Champions League Vibe Check: Mo Salah saving Liverpool, Real Madrid look the part and more

The league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League season will kick off this week, and most of the top European teams will compete for the most important club trophy in the world starting Tuesday. This week will be entirely dedicated to the Champions League as the 18 matches will be divided over three days, while both Europa League and Conference League will start later this month. PSG, the Champions League title holders, will try to defend the title despite being affected by multiple injuries and will host Atalanta this Wednesday at the Parc de Princes, while Kevin de Bruyne will make his comeback at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday when Napoli visit Manchester City. Let’s take a closer look at the vibes check of the European giants: 

How to watch

The opening round of league phase fixtures will take place across three days – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – and all of it will be available to watch on Paramount+, with select additional coverage on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network. Pre-match coverage starts at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network each day before select matches air at 12:45 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET, with post-match coverage transitioning to Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network. The Golazo Show will be free on CBS Sports Golazo Network for Matchday 1, while coverage concludes on CBS Sports Golazo Network with new editions of The Champions Club, which will be simulcast on YouTube, and Scoreline.

PSG deal with injury problems that could mean a slow start

PSG will kick off their Champions League campaign against Atalanta in Paris on Wednesday, and Luis Enrique’s team will try to defend the title won last season in the incredible 5-0 final win against Inter, the first-ever Champions League trophy won by the French giants. However, after winning Sunday’s match against Lens, the Spanish coach has to deal with some injuries as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lucas Beraldo and Kang-In Lee all left the pitch injured and are now in doubt for the match against Atalanta alongside Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele, who are also injured. 

At the same time, PSG are still one of the best teams around Europe and shouldn’t really worry about the game against Ivan Juric’ team as they have more than enough quality to win.

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Napoli enter KDB’s return to City with momentum

Antonio Conte’s Napoli won 3-1 in the match against Fiorentina on Saturday and are currently at the top of the Serie A table with nine points after three matches. The Azzurri were immediately able to continue the positive end of the 2024-25 season that ended with the historical fourth Scudetto, and Thursday’s match against Manchester City will also see the return of Kevin de Bruyne at the Etihad Stadium after the Belgian midfielder already scored two goals in the opening three matches of the Serie A season. De Bruyne, who marked an unforgettable era in Manchester, will experience an emotional night, and the Citizens fans will have the chance to see him again in their home stadium in what should be a surreal moment.

Inter are in trouble

The team coached by Cristian Chivu are already in trouble, losing the last two Serie A matches against Udinese and Juventus. The match against the Bianconeri showed all the issues of this team because despite playing quite well, they conceded four goals and lost a key match against the historical rivals in Turin. If Inter don’t win against Ajax on Wednesday this week, the job of the 2010 Champions League winner might already be in trouble. 

Real Madrid looking like Real Madrid

Real Madrid are still the same. The team now coached by Xabi Alonso started a new era under the Spanish manager who replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the summer and started off with four wins in the opening four LaLiga matches and are now leading the standings. Many things changed, but the Blancos are still one of the leading candidates to win the European title after winning it a record 15 times. Can they win the 16th? Our James Benge has them topping the league phase.

Salah saves Liverpool 

It wasn’t the best day for Liverpool as the Reds only won 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a last minute penalty scored by Mo Salah who saved the team coached by Arne Slot and Liverpool will face Atletico de Madrid on Wednesday at Anfield. Having opened the Premier League season with four wins in a row, Liverpool will now bring big expectations into Europe. After last year’s heartbreak, losing at penalties to PSG in the Round of 16, they will be determined to go further this time.