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Happy Wednesday! The Champions League came back with a bang on Tuesday with 28 goals in six games, and more are in store as the action spreads across Wednesday and Thursday. I’m Pardeep Cattry and I have a midweek check-in with a Europe theme.
📺 Foot correction
Always US/East
Wednesday September 18th
🇪🇺 UCL: Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, 12:45 pm ➡️ Biggest+CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇪🇺 UCL: Manchester City vs. Inter, 3pm ➡️ Biggest+
🏴ꠁԠԠԠԠԠ EFL Cup: Coventry City vs. Tottenham, 3pm ➡️ Biggest+
🇺🇸 MLS: Orlando City vs. Charlotte, 8:15 PM ➡️ FS1
🌎 Concacaf W Champions Cup: San Diego Wave vs. Portland Thorns, 10pm ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
Thursday September 19th
🇪🇺 UCL: Feyenoord vs. Leverkusen, 12:45 pm ➡️ Biggest+CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇪🇺 UCL: Atalanta vs. Arsenal, 3pm ➡️ Biggest+
🌎 Concacaf W Champions Cup: NJ/NY Gotham vs. Monterrey, 7pm ➡️ CBS Sports Network
⚽ The forward line
🇺🇸 Americans excel in Europe
Getty Images
It may have been a brutal summer for the U.S. men’s national team, but Tuesday was full of good news on a record day for Americans in the Champions League.
Juventus’ 3-1 win over PSV marked the first time three USMNT players started a single Champions League match, with McKennie lining up for the Italians, while Malik Tillman and Richy Ledezma got the start for PSV. A total of five Americans played the match. Timothy Weah came on for Juventus after recovering from a hamstring injury and Ricardo Pepi came on as a substitute for PSV.
But wait, there’s more. McKennie marked his first start of the season with a goal in the 27th minute in a notable return to the Juventus line-up. The midfielder was considered surplus to requirements at the club during pre-season, but their inability to find a buyer prompted McKennie to agree a new deal with Juventus and integrate into new manager Thiago Motta’s squad, marking a positive ending of a forgettable summer for McKennie.
Christian Pulisic followed a few hours later with an own goal, scoring in the third minute of AC Milan’s match against Liverpool. However, the advantage was short-lived for Milan as the Reds staged a comeback twenty minutes later to win 3–1, highlighting how Pulisic’s form contrasts with that of his team. Milan have now managed just one win in their opening five games of the season, scoring 10 goals but conceding nine along the way. Pulisic, meanwhile, has scored three goals and two assists in that time, and Francesco Porzio notes that he has emerged as the one bright spot in Milan’s poor form so far.
- Porzio: “That role of leader is now much closer to that of Pulisic, because he is the player who performs the most. More than the goals and assists of Pulisic, who is by far the most efficient player in the selection.” [Manager Paulo] Fonseca knows that the American international is the only player who can bring the quality that players like him have [Rafael] Leao and Samu Chukwueze are not showing up at the moment.”
Pulisic has kept Milan competitive in every match they have played this season, but the team’s inability to put in a cohesive performance will be evident at the weekend when they face a huge test against rivals and reigning Serie A champions Inter. And speaking of…
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🔗 Link play in midfield
🏆 A championship battle in Manchester
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Before Inter play AC Milan this weekend, they will take part in Matchday 1’s most anticipated Champions League match against Manchester City. The visit to the Etihad Stadium marks a showdown between the champions of England and Italy, a competitive encounter that may be unusual in the group stages of recent years but is characteristic of the revamped competition phase.
Inter will feel they have plenty of ground to make up for after last season’s disappointing exit from the Champions League, which saw their team ousted from Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals despite having a 2-0 aggregate lead at one point . The Italian champions are good enough to make a deep run but will have a number of chances to prove that point during the league stage – a match against Arsenal at home in November and Wednesday’s rematch of the 2023 Champions League final , won by City.
Both teams are unbeaten at the start of the season, but City are the only of the two to perform perfectly through four games. That’s thanks in large part to Erling Haaland, who is among the few elite players who had the summer off and has wasted no time in returning to his otherworldly goalscoring form. He has scored an impressive 10 goals in four Premier League games so far and according to James Benge, he is the player to watch once the match starts.
