Champions League preview: PSG host Barcelona as Carrick's United go to Como

The big games

PSG v Barcelona: the champions against the team who cannot stop winning

Both sides have six points from two games, and both arrive having scored freely. PSG beat Slovan Bratislava 6-1 and then won 4-2 at Manchester City; Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 and won 4-1 in Istanbul. Hansi Flick's side have won all 11 of their games this season, the last of them 5-2 at Betis on Saturday, but that win came at a cost.

Barcelona are without Koundé, who has sprained an ankle, and Eric García, out for three to four weeks with a thigh injury. Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji are also missing. Gerard Martín and Gabriel Jesus travelled carrying knocks. The good news for Flick is Raphinha, who is back, and Flick named Frenkie de Jong and Rodri as possible stand-in centre-backs. "We're ready," he said. PSG are without Nuno Mendes, who has a thigh injury and will miss several weeks, but Marquinhos and the regulars Luis Enrique rested at Strasbourg are expected to return.

Luis Enrique spent much of his press conference on one player. The best way to defend against Lamine Yamal, he said, "is to have the ball". Yamal will be up against a stand-in left-back, with Lucas Digne the likely replacement for Mendes, and that is where the game may be decided.

The record between the two is as close as the table: in 15 Champions League meetings PSG have won six, Barcelona five, and four have been drawn. The AI has it 2-2.

Bayern v Arsenal: Arteta goes man-to-man in Munich

Bayern have scored 23 goals and conceded two in four home league games, and they warmed up with a 6-1 thrashing of Leipzig on Saturday. In Europe they beat Bodø/Glimt 5-0 and then drew 3-3 at Viking. Arsenal won 1-0 at Napoli and beat Lille 3-0, and have won 10 of their 11 games this season.

Bayern are without Michael Olise, suspended after his red card in Norway, and Jamal Musiala, whom Max Eberl does not expect to be ready. Manuel Neuer is a doubt with a foot problem; Eberl said there was "a little fluid in his foot", and Jonas Urbig will play if he does not train. Arsenal are still without William Saliba, Piero Hincapié and Christos Tzolis, but Martín Zubimendi is fit again after an ankle knock and was on the bench at Forest.

Mikel Arteta knows what is coming. His summary of the plan after Forest was "96 minutes man-to-man, and let's go." It is a bold approach against a side this sharp.

The player to watch is Luis Díaz, who scored a hat-trick and made another goal against Leipzig. Arsenal's right side, likely Jurriën Timber, will have the hardest job on the pitch. The AI backs Bayern to win 2-1.

Como v Man United: Carrick needs a result

Michael Carrick goes to Lake Como with United on seven points from seven league games, their worst start since 1986, and with the pressure on him growing after Sunday's 1-1 at Leeds. "I have no doubts we can go on a good run," he said at Elland Road. United beat Sabah 4-0 on matchday one and then lost 2-0 at Atlético.

The injury list is long. Leny Yoro is suspended after his red card in Madrid, and Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Šeško, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton are out. Lisandro Martínez came off at half-time at Leeds after feeling his thigh, and Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts. Ayden Heaven, who was ill at the weekend, and Marcus Rashford could return.

Como are fifth in Serie A and won 3-1 at Fiorentina on Sunday. They beat Leipzig 4-1 on their Champions League debut before losing 3-2 at Feyenoord. Assane Diao is out, and Moise Kean, Trevoh Chalobah and Yan Couto are all doubts. Cesc Fàbregas called the tie "a dream come true".

Nico Paz, who scored at Fiorentina, is the player United most need to stop, and how they set up their midfield without Yoro behind it will tell. This is the first meeting between the clubs. The AI goes 2-1 to Como.

Real Madrid v Leipzig: Demichelis under the spotlight

Martín Demichelis apologised to Leipzig's fans after the 6-1 at Bayern, and his sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, said they had been "completely outclassed". Now they go to the Bernabéu. Leipzig have not won away from home all season, and they sit seventh in the Bundesliga, behind newly promoted Elversberg. Demichelis insists they have "nothing to lose" and "a lot to gain".

Leipzig are without Christoph Baumgartner, who has a hamstring injury, and Assan Ouédraogo, who has hurt his shoulder. Their right flank, where Bayern did most of their damage, will face Vinícius Júnior. His four-match ban covers LaLiga only, and José Mourinho said: "Without promising anything, I think on Wednesday he'll start." Madrid are without Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo.

