Wednesday’s sports agenda: Champions League holders begin title defense as US Open quarterfinals continue

Paris Saint-Germain begin the defense of their last two Champions League titles at home against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, leading a crowded day of football across Europe and South America.

The current runners-up, Arsenal, travel to Napoli. Barcelona host Feyenoord, while Liverpool welcome Atlético Madrid to Anfield. Stuttgart face Viking, and Sporting meet Galatasaray in the other listed matches.

South America also has a full slate of knockout football. Estudiantes de La Plata host Corinthians in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, with both teams seeking a lift during difficult periods in their domestic competitions. Palmeiras welcome a confident Liga de Quito side seeking revenge, while the Brazilian club enters the tie at what the report describes as its worst moment of the season. Independiente del Valle face Flamengo in another quarterfinal.

Santos take on Atlético Mineiro in the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals and arrive in their best form of the season. Neymar, however, will miss the first leg after suffering another injury. Cienciano and Montevideo City Torque meet Thursday in the other previewed match.

The US Open men’s quarterfinals feature top seed Alexander Zverev against Botic van de Zandschulp and Karen Khachanov against Alexander Blockx. In the women’s draw, Elena Rybakina faces Qinwen Zheng, while Mirra Andreeva plays Coco Gauff. Puerto Rico meet China and Italy play Australia for the final two places in the Women’s Basketball World Cup quarterfinals. La Vuelta’s 185-kilometer 17th stage runs from Dos Hermanas to Seville and is the race’s flattest, raising the prospect of a sprint finish. The NFL season begins with defending champions the Seattle Seahawks, while Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, the Los Angeles Rams and Aaron Donald headline the contenders.