Footy Fix: Champions League playoffs return as Inter and Atletico Madrid aim to avoid shocking upsets Tuesday

The UEFA Champions League’s decisive playoff phase roars back on Tuesday, and two of Europe’s heavyweights—Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid—will kick off knowing that a single misstep could send them tumbling into an early exit against unheralded opposition.

Atlético Madrid open the day’s continental slate at 12:45 p.m. ET, welcoming Belgian side Club Brugge to the Spanish capital. The fixture carries added tension for Diego Simeone’s side, which has flirted with inconsistency in Europe this term and can ill-afford to concede the initiative to a Brugge outfit eager to spring the round’s first major surprise.

Three hours later, Italian champions Inter welcome Norway’s FK Bodø/Glimt to the San Siro for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff. While Inter’s pedigree makes them the clear favorite on paper, Bodø/Glimt’s reputation for fearless attacking football and their prior scalps on the European stage ensure Simone Inzaghi’s men will tread carefully.

Tuesday’s card also features two other simultaneous 3 p.m. contests: Newcastle United host Azerbaijan’s Qarabag and Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen entertain Greece’s Olympiacos, with all four ties airing across Paramount+ and CBS Sports platforms.

The stakes are straightforward: win and move one step closer to the round of 16; slip, and the prospect of an upset becomes etched into Champions League lore.