Champions League returns with goals galore ahead of Manchester City vs. Inter marquee Wednesday showdown

Happy Wednesday! The Champions League came back with a bang on Tuesday with 28 goals across six matches, and more is in store as the action spreads out through Wednesday and Thursday. I’m Pardeep Cattry with a Europe-themed midweek check-in.

📺 Footy fix

All times U.S./Eastern

Wednesday, Sept. 18
🇪🇺 UCL: Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇪🇺 UCL: Manchester City vs. Inter, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 EFL Cup: Coventry City vs. Tottenham, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇺🇸 MLS: Orlando City vs. Charlotte, 8:15 p.m. ➡️ FS1
🌎 Concacaf W Champions Cup: San Diego Wave vs. Portland Thorns, 10 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network

Thursday, Sept. 19
🇪🇺 UCL: Feyenoord vs. Leverkusen, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇪🇺 UCL: Atalanta vs. Arsenal, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🌎 Concacaf W Champions Cup: NJ/NY Gotham vs. Monterrey, 7 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Network

⚽ The Forward Line

🇺🇸 Americans excel in Europe

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-breaking day for Americans in the Champions League.

Juventus’ 3-1 win over PSV marked the first time three USMNT players started in a single Champions League match, with McKennie lining up for the Italians while Malik Tillman and Richy Ledezma got the start for PSV. Five Americans in total played the match, with Timothy Weah coming on for Juventus after recovering from a hamstring injury and Ricardo Pepi making a substitute appearance 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 Juventus’ lineup. The midfielder was considered surplus at the club during preseason but their inability to find a buyer led McKennie to agree a new deal with Juventus and become integrated into new manager Thiago Motta’s squad, marking a positive end to a forgettable summer for McKennie.

Christian Pulisic followed up with a goal of his own a few hours later, scoring in the third minute of AC Milan’s game against Liverpool. The advantage was short-lived for Milan, though, as the Reds began to mount a comeback 20 minutes later and went on to win 3-1, highlighting how Pulisic’s form contrasts with his team’s. Milan now have just one win in their opening five games of the season, scoring 10 goals but conceding nine times along the way. Pulisic, meanwhile, has three goals and two assists in that time, and Francesco Porzio notes that he has emerged as the lone bright spot in a poor run of form for Milan so far.

• Porzio: “That role of leader is now much closer to Pulisic, as he’s the player who is performing the most. More than the goals and the assists of Pulisic, who is by far the most efficient player of the roster, [Manager Paulo] Fonseca knows that the American international is the sole player who can bring the quality that players such as [Rafael] Leao and Samu Chukwueze are not showing right now.”

Pulisic has kept Milan competitive in each and every game they have played this season but the team’s inability to put together a cohesive performance will loom large into the weekend, when they face a massive test against rivals and reigning Serie A champions Inter. And speaking of…

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🔗  Midfield Link Play

🏆 A clash of champions in Manchester

Before Inter take on AC Milan over the weekend, they will take part in the most anticipated Champions League fixture of Matchday 1 against Manchester City. The trip to Etihad Stadium marks a faceoff between the champions of England and Italy, a competitive clash that may be unusual in the group stage of years past, but is a feature of the new-look league phase.

Inter will feel they have plenty to make up for after last season’s disappointing Champions League exit, ousted by an underwhelming Atletico Madrid side in the quarterfinals despite boasting a 2-0 aggregate lead at one point. The Italian champions are good enough to make a deep run, but will have a couple of chances to prove that point during the league phase – a game against Arsenal at home in November and Wednesday’s rematch of the 2023 Champions League final, won by City.

Both teams are undefeated to start the season, but City are the only one of the two who are perfect through four games. That is thanks in large part to Erling Haaland, who is among the few elite players who had the summer off and has wasted no time returning to his otherworldly goalscoring form. He has a staggering 10 goals in four games in Premier League action so far and according to James Benge, he’s the player to keep an eye on once the game begins.

• Benge: “He’s quite good, this guy. A mere two goals in the win over Brentford suggests slipping standards from the perennial hat trick hero, but, well, it’s hardly a return to be sniffed at. Inter have been a quite exceptional defensive force since at least the start of last season, but, frankly, they’ve not faced anyone as good as Haaland.”

Haaland’s individual brilliance has allowed City to go on autopilot to start the season, especially as manager Pep Guaridola slowly re-integrates a handful of starters into the team after long summers with their national teams. It’s unclear how many of his first choice players he will select on Wednesday, but Rodri and Phil Foden, for example, have played just one game each for City this season and may finally be rested enough to play against Inter. While the odds are in City’s favor, this game will also be a first true litmus test of their ability to stay motivated this season as they aim for a firth 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 sacked: Roma fired Daniele De Rossi after a winless start to the Serie A season that leaves the team in 16th place, a surprise move just months after he signed a deal that was supposed to keep him at the club until 2027.

⚪ Same old Real Madrid: Reigning European champions Real Madrid picked up a 3-1 win over Stuttgart on Tuesday, clinching victory despite putting together a familiar unimpressive performance.

🔴 Bayern’s pros and cons: Bayern Munich clinched a record-setting 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, coming out with positive reviews of their attack even if the jury’s still out on Vincent Kompany’s plans to revitalize the team.

🪧 Going on strike?: Manchester City’s Rodri said players are “close” to going on strike in protest of the jam-packed soccer calendar.

🇺🇸 Ledezma’s comeback: Richy Ledezma is one of the Americans who aims to make a name for himself this season after carving out a surprise new role at right back for PSV.

📺 Beckham and Friends: Soccer superstar David Beckham will host Beckham and Friends, a Champions League altcast that will air on Paramount+ during the semifinal second legs and the final in 2025 and 2026.

💰  The Back Line

💵 Best bets

• UEFA Champions League: Feyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen, Thursday, 12:45 p.m.
  💰 THE PICK:  Bayer Leverkusen to win 2-1 (+700) – Bayer Leverkusen’s record-breaking unbeaten run might be in the past, but the luster of last season’s incredible form lingers on as Xabi Alonso’s side eyes a victorious start to their first Champions League campaign in two years. It helps that the group of players that impressed last season are still around, making them the oddsmakers’ favorites to come out with a win in Feyenoord. Do not expect an entirely straightforward outing, though – Leverkusen have already conceded six goals in three Bundesliga games this season, suggesting some defensive weaknesses.
• UEFA Champions League: Atalanta vs. Arsenal, Thursday, 3 p.m.

💰 THE PICK: Bukayo Saka to score (+230) – Arsenal survived the North London Derby without Martin Odegaard thanks to their impressive defense structure, offering a look at how they might 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 problem. That 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 out on CBSSports.com’s betting home page.   

📺 What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network

☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): 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 soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you’ll never have to miss an episode.

3️⃣ Attacking Third (Monday, Thursday): The leading women’s soccer 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 be breaking down the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic season all year long. And don’t miss Wednesday live streams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.

⚽ Call it What You Want (Monday night): A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and friends cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. You can also catch the show streaming live on YouTube every Monday at 11 a.m. ET.

🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest place for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the top soccer competitions and all the can’t-miss goals from the day’s action, starting Thursday and airing seven days a week.

📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.