Manchester City is hosting Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad, and it’s their first Champions League game since they were found guilty of 114 financial charges. Talk about a heavy cloud to play under! Their first game since those charges actually went down Sunday at Liverpool, and thankfully for them, that one went “more than well.” Still, you gotta wonder what kind of pressure cooker that locker room is right now.
Champions League Matchday 2 Is Wildin’ Out Already
Europe’s elite are back for Matchday 2 of the league phase, and this slate is not messing around. We already talked City and PSG, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Real Madrid, who snagged a 2-1 win over Inter in their opener, are headed to Rome. Their former coach, Jose Mourinho, is already fuming about something, so you know that match will have some fireworks. Plus, keep an eye out for potential upsets! Barcelona is making the trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray, which honestly feels like it could go sideways for the Catalan giants.
Then there’s Como. You read that right, Serie A side Como! These guys absolutely stunned RB Leipzig with a 4-1 demolition in their first-ever Champions League match. Now they’re visiting Feyenoord, looking to prove that night was no fluke. Can they do it again? Arsenal, meanwhile, gets to host Lille after grinding out a tough 1-0 win at Napoli. Every single point counts in this league phase, folks, so there’s absolutely no room for a slow start.
Atletico Madrid vs. Man United: Game of the Day Alert!
If you’re looking for the absolute must-watch game, it’s Atletico Madrid versus Manchester United. And we’ve got our eyes glued to Alex Baena from Atletico. This dude is on fire! Just nine games into the season, this World Cup winner has already *doubled* his goal tally from his first year at Atletico Madrid. He’s got 18 shots to his name, so this is definitely not a player afraid to pull the trigger. Nominally a left winger, Baena just roams, switches flanks, steps infield, goes wherever the play takes him. It might not sound like typical Diego Simeone ball, but when you have a talent like this, you just make adjustments, right?
Our expert James Benge is calling for a 3-2 Atletico win, while Francesco Porzio, Chuck Booth, and Roger Gonzalez all have Atletico winning 2-1. Pardeep Cattry is the lone voice predicting a 2-2 draw. And for Man of the Match, Giuliano Simeone is making a strong case. Diego’s son, the Argentinian winger, has had a strong start to the season with two goals and two assists across all competitions. He’s becoming a key player for his father’s team, and that’s just awesome to see.
Catch all the Champions League action, plus replays, highlights, and studio coverage breaking down the race for the top eight. Every match streams live on Paramount+, your home for all the Champions League glory all season long!
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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