UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 schedule, live stream, storylines: How to watch UCL on Paramount+

The UEFA Champions League returns on Tuesday with another batch of league phase matches, with redemption on the line for a handful of Europe’s top teams.

Seven teams enter Matchday 3 with a perfect six points out of six, a group that excludes heavyweights like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Arsenal, among others. The objective for many of them will be to make up the deficit, a reasonable task with six games to go in the league phase. It creates plenty of interest ahead of another competitive round of Champions League action, especially as Barcelona face Bayern and Liverpool take on RB Leipzig.

Here’s what you need to know before the action begins.

How to watch

Paramount+ will have every minute of coverage on Matchday 3, while CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network will air select games. Coverage begins with Champions League Matchday on CBS Sports Golazo Network to preview the early matches before the UEFA Champions League Today pre-match show begins on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. The post-match show will also air on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+, while CBS Sports Golazo Network will close out post-match overage with new editions of Scoreline and the Champions Club.

Matchday 3 TV schedule

All times Eastern

Storylines for Matchday 3

1. Barcelona, Bayern face off

The biggest game of Matchday 3 is undoubtedly Bayern Munich’s trip to Barcelona, where two teams that have already dropped points hope to claw back into the top spots of the league phase.

Barcelona’s unbeaten run to the season may be long gone, but they appear to be on solid ground under new manager Hansi Flick. They finished another weekend atop La Liga and have outscored the opposition 19 to nine in nine games, perhaps demonstrating some defensive weaknesses, but definitely boasting an attack that can bail them out of trouble more often than not. A harder opponent like Bayern, though, will naturally test the sustainability of their strategy but Barcelona will have the benefit of surviving their latest injury crisis. Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal are back in the mix after short-term injuries, while Gavi is finally making his way back after tearing his ACL last year.

As for Bayern, they are also the Bundesliga leaders and boast a handful of lopsided wins in their favor. There are some signs of positivity in the early days of Vincent Kompany’s stint in charge but the results in high-profile games have been mixed, including a draw against Bayer Leverkusen and a loss days later at Aston Villa on Matchday 2. Barcelona are not expected to pose the same challenges as Villa, who were happy to absorb Bayern’s pressure and limit their offensive output, which adds a layer of intrigue to this Matchday 3 encounter. Bayern will no doubt have important looks at goal with Harry Kane in the lineup, though they could be without Jamal Musiala, who is dealing with a hip issue but hopes to be back in time for Wednesday’s clash.

2. Redemption arcs for Real Madrid, PSG

Bayern are not the only superclub eyeing a comeback in Matchday 3 – Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also have their own redemption arcs to complete after losing their previous matches.

PSG lost 2-0 to Arsenal on Matchday 2, dominating in possession and shots but being punished for an inability to create meaningful chances and defensive lapses that the Gunners can pounce upon on their best days. There’s still reason to have confidence in Luis Enrique’s rebuild after Kylian Mbappe’s departure, so much so that PSG are set to extend his deal, and will have a favorable fixture on Matchday 3. They will host PSV, who are winless in their first two Champions League games, which offers PSG a chance to string together an impressive performance for the first time this season.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, might look at their Matchday 2 loss to Lille as an anomaly during an otherwise normal season. They were obviously the dominant side that day, but despite putting half of their 12 shots on goal, generating 2.16 expected goals and boasting one of Europe’s most feared defenses, were unable to score. It is so far the only loss of a season that has mostly gone according to plan – they are in La Liga’s title race and have outscored the opposition 21 to seven in 10 games. Carlo Ancelotti’s side has always had a little bit of an unbalanced feel, though, even as they went on to win the Champions League last spring, and it seemed to finally catch up to them on Matchday 2. It makes Tuesday’s rematch of June’s final against Borussia Dortmund, who have a perfect record so far in Europe, a very enticing matchup as the reigning champions hope to correct course.

3. No points, big problem?

Eight teams have zero points through two games, though some teams’ appearances at the bottom of the table are more surprising than others. Case in point – AC Milan and RB Leipzig, both of whom will feel hard done by as it pertains to scheduling but have to dig themselves out of a hole regardless.

Milan’s stop-start first season under manager Paulo Fonseca shows no signs of letting up, even if Christian Pulisic is up to six goals and three assists across all competitions this season. They will be favored against Club Brugge on Tuesday but will still have to battle their own defensive demons, which have cost them even on the days they have scored. Milan have conceded seven goals in eight Serie A games and another four in two Champions League matches, barely balancing that total out with 10 goals scored across both competitions.

As for Leipzig, their Bundesliga season could not be further apart from their Champions League form. They are unbeaten through seven games in the league, equal on points with leaders Bayern and boast the Bundesliga’s best defensive record so far with just two goals conceded. They have made a mess of things in Europe, though, giving up a 1-0 lead to Atletico Madrid before losing 2-1 and following that up with a 3-2 loss to Juventus after being up 2-1 and having a man advantage. Wednesday’s clash with an in-form Liverpool could only add to their woes, but a strong performance will at least offer signs of life.