- Benge: “He’s pretty good, this guy. Just two goals in the win over Brentford suggests the perennial hat-trick hero’s standards have dropped, but it’s hardly a return to sniff at. Inter have been a pretty exceptional defensive force since then.” At least the start of last season, but to be honest they have never met anyone as good as Haaland.”
Haaland’s individual brilliance has allowed City to start the season on autopilot, especially as manager Pep Guaridola slowly reintegrates a handful of starters into the squad after long summers with their national teams. It is unclear how many of his first-choice players he will select on Wednesday, but Rodri and Phil Foden, for example, have each played just one game for City this season and could finally be rested enough to play against Inter. While the odds are in City’s favor, this match will also be a first real litmus test of their ability to stay motivated this season as they aim for a fourth Premier League title in a row and a second Champions League title in three seasons .
🔗 Top stories
🇪🇺 UCL continues: Here’s a look at the biggest moments from Tuesday’s Champions League action, as well as expert picks and predictions ahead of Wednesday’s matches.
❌ De Rossi has fired: Roma sacked Daniele De Rossi after a winless start to the Serie A season, leaving the team in 16th place, a surprise move just months after he signed a contract that would keep him at the club until 2027.
⚪ Same old Real Madrid: Reigning European champions Real Madrid recorded a 3-1 win over Stuttgart on Tuesday, clinching victory despite a famously unimpressive performance.
🔴 The pros and cons of Bayern: Bayern Munich recorded a record-breaking 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday to positive reviews of their attack, even as the jury is still out on Vincent Kompany’s plans to revive the team.
🪧 Are you going to strike?: Manchester City’s Rodri said the players are “close” to going on strike in protest against the overcrowded football calendar.
🇺🇸 Ledezma’s comeback: Richy Ledezma is one of the Americans looking to make a name for himself this season after taking on a surprising new role as right back at PSV.
📺 Beckham and friends: Football superstar David Beckham will host Beckham and Friends, a Champions League altcast that will air on Paramount+ during the semi-final, second leg and final in 2025 and 2026.
💰The Back Line
💵 Best bets
- UEFA Champions League: Feyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen, Thursday, 12:45 p.m
💰 THE CHOICE: Bayer Leverkusen wins 2-1 (+700) – Bayer Leverkusen’s record-breaking unbeaten run may be in the past, but the glow of last season’s incredible form lingers as Xabi Alonso’s side look to make a victorious start to their first Champions League season in two years. It helps that the group of players who impressed last season are still there, making them the favorites to win Feyenoord. Don’t expect a completely straight-forward display, though: Leverkusen have already conceded six goals in three Bundesliga games this season, suggesting some defensive weaknesses. - UEFA Champions League: Atalanta vs. Arsenal, Thursday, 3pm
💰 THE CHOICE: Bukayo Saka scores (+230) – Arsenal survived the North London Derby without Martin Odegaard thanks to their impressive defensive structure, which provides a glimpse into how they could fare without him in the Champions League this week. The defensive strengths will likely be on display again on Thursday, but even without Odegaard, the available attackers should be able to get the job done with little trouble. This also includes Bukayo Saka, who already has a goal and an assist this season.
For more picks, predictions, expert tips and the latest betting news, don’t miss CBSSports.com’s betting homepage.
📺 What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network
☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10am): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans get their day started on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest football storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast formso you never miss an episode again.
3️⃣ Attacking third (Monday, Thursday): The leading ladies football podcast And social brand is now a live studio show. The NWSL season is back and our coverage of the women’s game is stronger than ever. Our analysts will analyze the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic seasons throughout the year. And don’t miss it Wednesday livestreams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.
⚽ Call it what you want (Monday evenings): A weekly podcast featuring Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and friends cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. You can also watch the show live on YouTube every Monday at 11 a.m. ET.
🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the latest place for fans to keep up to date with all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the best football leagues and all the unmissable goals from the day’s action, which starts on Thursday and airs for seven days a week.
📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel solely focused on providing unparalleled coverage of all the top football leagues worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports App, Pluto TV And Biggest+.