The UEFA Champions League officially made a much-anticipated return on Tuesday, and this season’s competition is not like the ones that came before it.
The switch to the Swiss-system format adds more teams, more games and more days of competition to the schedule, all with the hopes of increasing the competitiveness as early as the league phase, which replaces the group stage. In terms of fixtures alone, Matchday 1 lives up to the billing with a handful of exciting games to kick off the competition. Liverpool’s trip to AC Milan saw a Christian Pulisic goal, but Liverpool easily overcame it in a 3-1 win while Kylian Mbappe made his Champions League debut in a Real Madrid shirt ad scored in a 3-1 win over Stuttgart.
On Wednesday, English and Italian champions Manchester City and Inter faced off and held each other scoreless in a tense draw while PSG needed a late keeper error to get by Girona. The Champions League action continues on Thursday with Arsenal traveling to Europa League champions Atalanta and Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen return to the competition with a trip to Feyenoord while Barcelona take on Monaco.
The CBS Sports team offers their expert picks and predictions. Take a look below.
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Here are our expert picks for this matchday:
Player to watch: Raphinha: Perhaps no one in European football had a better weekend than Raphinha, scorer of three and provider of another as Real Valladolid were put to the sword at the Olympic Stadium. The Brazilian’s place at Barcelona has not always looked secure since he arrived from Leeds United, but he seems to have met a good match in Hansi Flick, who has liberated him in more central positions. — James Benge
Man of the match: Lamine Yamal: The Spanish gem was the man of the match on Sunday against Girona as he scored a brace in the fifth win in a row for the side coached by Hansi Flick, who has had an outstanding start of the season so far. The Blaugrana will make their international debut against Monaco and there are now many expectations around them and the teenage Spanish attacker, who is expected to be one of the stars of the Champions League season. — Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Monaco 1-2 Barcelona: Few are giving Les Monegasques a chance in this one given Barca’s start to the season in La Liga. Although the Catalan giants are strong favorites to win, the principality outfit’s continental pedigree should not be forgotten and this is a good chance for Adi Hutter’s side to show that in front of a rare strong turnout of supporters at Stade Louis II. Nothing says a big European game like the usually sparsely populated but always picturesque venue being full to the rafters and that could aid Monaco in running the Blaugrana close. — Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Barcelona to score in both halves (+154): Under Flick, Barcelona have been scoring early and often in games. They only know one speed and it’s all out attack so the goals will flow in this one. I was between the over 3.5 but took a slightly safer route for Barcelona to net one goal in each half. — Charles Booth
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