a profitable mixture of gamers after the membership spent tens of millions on their perennially bloated squad, all whereas Mourinho’s Chelsea legacy looms massive over the matchup. Fellow English facet Liverpool, in the meantime, registered their first defeat of the season on Saturday after a 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace, renewing questions on whether or not or not their uber-attacking technique is the suitable one for a title cost at house and in Europe.
On Wednesday, the eye pivots to 2 groups who got here from behind to win over the weekend — Barcelona and Arsenal. The Gunners scored two late targets at Newcastle United and can now goal their second win of the league part after they tackle Olympiacos, whereas Barcelona host reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in Matchday 2’s most anticipated match. The sport in Barcelona is as high-profile because it will get, each side goal profitable the entire thing this season, making this an early check of every facet’s mettle.
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The CBS Sports activities workforce provides their knowledgeable picks and predictions. Have a look beneath.
Tuesday
Sport of the day: Chelsea vs. Benfica
Supervisor to look at: Jose Mourinho, Benfica: Format, schmormat. This part is meant to be about essentially the most intriguing, magnetic and game-changing man on the pitch and are available on, everyone knows what that’s. The Particular One has returned and he’s positive to get the warmest of receptions. Will he spoil that by snaring the factors at his happiest of looking grounds? Will he be capable to summon up a kind of nasty mid blocks that he specialised in throughout his time at Chelsea? Will this man be capable to give Mourinho a giant hug? These, somewhat than any trifling issues involving the 22 gamers, are the questions that can outline my Tuesday night time. — James Benge
Man of the match: Estevao, Chelsea: The Brazilian striker joined Chelsea this summer season from Palmeiras for greater than $70 million, and there are a whole lot of expectation across the 18-year previous forward of the match in opposition to Benfica because of the damage of Cole Palmer and the disappointing type of the facet coached by Enzo Maresca. Estevao is but to attain his first objective on the membership and the sport in opposition to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica is the second he can shine. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Chelsea 1, Benfica 1 – The narrative looming over this sport would possibly really be extra fascinating than the sport itself. Talisman Vangelis Pavlidis has the products to place Benfica on the board, however the sum of the workforce’s elements is probably not sufficient to take all three factors out of Stamford Bridge, whereas Chelsea’s inconsistency alerts that they might not have what it takes to string collectively a convincing win at this level within the season. Settling for a draw seems like essentially the most affordable end result for 2 groups in transition, even when it is probably not essentially the most entertaining strategy to spend 90 minutes. — Pardeep Cattry
Greatest wager: Each groups to attain and over 2.5 targets (-105): Matches are catching as much as Chelsea, and it is hurting their defensive power. Whereas video games coached by Jose Mourinho are typically low scoring affairs, this return to Stamford Bridge is one the place that will not be the case. Every of Chelsea’s final 5 matches have seen each groups discover the again of the web and over 2.5 targets scored, whereas Benfica have been good at permitting a minimum of a objective themselves in matches. Put that along with two prime forwards on every workforce in Joao Pedro and Vangelis Pavlidis, and targets will probably be scored. — Charles Sales space
Galatasaray vs. Liverpool
Participant to look at: Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray: Liverpool have had their fingers full defensively this season and thus far they have not run into any strikers fairly as harmful as Osimhen simply but. The Nigerian had been sidelined after an ankle ligament challenge within the worldwide break however featured off the bench in opposition to Alanyaspor on Friday. Osimhen’s ease getting across the pitch, his threatening runs on the deck and sheer power within the air might trigger all types of issues for Ibrahima Konate. Even perhaps for Virgil van Dijk. — James Benge
Man of the match: Mo Salah, Liverpool: The striker is anticipated to ship one in all his exceptional performances in opposition to the Turkish facet on Tuesday when Liverpool will meet Galatasaray away. Salah, who already scored within the Champions League opener in opposition to Atletico Madrid at Anfield, is without doubt one of the biggest gamers within the historical past of the European event and he is referred to as to present it once more this week. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Galatasaray 1, Liverpool 2 – Few would argue that Liverpool appear like a balanced workforce, which may really feel like a recipe for catastrophe for title-chasing groups. There’s an expectation that, sooner or later, the Reds will cease getting away with this and Saturday’s loss at Crystal Palace could be the primary sign of that. However, one can’t really rely out a workforce that has goalscorers who can bail them out of hassle at any given second so betting in opposition to them in a sport the place they’re favored might not really be the wisest factor. Now that Alexander Isak is getting in control, it solely reinforces the most effective elements of their unbalanced technique, too. — Pardeep Cattry
Greatest wager: Victor Osimhen to attain (+150): Going away to face Galatasaray is not any joke, and Liverpool will discover that out rapidly on this conflict. It could possibly be a excessive scoring affair given the power of those offenses, however like Benge wrote, all eyes are on Osimhen right here. The Nigerian ahead has been out and in of the lineup with accidents, however he’ll be able to go for the UCL lights. The cracks are starting to be exploited within the Liverpool protection, and that can result in Osimhen scoring a minimum of as soon as on Tuesday.
