UEFA Champions League motion resumes this week with a batch of high-profile matches as we attain the halfway level of the league section.

Solely Aston Villa and Liverpool have good information via three video games, although the Reds’ conflict with Bayer Leverkusen is considered one of a number of Matchday 4 matchups to control. Tuesday’s motion can even function Actual Madrid within the first recreation following a lopsided El Clasico defeat, and essentially the most notable recreation in Ruben Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon farewell tour – a faceoff in opposition to future foe Manchester Metropolis.

Arsenal’s journey to Inter, in the meantime, headlines Wednesday’s motion. Either side have impeccable defensive information to date in Champions League play, not conceding a single objective to date, and will use the sport to make an announcement about their title-winning aspirations.

Forward of the motion, here is how the CBS Sports activities group thinks Matchday 4 will play out.

Do not miss any of the Champions League. As at all times, you’ll be able to catch all of our protection throughout Paramount+, CBS Sports activities Community and CBS Sports activities Golazo Community all season lengthy.

Listed below are our knowledgeable picks for this matchday:

Tuesday

Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Participant to look at: Florian Wirtz — Who is aware of, this won’t be the final Anfield sees of Wirtz? Definitely Liverpool may have loads of rival suitors when the time comes for one of many Bundesliga’s brightest stars to depart Bayer Leverkusen, however there’s a quasi-number 10 spot in Arne Slot’s XI that might match Wirtz completely. On Tuesday count on him to indicate simply how effectively. — James Benge

Man of the match: Mo Salah — As at all times, the Liverpool winger might be essentially the most harmful participant on the pitch and he is more likely to rating in opposition to the membership coached by the previous Liverpool legend. Salah, who continues to be trying to signal a brand new cope with the Reds, as his present one will expire on the finish of the present season, has already scored 9 objectives to date in 15 video games performed in all competitions. — Francesco Porzio 

Prediction: Prediction: Liverpool 2, Leverkusen 1 — The Reds’ spectacular kind beneath Arne Slot meets Die Werkself’s sturdy away kind for a recreation which shall be all about Xabi Alonso’s return to Anfield. The Spanish tactician, up in opposition to the Dutchman who landed the job that many anticipated Alonso to take shall be fascinating. Leverkusen can overtake Liverpool within the League Section standings with a win however a draw or a slender dwelling win is almost definitely. — Jonathan Johnson

Greatest guess: Florian Wirtz to have one shot on the right track (-120) — When you needed to choose a winner right here, it is possible Liverpool, however the very best half about discovering worth available in the market is you do not have to at all times choose a winner. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate could also be out there for the match, however he will not be 100% after needing to be withdrawn from their victory over Brighton. Leverkusen will push to make issues occur at Anfield and since all the pieces that they do goes via Wirtz, he’ll have license to shoot and getting a single shot on the right track at near even cash is the best way to go. — Chuck Sales space

Actual Madrid vs. Liverpool

Participant to look at: Kylian Mbappe — All of us anticipated that there’d be an adaptation interval for Mbappe. A brand new membership in a extra aggressive league with a world class participant already occupying his pure spot: this was hardly going to be a day one smash. That’s, nevertheless, what Madrid expects. Already the experiences are rising of Carlo Ancelotti figuring out Mbappe as an issue in his aspect. In the end, he’ll discover the answer. Doing so sooner, nevertheless, goes to be essential in quelling the noise on the Santiago Bernabeu. –– James Benge

Man of the match: Vinicius Jr. — The Brazilian star is about to play in opposition to the Rossoneri for the primary time in his profession after per week the place he surprisingly misplaced the Ballon d’Or. Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke about it within the pre-match press convention. “He is positive. He realizes what is occurring. Fortunately we did not play on Saturday and Vinicius skilled effectively, like everybody else.” — Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Actual 2, Milan 0 — Los Blancos have had a number of further days to arrange for this one on condition that their recreation over the weekend was postponed, so count on to see the Spanish giants trying brisker. Carlo Ancelotti wants a response from his gamers after some poor outcomes and showings which is right given the Rossoneri’s points to date this season, which have them struggling in Serie A and the Champions League. Count on a reasonably simple Actual win at Santiago Bernabeu. — Jonathan Johnson

