The UEFA Champions League returns for its 72nd season, with the league phase getting underway today, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and running through Thursday, September 10. This is the third season under UEFA’s expanded 36-team league-phase format, and it culminates in the final at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano on June 5, 2027.
Tuesday’s Headline Fixtures
Six matches open the competition today. The standout tie sees Real Madrid host Inter Milan at the newly renovated Santiago Bernabéu, with kickoff at 21:00 CET. The clash carries extra weight because of the touchline reunion it sets up: Jose Mourinho returns to face Inter, the club he guided to a treble in 2010, while Inter are now managed by Cristian Chivu, once Mourinho’s defender during that triumphant campaign.
Elsewhere on the opening night:
- Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
- Porto vs Manchester City
- Lille vs Real Betis
- Club Brugge host Aston Villa, and AEK Athens welcome Austrian newcomers LASK, both kicking off early at 18:45 GMT
Why The Bernabéu Clash Matters
Both sides arrive with points to prove. Real Madrid were knocked out by Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage last season, while Inter suffered a shock playoff exit to Bodø/Glimt. Neither result matched the ambitions of two of the competition’s most decorated clubs, making tonight’s opener as much about statement-making as three points.
The Rest of the Week
The action continues into Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday brings Barcelona vs Feyenoord, Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava, Sporting CP vs Galatasaray, and Napoli vs Arsenal. Thursday closes out the round with Fenerbahçe vs Roma, Bayern Munich vs Bodø/Glimt, and Manchester United hosting Sabah — the Azerbaijani side making their Champions League debut.
Format Reminder
Under the current structure, all 36 teams sit in a single league table. The top eight finishers advance straight to the Round of 16, while teams placing ninth through 24th enter a two-legged playoff round for the remaining knockout spots. Matchday 1 results won’t decide much on their own, but they set the early tone for a campaign that runs all the way to next June.
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