— Charles Sales space
Wednesday
Sport of the day: Barcelona vs. PSG
Participant to look at: Lamine Yamal, Barcelona: To place it mildly, there are a couple of choices right here. That is the ultimate that the neutrals needed final season rerun for the league part, in any case. And what a pleasure it is going to be to see Yamal on the pitch after he returned from damage in opposition to Actual Sociedad on the weekend. It did not take lengthy for him to make an influence then, delivering the help for Robert Lewandowski‘s winner. If we’ve realized something from the early years of his profession thus far, he would possibly simply do the identical this week. — James Benge
Man of the match: Achraf Hakimi, PSG — The Moroccan winger can shine in opposition to Barcelona on Wednesday, because the French giants are more likely to profit from the areas left by the Spanish workforce after they assault. As we are able to seemingly anticipate so much targets on this sport, Hakimi is a kind of gamers who can benefit from this tactical state of affairs. He is nonetheless searching for his first objective of the season, and these are the sorts of matches that showcase his qualities.. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Barcelona 2, Paris Saint-Germain 2 – This might have been a really thrilling Champions League remaining 4 months in the past however on this case, this fixture simply could also be higher late than by no means. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain could also be with out Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Demblee however they nonetheless pack loads of attacking punch, which is exceptional provided that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia can be questionable, whereas Lamine Yamal appears destined to reside as much as the event for Barcelona. A draw appears becoming at this early stage of the season between two top-tier sides who’re prepared and in a position to make this one of many league part’s most entertaining matches. — Pardeep Cattry
Greatest wager: Lamine Yamal to have 2+ pictures on course (+130): Lamine Yamal is field workplace viewing. If you will get it, it is value laddering his pictures from exterior the field, as Yamal hasn’t met a shot that he would not like, and he has the imaginative and prescient and talent to place all of them on body. If PSG keeper Lucas Chevalier is not on his sport, Yamal will find yourself scoring a objective, however with Raphinha lacking out, the Barcelona man may have loads of alternatives to tear pictures on this one.
— Charles Sales space
Sport of the day: Arsenal vs. Olympiacos
Participant to look at: Martin Odegaard, Arsenal: It has been a irritating begin to the season for the Arsenal captain, who suffered two separate shoulder accidents within the first 4 video games of the season, however his transient cameo away to Newcastle was an indication of his enduring high quality. The slide rule cross that discovered Myles-Lewis Skelly behind the backline was a selected pleasure as Odegaard instantly received Arsenal enjoying at the next tempo. Now he might want to do the identical for himself with a superb run of minutes on the Emirates. — James Benge
Man of the match: Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal: After scoring three targets within the opening six Premier League matches, the previous Sporting CP striker is now trying to rating additionally his first European objective with the Gunners. The house sport in opposition to Olympiacos is the proper alternative to make that occur and present why Mikel Arteta needed to signal him even earlier than the summer season when he joined the English workforce. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Arsenal 3, Olympiacos 0 – Arsenal have spent tens of millions on high quality depth within the pursuit of profitable main trophies, so anticipate to see a high-impact efficiency on Wednesday no matter who Mikel Arteta selects for the beginning lineup. The Gunners could also be identified for his or her defense-first tendencies however in video games the place they’re the clear favorites, they’ve been unflinching of their capability to run up the rating so a lopsided win feels seemingly as they aim two wins in two to start out the league part. — Pardeep Cattry
Greatest wager: Arsenal to win 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0 (+150): The Gunners have showcased that they once more have the most effective defenses on the planet through the younger season, and welcoming Olympiacos to their house, it is arduous to see them conceding a objective. That target protection has seen Arsenal not run up the rating as a lot as they may in matches thus far this season, which is the place this can be a match that might cap out at them scoring three targets in a cushty house victory.
— Charles Sales space
