Footy Fix: Inter, Newcastle face tricky road games in UCL; UWCL playoff second legs begin

A pivotal mid-week of European football kicks off on Wednesday as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Women’s Champions League deliver a slate of high-stakes fixtures that could reshape both tournaments. With quarterfinal berths on the line in the women’s competition and several heavyweight sides venturing into hostile territory in the men’s bracket, the next 48 hours promise drama from the first whistle to the last.

Wednesday’s marquee men’s match-ups see Newcastle United and Inter Milan both travel to daunting venues. Newcastle open the day with an early kickoff in Azerbaijan against Qarabag at 12:45 p.m. ET, a fixture broadcast exclusively on Paramount+. Just over two hours later, Inter head north of the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt at 3 p.m. ET, one of three simultaneous men’s games that also feature Club Brugge hosting Atlético Madrid and Olympiacos welcoming Bayer Leverkusen.

While the men’s sides jockey for knockout-round positioning, the women’s competition reaches a definitive phase. Four teams will punch tickets to the quarterfinals by the end of Thursday, beginning with Real Madrid’s meeting against Paris FC at 12:45 p.m. on Paramount+ and the CBS Sports Golazo Network. Arsenal follow at 3 p.m. against OH Leuven, carrying whatever advantage they forged in last week’s opening leg.

Thursday’s UWCL action continues with Juventus battling Wolfsburg in the early window and Manchester United squaring off against Atlético Madrid in the afternoon. Both fixtures air on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, ensuring American audiences can track every twist as Europe’s elite women’s clubs fight for survival.

The men’s slate also spills into Thursday in the Europa League, where Fenerbahce host Nottingham Forest at 12:45 p.m. and Celtic welcome Stuttgart at 3 p.m., both streaming on Paramount+.

From the snow-laden pitches of Norway to the raucous atmosphere of Baku, the week’s matchups underscore a simple truth: there are no easy games at this stage of continental competition. Whether it is Inter navigating the unique challenges posed by Bodo/Glimt’s artificial surface under the floodlights or Newcastle negotiating a long journey east to face a Qarabag side eager to spring a surprise, the margin for error is razor-thin.

For viewers, the CBS Sports Golazo Network remains a free, 24-hour hub for comprehensive coverage, while Paramount+ offers authenticated streams of every contest. Highlights, analysis, and reaction will also feature across the network’s studio programming, ensuring fans stay informed as the road to the finals becomes clearer in both the men’s and women’s competitions.