Champions League Expert Selection: Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona headlines as Lewadowski returns to Germany

Play Day 2 of the Champions League and it brings us a few reschedules. While Rangers vs. Napoli has been shifted by a day, meaning we have seven games to chew on on Tuesday and then a packed Wednesday with nine clashes. The week is marked by a return home with the return of Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich, who will host Barcelona in an unmissable group death game. In this round, Graham Potter will also debut as the new Chelsea coach as the Blues host Red Bull Salzburg while Liverpool and Juventus are looking to kickstart their UCL campaigns after last week’s disappointment. You can watch all matches on Paramount+, your home for Champions League football.

Here are our predictions for each match and more:

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Tuesday’s broadcast schedule

(All times US/East)

• UEFA Champions League Today, 2pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• Sporty CP against Tottenham Hotspur12:45 PM, Paramount+
• Viktoria Pilsen vs. Inter Milan, 12:45 PM, Paramount+
• UEFA Champions League Today, 2pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• the Golazo show3 p.m., CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona, ​​​​3 p.m., Paramount+
• FC postage against Club Brugge3 p.m., Paramount+
• Liverpool vs. Ajax, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• Olympique de Marseille vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• UEFA Champions League Post-Match Show, 5pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+

Wednesday broadcast schedule

(All times US/East)

• UEFA Champions League Today, 2pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• AC Milan vs. Dinamo Zagreb12:45 PM, Paramount+
• Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Celtic, 12:45 PM, Paramount+
• UEFA Champions League Today, 2pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• The Golazo Show, 3 p.m., CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• Chelsea vs. Red Bull Salzburg, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• FC Copenhagen vs. Seville, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• Juventus vs. Benfica3 p.m., Paramount+
• Maccabi Haifa vs. Paris Saint Germain, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• rangers vs. Napoli, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig, 3 p.m., Paramount+
• UEFA Champions League Post-Match Show, 5pm, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+

Match choices

Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona

One matchup to watch: Robert Lewandowski vs. Bayern defense. With nine goals and two assists for Barcelona in all competitions, all eyes are on Lewandowski. There will be extra fire on both sides as Bayern did not want Lewandowski to leave for new challenges. Little did he know that his path to a Champions League title could go through his former team. — Chuck Booth

Most likely to score a goal: Ousmane Dembele. Lewandowski’s presence at Barcelona will help bring the team back to their former glory, but it is a player who was on his way to Dembele who is my pick for the best chance of scoring. He was involved in four goals in La Liga and picked up where he left off last season with 13 assists. As Lewandowski is not selfish with the ball at his feet, extra focus on him during the match will allow Dembele to slip past for a goal. — Chuck Booth

Man of the Match Pick: Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski knows a thing or two about performing at the Allianz Arena and returns to Germany in style. With the whole Barcelona attack looking to feed him during the match. A goal and an assist are enough to give him Man of the Match. — Chuck Booth

Match Prediction: Bayern Munich 1, Barcelona 3. While Barcelona’s improved offense has made headlines, it’s the defensive improvement that will shine against a Bayern side that has struggled to score lately. — Chuck Booth

Liverpool vs. Ajax

One matchup to watch: Luis Diaz vs. Ajax-defence. In a team struggling to find its groove, the Colombian international is the most consistent player going forward. With incredible speed, a top-notch technical ability, and the skills to cut and roll a defense, this team can rely more on him unless they start to gel. He is a player who can single-handedly change a game – the much-needed spark plug in Jürgen Klopp’s attack. — Roger Gonzalez

Most likely to score: Steven Bergwijn. He is the top scorer between the two teams with six goals. Knowing that Liverpool must strive to be up front, he gets his chance on the counter. The key – as we saw when Napoli beat Liverpool easily – is to use those quick diagonal runs to goal and get the ball off your feet quickly to keep the Reds’ defense on their heels. — Roger Gonzalez

Man of the Match choice: Virgil van Dijk. The superstar defender looked far from a global talent in that loss in Naples, and with Premier League action canceled this weekend, he may still have a sour taste in his mouth from matchday 1. He’ll want to correct it, and he will, using his awesome one-on-one defense to smother the Dutch side. — Roger Gonzalez

Match Prediction: Liverpool 2, Ajax 1. Liverpool manage to get back on track in a game that feels like they just have to have it, especially given recent form. While Klopp has said they need to reinvent themselves I don’t think this will be but it will be just enough for three much needed points and a welcome boost — Roger Gonzalez

Chelsea vs. Red Bull Salzburg

A matchup to watch: Mateo Kovacic against Nicolas Seiwald. Despite all the focus on a failed attack, the reason why Chelsea, whose attack spiraled out of control from Thomas Tuchel’s first game to his hundredth, fell offensively off a cliff, was that their midfield could not dominate without N’Golo Kante. opponents anymore. Kovacic is their best chance to assert their will on a Salzburg party that will be most dangerous if Chelsea can’t pin them back. — James Benge

Most likely to score a goal: Raheem Sterling. The England international has proved in no time why he was Tuchel’s most wanted summer signing. He may miss more than a few good chances, but what he does as well as anyone else is to get into those positions in the first place. However organized the defense is, you would support him to find some good positions in the current form. — James Benge

Man of the Match choice: Andreas Ulmer. He may not be the most veiled name on this team, perhaps because he is 36 and therefore not eternally on the wish list of top European clubs. But he has proven in recent Champions League campaigns that he can shield his flank against the toughest threats; if he does that to Reece Jamesthen he earns the Man of the Match ball. — James Benge

Match Prediction: Chelsea 1, Red Bull Salzburg 1. Graham Potter has had more time on the training ground than he expected, but it’s still not a huge amount to deal with everything that ails Chelsea (key player injuries, serious problem defending set pieces). It may be a while before we get to see the best version of the Blues. — James Benge

Manchester City vs. Dortmund

A matchup to watch: Erling Haaland against Mats Hummels. One of the most anticipated duels since the draw. This week we see Erling Haaland play against his former club, the place where he became one of the best strikers in the world. The Norwegian attacker has already scored twelve goals in the first eight games in sky blue, including a brace against Sevilla last week. — Francesco Porzio

Most likely to score: Erling Haaland. An obvious choice, sure, to expect Haaland to score against his former team. But it almost feels like a surefire choice given his form and the way Borussia Dortmund played defensively at the start of the season, conceding eight goals in six Bundesliga games. Last week BVB beat Copenhagen 3-0 on their Champions League debut. — Francesco Porzio

Man of the Match choice: Phil Foden. The England international scored in the UCL opener against Sevilla last week to continue his good form to start the season. Look for him to make crucial contributions to his teammates, possibly an assist for his big number nine. His pace and technique will pose a real danger to the opponents. — Francesco Porzio

Match Prediction: Manchester City 3, Borussia Dortmund 1. Pep Guardiola’s side is among the top contenders to win the league, and this time around Borussia Dortmund are not as good as they used to be, especially after the loss to Haaland in the summer. — Francesco Porzio