Hello! The UEFA Champions League returns this week with another batch of intriguing matchups, many of which will serve as a chance for Europe’s heavy-hitters to bounce back after disappointing results over the weekend. For Real Madrid and Chelsea in particular, though, that’s just one storyline ahead of their high-profile Tuesday matches. I’m Pardeep Cattry with the latest as another European week gets underway.
📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern
Monday, Sept. 29
🏴 EPL: Everton vs. West Ham, 3 p.m. ➡️ USA Network
Tuesday, Sept. 30
🇪🇺 UCL: Kairat vs. Real Madrid, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 UCL: Chelsea vs. Benfica, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇺🇸 MLS: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ➡️ MLS Season Pass
🌎 CWCC: Club America vs. Orlando Pride, 9 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
⚽ The Forward Line
🇰🇿🇪🇸 Real Madrid and a very long away trip
Real Madrid are no strangers to making history in the UEFA Champions League, but they will notch a new record on Tuesday in Almaty, where they will face Kazakh champions Kairat in one of the competition’s longest-ever away trips – and perhaps one of its most lopsided fixtures.
The matchup is an exercise in contrasts – Real Madrid, the record 15-time Champions League winners, will play their 503rd match in the competition this week while Kairat will only play their second.
Alonso: “It was a deserved defeat, and very painful for us, for the fans too, and we feel responsible. But it could be a positive, as for sure we will learn from it. We’re in a process of building something, and setbacks will happen. It is about how we react, how we learn from what happened, and how we improve.”
Kairat are not expected to pose the same type of test on Tuesday, which could afford Alonso plenty of flexibility in his approach, though he will make the trip to Almaty with just about all of his stars in tow.
Matchday 2 🔜
🔗 Midfield Link Play
🏴🇵🇹 The Special One returns to his old stomping grounds
Chelsea are not the only Champions League heavyweights to return to action this week on the back of a weekend defeat. Enzo Maresca’s side have just three wins in eight games across all competitions this season, a run of form that would feel ill-timed at any point.
Maresca: “It’s a privilege to face Jose. A legend for this club. I feel already quite lucky to be in some pictures at the training ground with the Club World Cup and Conference League after one season. The target hopefully is one day we can all together enjoy these kinds of moments.”
Maresca has more pressing matters ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Benfica, who rehired Mourinho almost 25 years to the day they handed him his first-ever managerial post.
🔗 Top Stories
- ⚫🔴 Pulisic’s Milan on top: Christian Pulisic got on the scoresheet as AC Milan notched a 2-1 win over Napoli.
- 🔨 Potter out, Nuno in?: Graham Potter was the second manager to be fired this season.
- 🔴 Arsenal come from behind: Arsenal scored two late goals to beat Newcastle United 2-1.
For more expert insights and previews, visit CBSSports.com.
