The UEFA Champions League returns to action starting on Friday, with a couple of big-name MLS exports ready to take the field. Chelsea's Christian Pulisic would have been arguably the biggest name to keep an eye on, but the US men's national team star will be held out of his team's match against Bayern Munich with a hamstring injury he suffered in Chelsea's FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.
Still, a pair of the brightest young stars to have made the move overseas from MLS, as well as a US youth international, will be in action. Here's how to catch them:
Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea, Round of 16 second leg (Saturday, Aug. 8 | 3 pm ET | CBS All Access)
No Pulisic is certainly a bummer, but any game where Davies is involved has become must-watch TV for MLS fans. The Canadian youngster has been electric for Bayern this season since moving to his left back spot, emerging as one of the top young talents in the world while helping the German giants to yet another league title. Bayern carry a 3-0 lead heading into this second-leg matchup, so Davies will be looking to help them protect the advantage and close it out.
Should Davies and Bayern complete the job on Saturday, they will take on the winner of Napoli and Barcelona in a mouth-watering quarterfinal on Friday, Aug. 14.
Konrad de la Fuente
Barcelona vs. Napoli, Round of 16 second leg (Saturday, Aug. 8 | 3 pm ET | CBS Sports Network)
De La Fuente has impressed for Barca B, enough to earn a new contract and a first call-up to the big squad. The 19-year-old US youth international has been training with the first team the last two weeks and has been named to the matchday squad, one of nine Barca B players up due to several first-team absences.
Should De La Fuente and Barca advance, they meet either Bayern Munich or Chelsea in the quarterfinals Friday, Aug. 14.
Tyler Adams
RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid, Quarterfinals (Thursday, Aug. 13 | 3 pm ET | CBS All Access)
While Davies' Bayern side are always a favorite, RB Leipzig are in the midst of a run that has seen them make it further than they ever have in this competition. They'll have to knock out a giant in Atletico in order to keep it going, and it'll be fascinating to see if they can pull it off. In the middle of it all has been Adams, the former New York Red Bulls Homegrown star and USMNT midfielder who is also making his name as a standout performer in the Bundesliga.
