Champions League 2016: Group Live Stream, TV Schedule, Predictions for Tuesday
After months of waiting, the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League group stage will finally get under way this Tuesday and Wednesday, where 32 of Europe's most deserving clubs will begin their quest for continental domination.
A host of tournament favourites join the action from the first kick-off, with Barcelona playing host to Celtic, Bayern Munich welcoming Rostov to Bavaria and Paris Saint-Germain at home to Premier League giants Arsenal.
We'll see Manchester City begin their first European campaign under the tutelage of manager Pep Guardiola, playing host to Borussia Monchengladbach just days after a 2-1 derby defeat of Manchester United.
Also on Tuesday, last season's finalists Atletico Madrid open their tournament away to PSV Eindhoven, and they'll be hoping to go one further this time around and claim the title as their own.
Read on for a fixture schedule for Tuesday's matchups, complete with predictions and a preview of some of the most promising games on the slate.
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Barcelona | 3-1 | Celtic | BT Sport 3 (UK)/Fox Sports 1 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/Fox Soccer 2GO (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Basel | 2-0 | Ludogorets | BT Sport Extra Red Button (UK)/beIN Sports 4 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/beIN Connect (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Bayern Munich | 4-0 | Rostov | BT Sport 2 (UK)/Fox Sports 2 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/Fox Soccer 2GO (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Benfica | 2-1 | Besiktas | BT Sport Extra Red Button (UK)/beIN Sports 6 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/beIN Connect (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Dynamo Kiev | 2-2 | Napoli | BT Sport Extra Red Button (UK)/beIN Sports 5 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/beIN Connect (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Paris Saint-Germain | 1-1 | Arsenal | BT Sport Extra Red Button (UK)/beIN Sports 8 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/beIN Connect (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | Manchester City | 2-1 | Borussia Monchengladbach | BT Sport (UK)/beIN Sports 7 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/beIN Connect (US) |
| 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. ET | PSV Eindhoven | 0-0 | Atletico Madrid | BT Sport Extra Red Button (UK)/beIN Sports 9 (US) | BT Sport Live (UK)/beIN Connect (US) |
Struggling PSG and Arsenal Share Spoils
PSG and Arsenal have endured near-identical starts to their 2016-17 league seasons, having each won two, drawn one and lost one of their four opening fixtures in Ligue 1 and the Premier League, respectively.
Both teams sit on the edge of their respective top six, and yet Gunners striker Olivier Giroud has placed Tuesday's opponents in the favourites bracket, per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson:
One of Arsenal's only saving graces headed to Parc des Princes is that PSG have a raft of defensive injury doubts to account for, as detailed by Goal's Ligue 1 writer Mohammed Ali:
"Aurier & possibly Kurzawa out v Arsenal - still no Thiago Silva. Mesut Ozil & Alexis Sanchez should be all over that in midweek #PSGARS
— Mohammed Ali (@mohammedali_93) September 9, 2016"
Manager Unai Emery was brought in to prove PSG can be a force on the Champions League stage, but after failing to win either of his last two domestic fixtures, confidence may be waning.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have sealed their only two wins of the 2016-17 season in their last two outings, but even that boost in confidence won't secure a win against a talented side who might also settle for a draw in their current state.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Arsenal
Atletico Madrid Repeat History at PSV
A pair of scoreless draws meant Atletico Madrid were made to settle for progressing through last season's round of 16 via a penalty shootout against this year's group-stage opponents PSV.
The two teams encounter one another in similar form this year, except the omens may be poor for PSV just after Antoine Griezmann inspired his side to a 4-0 drubbing of Celta Vigo, per Supersport:
Manager Diego Simeone's side have conceded just one goal this season, but as data analyst 11tegen11 pointed out on Twitter, PSV's defence has been a very crucial component once again this term:
The two teams failed to find a breakthrough in last season's Champions League, and at this early stage of the competition, it's possible we'll see another frantic, cautious display from the pair on Tuesday.
PSV haven't conceded a goal in their last four successive games, and despite a morale-boosting win at Celta, Atleti could be dumbfounded in attack once again if Griezmann struggles to hit form.
Prediction: PSV 0-0 Atletico Madrid
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Combine Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Full Eagles-Cowboys Trade 🤝")
.jpg?w=600 "Brady Reacts to Mendoza Pick")
