Europe’s biggest club competition is back, baby! The Champions League league phase kicked off Tuesday, and if you weren’t watching Real Madrid host Inter Milan in a Bernabeu rematch, you missed some serious drama. Los Blancos pulled off a comfortable 2-1 win, setting an immediate tone for what’s sure to be a wild tournament. This first matchweek is a three-day marathon, running Tuesday through Thursday, with all 36 clubs in the expanded league phase diving into their eight-game round robin. Get ready for chaos, because Matchday 1 is already delivering.
Napoli vs. Arsenal: Game of the Day? You Bet!
Wednesday brings one of the most intriguing matchups right out of the gate: Arsenal squaring off against Napoli. And if you’re an Arsenal fan, you need to be hyped about Riccardo Calafiori. The 24-year-old left-back is back in his homeland, arriving in Naples absolutely garlanded with praise for his early season impact. He’s already stacked up assists against Coventry City and Aston Villa! Jamie Carragher didn’t mince words, calling him “Far and away the best left back in the Premier League.” That’s some serious confidence. Keep an eye on Christos Tzolis too. The Greek winger has been a total surprise, already bagging three assists in four matches across all competitions. This is his chance to shine on the biggest club stage, even if doing it against Napoli away at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is a massive challenge. Our experts are leaning Arsenal, predicting a 2-0 victory for the Gunners, with Francesco Porzio specifically naming Tzolis as his man of the match.
Matchday 1 Action: Predictions and Early Trends
Beyond the Napoli-Arsenal showdown, Tuesday saw Club Brugge hosting Aston Villa and Lille taking on Real Betis. The Bernabeu was the focal point, with Real Madrid making their statement early. Looking ahead to the rest of Wednesday’s action, the expert predictions are in! We’re seeing Barcelona take Feyenoord with picks ranging from 3-1 to 4-1. Stuttgart is projected to beat Viking 1-0 or 2-0, and PSG is expected to absolutely smash Slovan Bratislava with predictions like 3-0, 4-0, or even 5-0. Sporting Lisbon against Galatasaray looks tight, with predictions all over the map. And Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid is another close call, with most experts favoring Liverpool 2-1, but some picking a 1-1 draw.
This is just the start, folks. Every single Champions League game, plus replays, highlights, and studio coverage, streams live on Paramount+. If you haven’t signed up yet, now’s definitely the time, because this tournament is already off and running, and it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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