Champions League preview: Carrick's United head to Madrid as Mourinho goes back to Rome

The big games

Atlético v Man United: Carrick's toughest night yet

Michael Carrick has spent the week answering questions about a "disaster" of a start, and his reply was blunt: "that's not our mindset and it's certainly not mine." United won their opening Champions League game 4-0 against Sabah, but the Metropolitano is a different examination, and Atlético will be desperate after losing 2-1 at Anfield on matchday one.

United travel light. Shaw and Mainoo were both hurt in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Spurs and did not make the trip, and Benjamin Šeško, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte are also missing. Bruno Fernandes is playing through a knock, which Carrick said he is "pretty much over". Simeone, by contrast, has a full squad to choose from after four straight wins.

Simeone called United "very aggressive" and warned his side about their pressing. The history is on his side: United have never beaten Atlético in four meetings, and the last of them ended with Renan Lodi's header knocking United out of the last 16 at Old Trafford in 2022. Álex Baena, who has already doubled last season's goal tally, is the man to watch. The AI goes 2-1 to Atlético.

Man City v PSG: the champions come to the Etihad

This is the game of the week. Both sides have a perfect start: City won 2-0 in Porto, PSG beat Slovan Bratislava 6-1, and City arrive on the back of Sunday's 3-0 win at Anfield. PSG have won the last two Champions League titles, and the last time these sides met, in January 2025, they came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 in Paris.

Enzo Maresca hinted after Anfield that Jérémy Doku, only just back from a calf problem, may start on the bench again. Luis Enrique rested Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes for Saturday's 3-1 win over Le Mans, which he called "an almost perfect result", and both are expected to return.

There is a subplot in goal: Gianluigi Donnarumma faces the club he left after Luis Enrique brought in Lucas Chevalier. The AI sits on the fence with a 2-2, the only high-scoring draw it predicts all week.

Galatasaray v Barcelona: Flick braced for the noise

Barcelona are chasing a 10th straight win, and they will have to get it without Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji. Frenkie de Jong is back in training but not expected to play. Hansi Flick's press conference started 30 minutes late after he was held up in Istanbul traffic. He praised the RAMS Park crowd as one of the best in the world and suggested a single goal might be enough.

Okan Buruk's message was simpler: "We will attack." Galatasaray lost 3-1 at Sporting on matchday one and need points. Their hopes rest heavily on Victor Osimhen, who managed only 13 minutes on Friday after his return from injury, so his fitness will shape the night.

The duel to watch is Lamine Yamal against Ismail Jakobs on Barcelona's right, with Pau Cubarsí given the job of stopping Osimhen if he plays. The AI goes 2-1 to Barcelona.

Arsenal v Lille: a reunion and two fresh injuries

Arsenal won 1-0 at Napoli on matchday one, but Mikel Arteta has lost two players in a week. Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi both hurt their ankles in collisions during training after the Leeds game, and Arteta said Hincapié's injury "looks a little bit more serious". William Saliba is back in light training but still weeks away.

Lille, beaten 3-2 by Betis in their opener, are without the suspended Ethan Mbappé and Tiago Santos, who has torn a cruciate ligament. Davide Ancelotti wants his side to "cause Arsenal problems" without losing their identity.

The story of the night may be Olivier Giroud, now 40, back at the Emirates. Arteta called him "a massive threat inside the box", though he may start on the bench. The AI goes 2-0 to Arsenal.

Roma v Real Madrid: Mourinho's return

José Mourinho has not been back to the Olimpico since Roma sacked him in January 2024. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport he said he had never spoken a word against the club and hoped for respect. He brings a Madrid side that beat Inter 2-1 on matchday one but are without Éder Militão and Rodrygo, the latter out until next year with a knee injury.

Roma, unbeaten in Serie A and third in the table, drew 0-0 at Como on Saturday. They will be without Mile Svilar for at least a month, and Gian Piero Gasperini, who called it "a nasty blow", has confirmed Pierluigi Gollini in goal.

History favours the visitors, who have won the last four meetings without conceding. Kylian Mbappé's goal against Inter took him to 71 in the competition, level with Raúl. The AI goes 2-1 to Madrid.

LASK v Liverpool: Iraola needs a response

Liverpool were beaten 3-0 at home by City on Sunday, and Andoni Iraola admitted it would be "difficult to recover" any of his injured players in time. Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are expected to miss out after knocks on international duty, and Dominik Szoboszlai, who came back from Hungary with tightness, is a doubt.

Ryan Gravenberch, sent off against City, is available: his ban is for domestic games only. Liverpool beat LASK twice in the Europa League two seasons ago, 3-1 in Linz and 4-0 at Anfield, and LASK lost 1-0 in Athens on matchday one. The AI goes 2-0 to Liverpool.

Elsewhere

• Bayern go to Viking on an artificial pitch without Jamal Musiala, and Vincent Kompany flew in early so his players could train on the surface. The AI has Bayern winning 3-0.
• Martín Demichelis is under pressure at Leipzig after a 4-1 defeat at Como on matchday one. PSV visit tonight.
• Massimiliano Allegri wants Napoli "still in the Champions League in March" and named Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Sergej Milinković-Savić to start in Villarreal, where both sides are still without a point.
• Yann Sommer returns to San Siro with Club Brugge to face Inter.
• Unai Emery may have no fit natural left-back for Fenerbahçe's visit to Villa Park: Ian Maatsen is out until late November and Matteo Ruggeri is waiting on scans after a hamstring problem.
• Como, who beat Leipzig 4-1 in their first Champions League game, go to Feyenoord, beaten 5-1 in Barcelona.
• Dortmund get Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini back from suspension for their trip to Bodø/Glimt, who have won their last 10 home games.

The fixtures

All times UK.

Tuesday 13 October

• Lens v Sporting, 5:45pm
• Sabah v Slavia Prague, 5:45pm
• Arsenal v Lille, 8pm
• Atlético Madrid v Man United, 8pm
• Inter v Club Brugge, 8pm
• Galatasaray v Barcelona, 8pm
• RB Leipzig v PSV, 8pm
• Viking v Bayern Munich, 8pm
• Villarreal v Napoli, 8pm

Wednesday 14 October

• Feyenoord v Como, 5:45pm
• LASK v Liverpool, 5:45pm
• Roma v Real Madrid, 8pm
• Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe, 8pm
• Bodø/Glimt v Dortmund, 8pm
• Shakhtar v AEK Athens, 8pm
• Man City v PSG, 8pm
• Real Betis v Porto, 8pm
• Slovan Bratislava v Stuttgart, 8pm

The AI's corner

The AI's boldest call is a 2-2 at the Etihad, and it backs Atlético to beat United. It has Barcelona, Madrid and Liverpool all winning away from home, by 2-1 or 2-0. Every pick is at predisportshq.com/predictions.