The opening weekend of Premier League motion delivered loads of excellent news for the title contenders, whereas European motion takes middle stage midweek as a handful of groups inch nearer to reserving their spots within the UEFA Champions League. I am Pardeep Cattry with the newest because the European membership sport is again in full swing.
📺 Footy repair
All instances U.S./Japanese
Monday, Aug. 18
🇩🇪 DFB Pokal: Rot-Weiss Essen vs. Borussia Dortmund, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🏴 EPL: Leeds United vs. Everton, 3 p.m. ➡️ USA Community
🇺🇸 NWSL: Seattle Reign vs. Chicago Stars, 10 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, Aug. 19
🇪🇸 LaLiga: Actual Madrid vs. Osasuna, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🇪🇺 UCL qualifying: Rangers vs. Membership Brugge. 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🌎 CWCC: Alianza vs. Washington Spirit, 8 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Network
⚽ The Ahead Line
🏴 Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal win opening matches
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The Premier League’s heavy-hitters began the season on a excessive over the weekend, with title hopefuls Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal every successful their opening matches. The performances have been combined, although, and it is unclear whether or not or not it was all the way down to some lingering preseason rust or signal of bother forward.
Metropolis have been simply probably the most spectacular of these three with a 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, with Erling Haaland scoring a brace and newcomers Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki bagging one every of their Premier League debuts. It was a really sturdy begin for a brand new model of Metropolis, Pep Guardiola’s aspect hoping to craft a redemption arc after falling brief within the title race final season. Stiffer assessments lie forward for Metropolis, however the truth that they managed an uncomplicated, dominant efficiency with out the likes of Rodri and Josko Gvardiol within the lineup is a really early sign that this summer season’s rebuild could also be a profitable one.
Liverpool, in the meantime, provided a stark reminder of their imbalance with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday and Arsenal survived an off day with their 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday. The Gunners pulled from a well-recognized playbook by scoring the sport’s lone aim off a nook however they conceded 22 pictures and had a passing accuracy round 76% p.c, their lowest totals in both class since a 2-2 draw in opposition to Metropolis in September 2022. New No. 9 Viktor Gyokeres additionally had a nondescript Premier League debut, taking zero pictures as Arsenal’s assault took a again seat at Outdated Trafford.
The massive shock of the weekend, although, passed off on the Stadium of Mild on Saturday as Sunderland notched a 3-0 win over West Ham of their first high flight match in almost a decade. The Black Cats marked their Premier League return in fashion and as Chuck Sales space wrote, Saturday’s efficiency outlined the trail ahead as they try the uphill battle of surviving relegation.
- Sales space: “Regardless of solely holding possession for 37% of the match, Sunderland have been capable of rating in numerous methods, benefiting from set performs and counterattacks. Simon Adingra confirmed why he was a sensible addition from Brighton, including an help, and gamers who helped get Sunderland so far, like Danny Ballard, performed crucial roles of their success. … For Sunderland, a quick begin is crucial since nothing is best than factors out of the gate. Dealing with Burnley of their subsequent match, the Black Cats have each likelihood to begin life again within the Premier League with six factors from two matches. That might be already 15% of the way in which to the 40-point goal for security with solely 5% of the season performed to this point.”
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🔗 Midfield Hyperlink Play
🇪🇺 Closing spherical of Champions League qualifying begins
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The final seven league section spots within the UEFA Champions League will likely be up for grabs over the following two weeks, with 14 groups competing within the last spherical of qualification earlier than subsequent week’s draw.
Three earlier Champions League winners – Benfica, Celtic and Crvena zvezda – make the minimize, as do Scottish giants Rangers and Bodo/Glimt, who grew to become the primary Norwegian to achieve the semifinals of any European competitors final season after they have been one of many final 4 groups standing within the UEFA Europa League. The 2-legged ties will likely be performed over the course of this week and subsequent, with the combination rating winner of every collection advancing to the league section. This is a have a look at the matchups.