Madrid won their first two games, against Inter and then 4-3 in Rome, where they scored three times after the 81st minute. Kylian Mbappé has 11 goals this season, and Yan Diomandé, who scored a fine goal against Sevilla, faces his old club. The AI sees Madrid winning 3-1.

Liverpool v Villarreal: Iraola against his old teammate

Andoni Iraola and Villarreal's coach, Iñigo Pérez, played together at Athletic Club, and Pérez was later Iraola's assistant at Rayo. Liverpool have six points after beating Atlético 2-1 and winning 6-3 in Linz, where Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick. Villarreal lost 3-2 at Dortmund and then beat Napoli 3-1.

Liverpool came through Saturday's win at Brentford with two more injuries. Jeremie Frimpong has a new muscle injury, and Iraola said a return before the international break would be "difficult". Dominik Szoboszlai is also out, along with Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni. Ryan Gravenberch is back after a one-match ban. Villarreal are without Nicolas Pépé, who has an eye problem, while Tajon Buchanan returned to training on Monday.

Pérez wants his side to play "without fear, with courage". The clubs have met four times, all in European semi-finals, and Liverpool won both ties, in 2016 and 2022. Villarreal have lost the last three of those games. The AI calls it 2-1 to Liverpool.

Napoli v Bodø/Glimt: Allegri needs a win

Napoli have no points from two games and lost 1-0 at Venezia on Saturday despite having 29 shots. They lost at home to Arsenal and then 3-1 in Villarreal, and Massimiliano Allegri, who had flu over the weekend, put his finger on the problem: "We concede goals too easily."

Alisson Santos, injured at Venezia, is out, along with David Neres and Alessandro Buongiorno. Bodø/Glimt lost 5-0 at Bayern on matchday one but beat Dortmund 1-0 at home last week. August Mikkelsen and Håkon Evjen are out, and Kjetil Knutsen said he did not know whether Blomberg would be ready.

Rasmus Højlund leads Napoli's line, and Kevin De Bruyne, who had a penalty saved at Venezia, will want to make amends. Knutsen called Patrick Berg fundamental to his side, and how Napoli cope with him in midfield may decide the night. The AI expects Napoli to edge it 2-1.

Elsewhere

• Manchester City host AEK Athens without Antoine Semenyo, who has a knee injury and will be out for about eight weeks. Erling Haaland was limping after Ipswich, and Enzo Maresca said only that "he can be available". City lost 4-2 at home to PSG last time out.
• Stuttgart, with six points, face Atlético, who are without Cristian Romero for about 10 days. Diego Simeone said his side would be judged on what they do on the night.
• Gian Piero Gasperini said Paulo Dybala has a small tear and will be out for a few more weeks as Roma host Slovan Bratislava.
• Inter are top of Serie A but have lost both their Champions League games. They host Shakhtar without Lautaro Martínez, who Cristian Chivu said will be out "for a while".
• Sabah, who beat Slavia Prague 2-0 for their first Champions League win, host a Dortmund side without a win in three games.
• Aston Villa, two wins from two and six goals against Fenerbahçe, host Viking. Zion Suzuki has kept two clean sheets in a row.
• Galatasaray say Rafael Leão has a light-to-moderate strain ahead of their trip to Lille.

The fixtures

All times UK.

Tuesday 20 October

• Sabah v Dortmund, 5:45pm
• Fenerbahçe v Slavia Prague, 5:45pm
• Liverpool v Villarreal, 8pm
• Roma v Slovan Bratislava, 8pm
• Porto v PSV, 8pm
• Napoli v Bodø/Glimt, 8pm
• PSG v Barcelona, 8pm
• Man City v AEK Athens, 8pm
• Stuttgart v Atlético Madrid, 8pm

Wednesday 21 October

• Como v Man United, 5:45pm
• Lille v Galatasaray, 5:45pm
• Aston Villa v Viking, 8pm
• Sporting v LASK, 8pm
• Real Betis v Feyenoord, 8pm
• Real Madrid v RB Leipzig, 8pm
• Inter v Shakhtar Donetsk, 8pm
• Bayern Munich v Arsenal, 8pm
• Club Brugge v Lens, 8pm

The AI's corner

The AI's boldest call is in Lake Como, where it backs Fàbregas's side to beat Manchester United 2-1 and pile more pressure on Carrick. It also thinks Bayern will end Arsenal's fine run with a 2-1 win in Munich, and it cannot split PSG and Barcelona, calling the big one of Tuesday night a 2-2 draw. Every pick is at predisportshq.com/predictions/champions-league.