Hey! The UEFA Champions League’s knockout phase playoffs got off to a strong start on Tuesday and have more in store on Wednesday, while the U.S. women’s national team’s prep for their first games of 2025 is officially underway. I’m Pardeep Cattry with a midweek check-in.
📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern
Wednesday, Feb. 12
🇪🇺 UCL: Club Brugge vs. Atalanta, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
🏴 EPL: Everton vs. Liverpool, 2:30 p.m. ➡️ USA Network
🇪🇺 UCL: Celtic vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 UCL: Feyenoord vs. AC Milan, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🌎 Concacaf Champions Cup: Chivas vs. Cibao, 8 p.m. ➡️ FS2
Thursday, Feb. 13
🇪🇺 UEL: Fenerbahce vs. Anderlecht, 12:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇺 UEL: Porto vs. Roma, 3 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Network, Paramount+
⚽ The Forward Line
🇪🇺 Knockout phase playoffs are officially underway
Getty Images
Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Manchester City marked a thrilling start to the UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs on Tuesday, with the reigning champions coming from behind twice before scoring a last-gasp game-winner at Etihad Stadium. City managed a surprisingly strong start, surviving an early period of pressure from Madrid and nabbing the game’s first goal. Things began to unravel after the halftime break as the visitors scored an equalizer, and the back-and-forth game ended with them relinquishing yet another lead and now facing a tough second leg in Spain.
It was hard not to view the first leg of the tie as a make-or-break moment for the last two Champions League winners, with Madrid passing the test. They have had their own challenges to deal with this season, most notably an injury crisis that left them without their top-choice center backs, though manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that “despite the emergency, we’ve been able get something good out of it.” That was not the case for City, with manager Pep Guardiola still appearing to be out of answers, months after his team began a downward spiral.
