Champions League Fixtures 2014: Schedule, Live Stream, Predictions for Week 2
Domestic football will once again take a backseat this week as the Champions League makes its return, another bout of group-stage fixtures bringing with it massive expectations.
With so many elite teams in the melting pot, not a gameweek goes by in the competition where some of the highest quality matchups in European football aren't present, and this week is no different.
We run through the viewing information for every fixture, along with preview and predictions for those most promising clashes coming up.
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| Fixture | Group | Date | Time | TV | Stream | Prediction |
| CSKA Moscow vs. Bayern Munich | E | Tuesday, September 30 | 5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 13 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | CSKA Moscow 0-3 Bayern Munich |
| Manchester City vs. Roma | E | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | ITV 1 / Fox Sports 1 | ITV Player / Fox Soccer 2Go | Manchester City 2-2 Roma |
| APOEL vs. Ajax | F | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button) beIN Sports 5 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | APOEL 1-2 Ajax |
| PSG vs. Barcelona | F | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 (UK), beIN Sports 3 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | PSG 1-2 Barcelona |
| Sporting Lisbon vs. Chelsea | G | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button) / Fox Sports 2 | Sky Go / Fox Soccer 2Go | Sporting Lisbon 1-3 Chelsea |
| Schalke vs. Maribor | G | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button) beIN Sports 6 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Schalke 3-2 Maribor |
| BATE Borisov vs. Athletic Bilbao | H | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button) beIN Sports 8 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | BATE Borisov 1-1 Athletic Bilbao |
| Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Porto | H | Tuesday, September 30 | 7.45 p.m. BST 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button) beIN Sports 7 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Porto |
| Malmo vs. Olympiacos | A | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 6 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Malmo 0-1 Olympiacos |
| Atletico Madrid vs. Juventus | A | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 1 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Atletico Madrid 2-1 Juventus |
| Basel vs. Liverpool | B | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / Fox Sports 2 | ITV Player / Fox Soccer 2Go | Basel 2-2 Liverpool |
| Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Real Madrid | B | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 2 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Ludogorets Razgrad 1-4 Real Madrid |
| Bayer Leverkusen vs. Benfica | C | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 3 (US) | Sky Go / Fox Soccer 2Go | Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Benfica |
| Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Monaco | C | Wednesday, October 1 | 5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 13 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Zenit St. Petersburg 1-0 Monaco |
| Anderlecht vs. Borussia Dortmund | D | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 (UK, Red Button), beIN Sports 5 (US) | Sky Go / beIN Play | Anderlecht 0-2 Borussia Dortmund |
| Arsenal vs. Galatasaray | D | Wednesday, October 1 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 1 / Fox Sports 1 | Sky Go / Fox Soccer 2Go | Arsenal 2-1 Galatasaray |
Key Fixtures
Manchester City vs. Roma
The first-ever meeting between Manchester City and Roma promises to be a special occasion on Tuesday, both teams looking to have major impacts on their domestic titles in England and Italy, respectively.
These European giants could well become better acquainted with one another in the years to come as they unearth new horizons, and each side heads to the Etihad Stadium with good form at their rears.
Manuel Pellegrini's hosts have scored 11 goals in their past two games, but will consider this a must-win game after dropping late to Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. Roma, meanwhile, are yet to drop a point in any competition, winning their last six across all formats.
As Julian de Martinis of ESPN points out, though, it's the beginning of a hard fixture list for the Serie A giants:
"Roma's next 4 matches just an easy canter through Man City, Juventus, Chievo, and Bayern, then.
— Julian of Martinis (@JulianDM11) September 27, 2014"
Should City fail to win in this home outing, they'll have little comfort to fall back on in Group E, with a trip to Rome or the return visit of Bayern not promising much.
The Citizens will be harder than anything the Giallorossi have faced this term, but Rudi Garcia has this side operating in scintillating fashion and a share of the spoils will suit the visiting party at this juncture.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Roma
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona
Barcelona needed the advantage of away goals to come away from their last meeting against Paris Saint-Germain as victors, and once again a close matchup is at hand.
That Champions League double-header came during the 2012-13 Champions League campaign, and PSG did a remarkable job of taking the Spaniards to the death, just losing out after finishing the two quarter-final legs tied at 3-3.
Laurent Blanc is yet to get his side flowing at their optimum speed just yet, having claimed just 14 of a possible 24 points this season so far.
And Blanc's job could rest on this result, according to ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson, who cites French newspaper Le Parisien:
Luis Enrique comes into this game a week after dropping points for the first time this season, drawing 0-0 at Malaga, but bouncing back over the weekend to give Granada a 6-0 hiding.
Still yet to concede a goal in 2014-15, Barca will be terrifically hard to break down, but the stage is set for former Blaugrana star to make his potential return from injury and break that duct, albeit in losing circumstances.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs. Juventus
A duel of Spanish and Italian champions has all the makings for a classic meeting, and another one which has never been played before in a competitive setting.
Having won their domestic leagues last season, both teams are again in the mix for silverware this time around, Juve currently leading Serie A while Atleti sit just two points away from La Liga leaders Barca.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), in-form Bianconeri hitman Carlos Tevez said of his chances of scoring in Spain: "Let’s wait and see, hoping it will be a good game in Madrid, which we want for the fans."
The Argentine has six goals across all competitions this term while centre-back Joao Miranda is currently Diego Simeone's top scorer, the absence of Diego Costa evidently taking its toll on Los Rojiblancos.
Not since the opening day of the season have Atletico failed to score in a fixture, however, and a trip to Madrid promises to test Juve beyond anything they've faced this campaign, Atletico's defence likely to prove too stubborn.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Juventus
