UCL expert predictions, picks: Arsenal favorites; Bayern, PSG’s awaited encore

A most consequential week is formally underway in Europe, the place the finalists for this yr’s version of the UEFA Champions League will lastly be determined after two intently contested first legs.

The motion resumes in north London as Arsenal tackle Atletico Madrid, the pair tied 1-1 on combination after every transformed a penalty within the Spanish capital per week in the past. The stylistically related sides will be inclined for a defensive method however it solely places the onus on every staff’s attacking set-up, each boasting high-caliber attackers who will probably make the distinction with a visit to Budapest, Hungary on the road. The excellent news for Arsenal is that Bukayo Saka is again within the combine after a number of weeks on the sidelines, whereas Atleti’s Julian Alvarez has been one in every of Europe’s most dependable attackers all season lengthy.

On Wednesday, the eye shifts to Germany as Bayern Munich welcome Paris Saint-Germain after a thriller of a primary leg that may go down in Champions League historical past. PSG’s 5-4 combination lead is a fragile one but when the primary leg is something to go by, anticipate each groups to go full throttle as soon as once more as a result of they’re one sport away from the ultimate, not regardless of it. The focus will totally be on each Bayern and PSG’s attackers, a set of world beaters all sharing the identical pitch — Bayern’s Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz have been arduous to beat, whereas PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been one of many sport’s most entertaining gamers for over a yr now.

Here’s what the CBS Sports staff is predicting forward of what is going to hopefully be an thrilling week.

Don’t miss any of the Champions League. As all the time, you’ll be able to catch all of our protection throughout Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network all season lengthy.

Champions League semi-final second legs

The participant who will determine Arsenal vs. Atleti will likely be…

Bukayo Saka — Arsenal have been in a funk for a number of weeks now and have been in determined want for somebody to snap them out of it, Bukayo Saka lastly doing simply that on Saturday together with his first begin since March. He will undoubtedly be desperate to repeat on Tuesday with a spot within the Champions League closing on the road, and is probably to be the who attacker will make a distinction in a sport between two groups who rely closely on protection. — Pardeep Cattry

Declan Rice In the primary leg, it was Rice’s means to drop deep and cut up the middle backs that allowed Arsenal to govern the Atletico Madrid press, break the traces and assert their possession management within the first half. His set-piece means might conjure one thing from nothing for the Gunners, too, however it’s how he can flip up on Julian Alvarez’s shoulder an on the spot after he will get the ball within the closing third that could be most crucial. — James Benge

Antoine Griezmann — This is the final dance of Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid because the French striker will depart the aspect coached by Diego Simeone in the summertime to affix Orlando City within the MLS. This is why he could have an additional motivation to convey his staff to the ultimate and probably win the European trophy for the primary time within the historical past of the membership, after dropping twice within the closing towards Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016. It can be an unbelievable and unforgettable farewell. — Francesco Porzio

Bukayo Saka — In a win-or-go-home match, the Gunners will want somebody to go the additional mile to push them to victory, and that is the place Saka’s hazard going ahead could make a distinction. Just as comfy being the driving artistic power in assault as he’s at taking up gamers and capturing on his personal, after Declan Rice, Saka could also be Arsenal’s subsequent most irreplaceable participant. In what will likely be an in depth sport towards Atleti, he’ll be wanted to supply a particular second. –Chuck Booth

The participant who will determine Bayern vs. PSG will likely be…

Harry Kane The England captain has been one of many sport’s most dependable aim scorers for a lot of his profession now, his consistency virtually holding him below the radar as he nears the tip of a career-best season that would catapult him into the Ballon d’Or race if just a few extra bounces go his manner. After a really lengthy wait, issues appear to lastly be swinging Harry Kane’s manner and with a return to the Champions League closing inside attain, anticipate him to have a say alongside the way in which. — Pardeep Cattry

Luis Diaz — It felt like PSG could not discover a single reply for Diaz’s outside-to-in runs within the first leg. With Harry Kane and Michael Olise each inclined to drop deep, having somebody whose first intuition is to assault the area behind the backline guarantees to be essential, particularly when they’re pretty much as good because the Bayern No.7. –James Benge

Michael Olise — I feel there are not any doubts about who’s one of the best participant for the time being round Europe. Even within the first leg, he scored an impressive aim that helped the aspect coached by Vincent Kompany to safe a end result that may be overturned within the second leg in Munich. Playing in entrance of their followers might develop into an important issue for his or her street to the ultimate in Budapest. — Francesco Porzio

Manuel Neuer The extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical, and in a match the place star-studded attackers, who will make their presence felt from begin to end, my eyes are on the keepers. Facing Real Madrid, Neuer was capable of roll again the clock, making 9 saves, and whereas Bayern does not want that sort of efficiency as a way to win this conflict with the Parsiains, simply making one save that he is not anticipated to could possibly be sufficient to make a distinction. Big moments want huge gamers, and I’ve religion that Bayern’s attackers will do the job, however they nonetheless want help from the protection. –Chuck Booth