The Champions League is back this week with a slate of high-stakes matchups for some of Europe's top teams. Though a handful of sides impressed on matchday one and continue to enjoy strong starts to their seasons, a few enter the upcoming Champions League week with the need to impress. Chief among that group are Manchester United who remain in the midst of an up-and-down season, but even the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Inter have their own redemption arcs to write after some inconsistent results over the last few weeks.
Here's what you need to know before the next round of matches.
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How to watch
Paramount+ will have every minute of Champions League action all season, and this week is no exception. CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network will also air select matches, while Paramount+ will also host the Golazo Show. Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network will also both air the UEFA Champions League Today pre-match and post-match shows, while the Golazo Network will cap off each day's action with new episodes of the Champions Club.
The UEFA Champions League Today show goes on the road Wednesday, where the group heads to St. James' Park for Newcastle United's first Champions League home game in 20 years. Kate Abdo, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry, and Micah Richards will be live in Newcastle, as will Anita Jones.
Following the conclusion of Wednesday's Champions League coverage, CBS Sports Golazo Network will air the newest episode of Kickin' It, the network's weekly interview series hosted by Abdo, Clint Dempsey, Charlie Davies, and Maurice Edu. U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Matt Turner will be this week's guest.
Matchday 2 TV schedule
All times Eastern
Tuesday, Oct. 3 | Time | How to watch |
Union Berlin vs. Braga | 12:45 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Red Bull Salzburg vs. Rea Sociedad | 12:45 p.m. | Paramount+ |
UEFA Champions League Today Pre-Match | 2 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network |
The Golazo Show | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Napoli vs. Real Madrid | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Manchester United vs. Galatasaray | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Lens vs. Arsenal | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Inter vs. Benfica | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
PSV vs. Sevilla | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Copenhagen vs. Bayern Munich | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network |
UEFA Champions League Today Post-Match | 5 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network |
The Champions Club | 6 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Wednesday, Oct. 4 | Time | How to watch |
Atletico Madrid vs. Feyenoord | 12:45 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Antwerp vs. Shakhtar Donetsk | 12:45 p.m. | Paramount+ |
UEFA Champions League Today Pre-Match | 2 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network |
The Golazo Show | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Newcastle United vs. Paris Saint-Germain | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Borussia Dortmund vs. AC Milan | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Porto vs. Barcelona | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ |
Crvena zvezda vs. Young Boys | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Celtic vs. Lazio | 3 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network |
UEFA Champions League Today Post-Match | 5 p.m. | Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network |
The Champions Club | 6 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Kickin' It | 7 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Storylines for Matchday 1
1. Ten Hag's hot seat gets even hotter
In between Manchester United's dramatic 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich and their upcoming fixture against Galatasaray, the mood has not improved at Old Trafford. The team picked up two wins in their three games, but one was an unimpressive 1-0 win over Burnley in which they were out-possessed and outshot. They rebounded with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday, but just as optimism began creeping in, questions once again surround Eirk ten Hag and United after they lost 1-0 to Palace on Saturday.
A matchup against Galatasaray very much favors United, but the English side have stumbled so many times already this season. It forces the question: Can they actually build a meaningful run of form or is a disappointing season in the cards -- and how long will ten Hag last if form does not improve?
2. A chance at redemption
While United prepare to rebound from another loss, they are not the only one of Europe's major clubs who need to improve. Real Madrid were wasteful in their matchday 1 win over Union Berlin and followed that up with a 3-1 loss to Atletico Madrid. The same is true for Inter, who went roughly 70 minutes without taking a shot in their 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad. The Serie A leaders have also been inconsistent since with two wins and a loss to Sassuolo in league play. But, at least Lautaro Martinez is red hot.
Manchester City also notably lost on Saturday to Wolverhampton Wanderers and have the chance to prove that was merely a fluke when they take on RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but the German side might be a trickier opponent than expected. Leipzig are unbeaten in two games against Bayern this season and could add to a budding reputation for being giant slayers with a positive result against City with Xavi Simons in great form.
3. Geopolitics in the Champions League
As the designated group of death, Group F action is hard to ignore, but Paris Saint-Germain's trip to Newcastle United is even more notable considering the off-the-field storylines. The teams are owned by Qatar and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth funds, respectively, and the matchup serves as a new chapter in the countries' controversial investment in sports teams which overshadow their human rights records.
The coaches and players will likely insist they cannot possibly comment on the topic and should only be asked about on-field matters, even if some have no problem discussing how "saddened" they are by cut down trees. There is one very notable on-pitch storyline, though -- Kylian Mbappe's fitness. The star came off last week with an ankle injury, but after playing over the weekend, Mbappe seems ready to go for a midweek Champions League clash.
