The UEFA Champions League returns of his winter vacation this week, earlier than usual before a series of important meetings to close the competition first edition of the championship phase.
Several continental heavyweights will feature in must-win Matchday 7 matches after struggling during the season, including Manchester City’s trip to Paris Saint-Germain. Both teams are at risk of elimination and are aiming for a declaration victory on Wednesday to avoid an early exit, with PSG returning to the competition following the high-profile signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Friday.
A handful of other important games take place this week, including Real Madrid’s favorable match against RB Salzburg and a top-eight clash when Lille travels to Liverpool on Tuesday.
Don’t miss anything from the Champions League. As always, you can find all our coverage at Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network throughout the season.
Here are our expert picks for this day:
Tuesday
Atlético Madrid vs Leverkusen
Player to watch: Conor Gallagher – At the heart of Atletico Madrid’s long winning streak, shockingly halted by Leganes at the weekend, Gallagher embodies the qualities that will be needed to suppress Leverkusen. Can the hosts press high while conserving bodies if their opponents cross the lines? Can they put bodies together around Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez? Gallagher is the man for these tasks and more. –James Benge
Man of the match: Antoine Griezmann The Frenchman had a good first part of the season where he scored 12 goals in all competitions, including four in the first six Champions League matches. Griezmann is the type of striker who shows up in the toughest matches, like the one against Xabi Alonso’s team. -Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Atleti 1, Leverkusen 1 — A draw between these two seems normal given their respective positions which are separated by seven places, even if there is only one point left with a match to play next. A point or better here could make all the difference in terms of a top 8 finish – especially for Xabi Alonso’s men who are currently in this group. -Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: both teams score (-130) — In a clash between some of the most exciting attacking teams in the world, this could go a few different ways. While they may be racking up goals left and right, there’s also a good chance the match ends 1-1, as it’s not like they’re strangers to defending against the best either talents. Given the stakes of this match, as soon as the first goal is scored, the second will quickly follow as the winner will have a strong chance of finishing among the top eight in the championship phase. –Chuck Booth
Benfica vs. Barcelona
Player to watch: Overlap like – So far, in the league and in Europe, the starting spot between the posts has been Pena’s to lose. Is he starting to do just that? The 25-year-old has not kept a clean sheet since his victory against Brest in late November and Wojciech Szczesny’s name is increasingly being bandied about as a serious contender for the Barcelona goalkeeper job. Pena has work to do. –James Benge
Man of the match: Raphinha The Brazilian winger is in the best form of his career as he has scored 19 goals so far in all competitions, and six in the opening six Champions League matches. Raphinha’s impressive form is one of the reasons for the success of the European campaign as the team coached by Hansi Flick occupy second place with five wins and one defeat, while only Liverpool have had a better start to the league phase. -Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Benfica 2, Barcelona 2 – This one looks like a potential trap game for Barca who are within reach of securing a place in the top 8. The Portuguese hosts have performed better against the bigger teams and have notably beaten Atletico Madrid and Monaco. Don’t be surprised by a draw here with goals from both sides. -Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Barcelona leads at halftime (+145) — Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona are no stranger to quick starts to games. With so many star strikers in the XI, even an injury to Dani Olmo won’t stop Barcelona from scoring a goal in the first half and the return of Ronald Araujo improves the defense by leaps and bounds. This is a better Benfica team than you think, but that won’t matter on Tuesday. –Chuck Booth
Wednesday
PSG vs Man City
Player to watch: Phil Foden – Does player of the year go to local hero Manchester City? Foden’s last four games have yielded five goals and two assists, with the 24-year-old excelling in a rout of Ipswich Town on Sunday. Returning to a wide right role where he played last season, Foden has found form and rhythm even though City are struggling. –James Benge
Man of the match: Erling Haaland – It will be a heated clash between two of the most disappointing teams in the league stage battling to avoid elimination in the final two rounds, and the Norwegian is expected to deliver on his promises, especially after signing an unprecedented new 9-year contract. .5 years, worth 9.5 years. around $610,000 (£500,000) per week. -Francesco Porzio
Prediction: PSG 2, City 1 – This is a match that neither team can afford to lose, which is especially true for Paris. Luis Enrique’s men have no problem creating chances against European teams, but they have struggled to take those chances and this is a game where home advantage must be asserted, which is not always the case for Parisians. Expect the margins to be very tight and the fear of elimination to be palpable at times, with a draw also a very strong possibility. Ultimately, PSG cannot afford anything less than a draw and will need to get a result in Stuttgart regardless of the result at the Parc des Princes. -Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Kevin De Bruyne scores or assists (+125) — This game could be Manchester City’s season and in these moments the two players who end up stepping up are usually De Bruyne and Phil Foden. Pep Guardiola has welcomed the Belgian’s return and, despite a difficult away game, he will be able to get involved in the attack to keep City in the game. –Chuck Booth
Real Madrid vs RB Salzburg
Player to watch: Rodrygo – Madrid’s big Champions League winner has struggled for form in continental matches so far this season with just one assist to his name. However, the best version of Rodrygo has started to emerge in La Liga, where he registered a goal and an assist against Las Palmas last time out. This could be the perfect opportunity to get among the goals. –James Benge
Man of the match: Kylian Mbappé The French superstar is finally up to it and his numbers are back on track as expected, having scored 12 goals in 18 La Liga matches, but just two in six Champions League matches. The match against RB Salzburg is the ideal opportunity for him to turn things around on the European scene. -Francesco Porzio
Prediction: Real 4, Salzburg 0 — The Austrians and their Red Bull cousins in Leipzig had a Champions League campaign to forget. Expect them to be put out of their misery here with a drubbing at the hands of a disappointing Real who have favorable remaining matches on their side. -Jonathan Johnson
Best bet: Over 1.5 goals in first half (-144) — The beauty of this format is that goal difference counts in the table and with Real Madrid on just nine points with a goal difference of 1, they have every reason to look to win emphatically against a Salzburg side who seemed outmatched during the championship phase. If Real Madrid’s result is where it needs to be, this game could be 4-0 at halftime. –Chuck Booth
