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The Very first competition phase in the UEFA Champions League Will come a dramatic end on Wednesday, when there is a lot at stake for Europe’s top clubs in 18 games that start at the exact same time.
All nine teams are looking for a berth in the knockout rounds, although sowing will be just as important as qualification. Liverpool and Barcelona are already ready until the round of 16, but several other teams remain hunting for a top eight finish and even more chasing a place in the top 24. It means City’s Clash with Club Brugge and Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Stuttgart .
Prior to a colossal week in Champions League promotion, here are some choices and predictions from the CBS Sports Team.
Don’t miss any of the Champions League. As always you can catch all our coverage Paramount+” CBS Sports Network And CBS Sports Golazo Network all season.
Here are our expert choices for this matchday:
The Champions League -Lei from Wednesday
Barcelona vs. Atalanta
Player to watch: Raphinha – In a world without Mohamed Salah, this man is perhaps the leader of the Ballon d’Or. It is still vague astonishing to see bookmakers places, such as Erling Haaland for Raphinha, who so far has 23 goals and 11 assists. A complete energy, all the attack game like this should offer a perfect indication of its excellence. – James Benge
Man of the agreement: Mateo Retegui – Because of the late injury of breathola lookman who will force the Nigerian striker to miss the match against Barcelona, are all the expectations of the Italian striker who had an incredible first part of the season while scored 19 goals in all competitions. – Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Barca 2, Atalanta 2 – A dream matchup for the neutral here and although it would be tempting to tip Barca to get on top of an absolute gesture like last week, it feels like the pressure is eliminated now that a top eight place is protected. Expect an entertaining and with target -sensitive encounter with both sides level at the end. – Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Robert Lewandowski to score and Raphinha to score or to help (+176) – Although this is a parlay that should come in on greater opportunities, this shows how dominant Ryphinha and Lewandowski have been in the Champions League game. The duo is both one of the top three scorers in the entire tournament and for Barcelona to close the competition phase in a strong tone, they need their stars to be at their best if it matters. – Chuck Booth
Barcelona Champions League scenarios and permutations: live stream, where to watch, start time, TV channel
Chuck Booth
Brest vs. Real Madrid
Player to watch: Kylian Mbappe – Kylian Mbappe van Crisis here, with only seven goals in his last four games. The signs are that Madrid’s No.9 may finally click with his teammates, Jude Bellingham comes close to him to offer one assist, a great run on Vinicius Junior’s outside for the next. The return from Mbappe to France could be a pretty spectacle. – James Benge
Man of the match: Jude Bellingham – His 2024-25 season has not been as good as his first in Real Madrid, at least in terms of scored goals. The English star had so far only scored one goal in the first seven games of the competition phase, but these are the kind of competitions that he has to make to make the difference. – Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Brest 1, Real 3 – The UCL experience of Brest has already been a huge success, but the prates could still seal a top eight place. More likely, however, a brave show against Los Blancos is before Kylian Mbappe and his teammates get the job done in the hope that they will go directly to the round of 16 instead. – Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Kylian Mbappe to score (-115)- From his first hat trick in a real Madrid shirt, Mbappe’s confidence will be quite high, while he is also confronted with a Brest team that he is familiar with his time at PSG. At the right time, this is a match that could become ugly, so I would feel comfortable to play Mbappe to score several times in a thunderous victory in Madrid. – Chuck Booth
UEFA Champions League: What Real Madrid should do on MatchDay 8, Scenarios, schedule, where to watch
Chuck Booth
Manchester City vs. Club Brugge
Player to watch: Matheus Nunes – For good or sick, Nunes is currently serious influence on city competitions. His run from the right back to the middle forced the equalizer against Chelsea at the weekend, but that only went to a way to make his fight against Bradley Barcola. If Christos Tzolis can go on Etihad, Club Brugge will have the feeling that they have a chance. – James Benge
Man of the match: Erling Haaland – This is the kind of match that the Norwegian striker has to deliver, and after signing the new nine -year -old deal with the citizens, scoring and winning the draw against Club Brugge needed to have the signature of Haaland. Despite the disappointing first part of the season for the men of Guardiola, he scored 24 goals in 30 games that have been played so far. – Francesco Porzio
Prediction: City 2, Bruges 0 – Although the city was poor in Paris and a head start of two goals that could have already qualified for the knockout phase, Bruges at home is an ideal do-or-opponent with the Belgians who change place with city in the likely Event in the likely event in the likely event that the men of Pep Guardiola win here. – Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Manchester City to lead after 20 minutes (+145) – The best way to deal with pressure is by scoring quickly and City will come out of the first staircase with the intention of placing so many goals past Brugge as quickly as possible. It would not shock me to see the first goal in the first 10 minutes of the game, so it makes sense to double that and still take a city goal with plus opportunities. It is not in favor of the city most of the season, but they have more than enough to walk for Bruges early. – Chuck Booth
Man City Champions League scenarios and permutations: live stream, where to watch, start time, TV channel
Chuck Booth
Stuttgart vs. PSG
Player to view: Angelo Stiller – If Stuttgart holds at home, they cannot afford to lose the fight in midfield as Manchester City did last week. That means that the highly valued Angelo Stiller has to do what he does best, set the tone for the competition with his precise and penetrating pass. Do that and there is a real chance for Stuttgart. – James Benge
Man of the match: Ousmane Dembele – While PSG fans are waiting to see Kvicha Kvaratskhelia also play in the Champions League (he will only be able to do that in February, because his arrival in January means that he is not on the registered list of PSG), all the pressure on their most talented Players, on their most talented players, including Dembele, who has to make a version that the French giants qualify for the play -offs. – Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Stuttgart 1, PSG 2 – With the most difficult part in Paris, the men of Luis Enrique should be able to complete the track in Germany. It can be tight in a game in which a draw ultimately fits both well, but is not surprised if Les Parisiens abandon their hosts by a goal or something. – Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: More than 2.5 goals (+104) – – From a technical point of view, a draw can be sufficient for these teams to continue to the next phase, but when a victory can insure it, why would you establish? Neither of the Defense is a strong suit, so if an early goal comes in, it is where all bets are eliminated, because each can score fairly quickly. – Chuck Booth
PSG Champions League scenarios and permutations: live stream, where to watch, start time, TV channel
Chuck Booth