Greatest guess: Over 4 corners within the first half (-145) — Discovering worth when betting Actual Madrid might be laborious. They’re anticipated to win this recreation and for good motive, however corners are a spot that may be attacked. Each groups will wish to begin this match rapidly and a when flurries of assaults are coming in from all instructions and a keeper like Mike Maignan is making an attempt to guard his internet, it could possibly result in fairly a number of nook kicks out of the gate.

Wednesday

Inter vs. Arsenal

Participant to look at: Declan Rice — It’s in all probability nothing greater than a Euros hangover, however the draw with Liverpool apart, this has not been a classic begin to the season for Rice. With Martin Odegaard sidelined and Thomas Partey shuffled out of midfield, Mikel Arteta wants his report signing at his all motion finest within the San Siro. — James Benge

Man of the match: Bukayo Saka — The English winger is the participant that the Nerazzurri need to worry essentially the most. After a strong begin of the season, the place he scored three objectives and supplied seven assists in 9 Premier League video games, Saka is able to shine at San Siro in opposition to the 2023 Champions League finalists. — Francesco Porzio 

Prediction: Inter 1, Arsenal 1 — The Gunners have simply two wins from their final 5 so issues are getting trickier for Mikel Arteta of late with Liverpool pulling clear within the Premier League title race. Either side have seven factors from 9 within the League Section to date whereas the Nerazzurri are additionally inside some extent of Napoli in Serie A. Given Inter’s means to run the likes of Manchester Metropolis shut within the Champions League, this one looks like will probably be a reasonably tight encounter with a rating draw sounding about proper. — Jonathan Johnson

Greatest guess: Greatest guess: Draw (+210) — To date, when prime sides have met in Champions League, it hasn’t been precisely thrilling, and this could possibly be a continuation of that. Neither aspect significantly wants a victory, however they each have sturdy defenses and do not thoughts it if the match will get somewhat bodily. I would not put a full unit on such a selected consequence however I am backing the factors being shared. — Chuck Sales space

PSG vs. Atletico Madrid

Participant to look at: Antoine Griezmann — The strain is constructing for Atletico. In such situations there tends to be one man who delivers (effectively, aside from the goalkeeper). At the same time as Diego Simeone has been constructing an assault for all times after Griezmann the Frenchman continues to ship. 4 objectives and 5 assists have come at a price of 1 each 122 minutes. When Atleti have been in a gap in opposition to Leipzig it was Griezmann who dug them out. He might effectively do the identical this week. — James Benge

Man of the match: Ousmane Dembele — The previous FC Barcelona winger had a robust begin to the 2024-25 season the place he has already scored 5 objectives and supplied 4 assists in Ligue 1, whereas he is but to attain his first Champions League objective of the season and the conflict in opposition to his former Spanish rivals is the proper likelihood to make it occur. — Francesco Porzio 

Prediction: PSG 2, Atleti 1 — It is a large recreation for each side with Luis Enrique and Diego Simeone each needing a win. The French giants have regarded extra convincing to date given their probabilities wasted to bury opponents however their Spanish opponents are beneath strain having misplaced twice already. This one is more likely to be pretty tense and tight however PSG ought to nearly have sufficient to emerge victorious for a second league section win. — Jonathan Johnson

Greatest guess: Each groups to attain (-134) —  it is a conflict of a few of the largest underperformers in Champions League to date with PSG and Atletico Madrid assembly. Whereas the underlying numbers again PSG turning issues round, that does not imply that they’re going to have the ability to defend in opposition to Atleti’s potent assault. It is a good match for conserving it easy with each netting not less than a objective. — Chuck Sales space