Champions League expert picks, predictions: Arsenal or Bayern?

The race for the round of 16 begins to heat up on matchday five of the UEFA Champions League, with only three teams boasting a perfect record entering the second half of the league stage.

Two of these remarkable teams – Arsenal And Bayern Munich – headline the week’s action with a meeting in north London, with each keen to strengthen their case as Champions League title contenders with top spot up for grabs. Elsewhere in the English capital, Barcelona traveled to Chelsea Tuesday, only to suffer a resounding defeat after falling to 10 before the end of the first half.

Meanwhile in ParisDefending champions Paris Saint-Germain will host Tottenham Hotspur for a rematch of August’s thrilling UEFA Super Cup. Although Spurs faced PSG, taking a 2-0 lead before giving it up in the final minutes of the match, they have been inconsistent since and were downright lackluster in a 4-1 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday. But PSG will be deprived Achraf Hakimi and could also miss Ousmane Dembélé And Gifted Desire.

Here’s how the CBS Sports team thinks this week’s action will play out.

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Champions League matches Wednesday

Match of the Day: Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. ET

Player to watch: Riccardo CalafioriArsenal: If the Gunners want to extend their clean sheet streak into the league stage, they will need their star defenders to win their individual duels. You would like Jurrien Timber to do the business especially with Luis Diaz suspended for Bayern. Calafiori is eminently capable of facing Michel Olise too, but it is surely on this flank, facing one of the best attackers in the world at the moment, that Bayern will rely for the greatest joy. If Calafiori can keep this team down and get his usual darts up the pitch, Arsenal could emerge victorious from this massive tie. — James Bengé

Man of the match: Michael Olise, Bayern Munich: On the one hand, Colombian striker Luis Diaz has been the German team’s best player so far this season and has had a huge impact on the excellent performances of the team coached by Vincent Kompany. But he and his three goals scored in the first four matches of the championship phase are suspended. On the other side of the pitch, however, Frenchman Michael Olise was equally impressive and returns to London where he played for Crystal Palace with the aim of to show he is among the best in the world this season. — Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Arsenal 1, Bayern Munich 1 – Arsenal’s defense is as stingy as any, but if there’s one goalscorer who can break it down, it’s Harry Kane – even without the added incentive of facing the Gunners as a boyhood Tottenham Hotspur fan and academy product. Mikel Arteta’s side can also count on a wide range of goalscorers to break down Bayern Munich’s defense, but expect a closely contested match between two of the most consistent teams in the competition. Bayern, too, are transforming into a defensive juggernaut in Vincent Kompany’s second season and could thus give the Gunners a taste of their own medicine. – Pardeep Cattery

Best bet: Draw (+240): Two of the best defenses in the world will meet and try to push each other to their limits, but these are also situations where neither team has a strong incentive to win. Two undefeated teams at the top of the league stage who are virtually guaranteed to be in the top eight in the standings. I expect to see some goals, but the defense will win here because the points are shared.– Chuck Booth

PSG vs. Tottenham, 3 p.m. ET

Player to watch: Micky van de Ven, Tottenham: One of the most impressive players during Spurs’ near miss against PSG in the Super Cup, Van de Ven has only grown in importance since. Not only a defensive stalwart, the Dutch centre-back is proving to be a dynamic ball-progressor and legitimate attacking threat, the latter being something Thomas Frank’s side are entirely too short of. — James Bengé

Man of the match: Nuno MendesPSG: With Achraf Hakimi injured, much of the French giants’ attacking strategies will come from the left wing where Nuno Mendes will play and he has plenty of potential to cause problems for Tottenham. The Portuguese winger has already scored twice this season outside the French league and we can expect more from Wednesday’s game. — Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0 – Paris Saint-Germain may be missing some of his talent stars but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia can probably hold the fort in the meantime, especially against a Tottenham Hotspur team for whom little is currently going well. Manager Thomas Frank should perhaps take a cue from his own game plan in the Super Cup in August, especially after Sunday’s 0.07 expected goals at Arsenal, but he has yet to demonstrate the ability to shake his conservative tendencies. Never say never – after all, the pressure is on – but don’t hold your breath. – Pardeep Cattery

Best bet: Mickey Van De Ven 1+ shots on target (+410): Top scorer for Tottenham in all competitions, Van De Ven will have an impact on this match. Even if it doesn’t come from set play, Van De Ven has the license to push forward, and he does it well. It’s still strange that what Tottenham have done is mostly working, but the Dutchman is one of the main reasons why. — Chuck Booth