Champions League picks, predictions: AC Milan vs. PSG splits experts; Man City and Barcelona cruise to victory

 Champions League Matchday 4 is here, as all 32 teams in the tournament will be in action on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is where group stage campaigns can be made or destroyed as teams hit the second half of their six-game group stage schedule. Crucial swings in the group standings will set up a frantic finish to the end of the group stage with just six more points up for grabs following this week’s action. Many teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are cruising, while Manchester United, Benfica, Milan and others are feeling the pressure.

Who will come away victorious across 16 games on Tuesday and Wednesday? Find out below with our UCL picks: 

Champions League broadcast schedule

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CBSSports.com writers Matchday 3 — Tuesday’s picks

Milan vs. PSG

by Francesco Porzio

One matchup to watch: Rafael Leao vs. Achraf Hakimi – This will be one of the most interesting matchups to watch at San Siro. Rafael Leao has not been in good form recently and needs a reaction against the French side, while Hakimi comes back to his former city where he used to play with Inter and where he won the 2020-21 Scudetto under Antonio Conte. 

Most likely to score a goal: Kylian Mbappe – All the eyes will be on the French star, who needs an important performance in Milan. Mbappe already scored two goals in the opening three Champions League games of the season, and has also scored ten goals in ten games so far in the French Ligue 1. 

Man of the Match pick: Ousmane Dembele – The former FC Barcelona winger is having a great start of the season but still hasn’t scored in the Champions League this year. In the PSG game against AC Milan he saw one goal disallowed, but his performances are improving game after game. 

Match prediction: AC Milan 2, PSG 2 – AC Milan desperately need to avoid losing against PSG as the side coached by Stefano Pioli lost three games of the last four and only drew against Napoli away. The Rossoneri need to react and losing to PSG would also mean the likely end of their Champions League campaign. 

CBSSports.com writers Matchday 3 — Wednesday’s picks

Arsenal-Sevilla

One matchup to watch: Mikel Arteta vs. the officials – The Arsenal manager is coming in hot after the contentious winner that Newcastle got on Saturday, one that was the subject of three separate VAR reviews over four minutes. Afterwards Arteta launched a remarkable broadside at the officiating of the game, a man who generally is not afraid to give referees a piece of his mind turning up the anger to 11. That naturally brought with it a backlash, but will it be one that quells the Arsenal manager on the touchline? In all likelihood not but it will be fascinating to watch.

Most likely to score a goal: Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal’s defensive strengths are such that you would not particularly rush to pick any Sevilla player as a likely scorer but the hosts are not quite the same attacking force of old and may struggle to run up the goals themselves. They will probably get at least one though and Martinelli seems as good a bet as anyone to score it.

Man of the Match pick: William Saliba – The reason why you can state with confidence that it’s hard to find a likely scorer on the Sevilla side is Saliba, a center back with authority and composure beyond his years. He has a burgeoning role in Arsenal’s possession play and with him at the back it is an almighty task just to get a shot on David Raya’s goal.

Match prediction: Arsenal 2, Sevilla 0 – This may not be pretty or thrill a minute but it says a great deal about the Gunners recent progress that you could confidently suggest they will breeze through a Champions League game against such prestigious opposition.