- Ferencvaros vs. Qarabag
- Crvena zvezda vs. Pafos
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Sturm Graz
- Celtic vs. Kairat
- Basel vs. Copenhagen
- Fenerbahce vs. Benfica
- Rangers vs. Membership Brugge
The headlining act of Tuesday’s first legs takes place in Glasgow, the place Rangers host Membership Brugge in a battle between two European regulars. After two successive journeys to the Europa League spherical of 16, Rangers hope to achieve the Champions League for the primary time for the reason that 2022-23 season whereas Membership Brugge purpose to return to the competitors after surprisingly beating Atalanta to achieve the spherical of 16. Crvena zvezda can even host Cyprus’ Pafos on Tuesday, whereas Qarabag’s journey to Ferencvaros rounds out the day’s schedule.
Tuesday is merely a preview for the largest tie of the spherical — Fenerbahce vs. Benfica. Virtually precisely 25 years after Benfica handed a 37-year-old Jose Mourinho his first managerial function, the completed coach will likely be tasked with main Fenerbahce to the Champions League by getting one over on his former membership. Fenerbahce have needed to take the lengthy street within the hopes of reaching the Champions League, beating Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord 6-4 on combination within the earlier qualifying spherical. Even with out Mourinho’s private connection, the stakes are excessive for a Fenerbahce group focusing on their first Champions League marketing campaign since 2008-09, however that didn’t cease the supervisor from speaking a giant sport after beating Feyenoord final week.
- Mourinho: “I believe [Benfica would prefer] Feyenoord. They know we’re stronger, they understand it will not be straightforward for them. However let’s go. I need to play, the followers need to play, the gamers need to play. It is necessary financially, it is necessary by way of status. However we’re enjoying in opposition to nice groups, Feyenoord and now Benfica, it isn’t a simple playoff. However truthfully, I believe Benfica is not comfortable.”
🔗 High Tales
🔴 Man Utd-Arsenal takeaways: Manchester United and Arsenal provided a combined bag in Sunday’s sport and the identical goes for the Premier League newcomers that took to the sector. Plus, a more in-depth have a look at the Gunners’ imperfect however successful technique in opposition to the Pink Devils.
🩵 Reijnders’ sturdy begin: Tijjani Reijnders marked his Premier League debut in fashion with a aim in Manchester Metropolis’s 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, showcasing why he is a really perfect match because the group’s substitute for Kevin de Bruyne.
🏴 EPL overreactions: Irrespective of how laborious you strive, it is laborious to beat the impulse of creating an excessive amount of out of 1 sport so listed here are some overreactions to the opening weekend of Premier League motion.
🌡️ Excessive temps in Kansas Metropolis: The NWSL match between the Kansas Metropolis Present and the Orlando Delight was delayed by a number of hours on Saturday due to excessive warmth circumstances.
🇺🇸 USMNT-ers rating: Christian Pulisic began his season on a excessive with a stellar aim in AC Milan’s Coppa Italia win, whereas Josh Sargent’s impactful type with Norwich Metropolis could pressure Mauricio Pochettino to rethink his opinion of the ahead.
🇪🇸 Actual Madrid’s delayed begin: Actual Madrid won’t play their opening match of LaLiga’s season till Tuesday, a compromise between the membership and the league after Los Blancos’ semifinal run within the Membership World Cup.
❌ Liverpool fan arrested: A Liverpool fan was arrested after Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo was on the receiving finish of racist abuse from the group within the first half of the Cherries’ sport at Anfield on Friday.
💰 The Again Line
💵 Greatest bets
- Premier League: Leeds United vs. Everton, Monday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Thierno Barry to attain (+280) – Hopes are excessive for Everton after a quietly sturdy summer season of enterprise and whereas Jack Grealish could have grabbed extra headlines than the others, Thierno Barry may be probably the most thrilling newcomers on David Moeys’ group. He’s one in every of a number of forwards with expertise in Europe to maneuver to the Premier League and deserves the persistence to settle into his new environment – Viktor Gyokeres’ Arsenal debut on Sunday, for instance, demonstrates as a lot – however the opening weekend schedule favors the Toffees. Leeds United could have their admirers however they’re nonetheless a newly promoted Premier League group combating an uphill battle to outlive this season, which may supply a pleasant opening for Barry to begin his profession in England in fashion.
For extra picks, predictions, professional ideas and the newest betting information, do not miss out on CBSSports.com’s betting dwelling web page.
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