Champions League picks, predictions: Manchester United keep struggling, Bayern to stay perfect, Arsenal win

 Champions League Matchday 4 is here, and after Tuesday’s action, 16 teams will take the field on Wednesday. This is where group stage campaigns can be made or destroyed as teams hit the second half of their six-game group stage schedule. Crucial swings in the group standings will set up a frantic finish to the end of the group stage with just six more points up for grabs following this week’s action. Many teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are cruising, while Manchester United, Benfica, and even Arenal are feeling the pressure.

Who will come away victorious across eight games on Wednesday? Find out below with our UCL picks: 

Champions League broadcast schedule

All times Eastern

CBSSports.com writers Matchday 3 — Wednesday’s picks

Arsenal-Sevilla

One matchup to watch: Mikel Arteta vs. the officials – The Arsenal manager is coming in hot after the contentious winner that Newcastle got on Saturday, one that was the subject of three separate VAR reviews over four minutes. Afterwards Arteta launched a remarkable broadside at the officiating of the game, a man who generally is not afraid to give referees a piece of his mind turning up the anger to 11. That naturally brought with it a backlash, but will it be one that quells the Arsenal manager on the touchline? In all likelihood not but it will be fascinating to watch.

Most likely to score a goal: Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal’s defensive strengths are such that you would not particularly rush to pick any Sevilla player as a likely scorer but the hosts are not quite the same attacking force of old and may struggle to run up the goals themselves. They will probably get at least one though and Martinelli seems as good a bet as anyone to score it.

Man of the Match pick: William Saliba – The reason why you can state with confidence that it’s hard to find a likely scorer on the Sevilla side is Saliba, a center back with authority and composure beyond his years. He has a burgeoning role in Arsenal’s possession play and with him at the back it is an almighty task just to get a shot on David Raya’s goal.

Match prediction: Arsenal 2, Sevilla 0 – This may not be pretty or thrill a minute but it says a great deal about the Gunners recent progress that you could confidently suggest they will breeze through a Champions League game against such prestigious opposition.

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