The UEFA Champions League roars back to life on Tuesday, bringing with it all the drama, history, and spectacle only Europe’s biggest stage can deliver.
This season’s expanded league phase raises the stakes every fixture matters, every debutant carries dreams, and every giant feels the pressure to start strong. Over three nights, 18 clashes will unfold, stretching from Bilbao to Manchester, featuring everything from historic rematches to fresh European adventures.
Here is a Preview of All Games
The lights are on, the anthem is ready, and Europe’s 36 contenders are primed for liftoff. Three nights, 18 battles, and storylines soaked in history, droughts, streaks, and revenge. Let’s go game by game.
Tuesday, 16 September
Athletic Club vs Arsenal (18:45 CET)
Athletic return to the Champions League for the first time since 2014/15 and boast 14 wins in their last 18 European home games at San Mamés.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight Matchday 1 fixtures (W6 D2) and have five straight wins over Spanish sides.
Fortress Bilbao meets the Gunners’ consistency.
PSV Eindhoven vs Union Saint-Gilloise (18:45 CET)
PSV are unbeaten in 11 straight European home group matches and have scored in 16 consecutive games at the Philips Stadion.
Ivan Perišić has 3 goals in 4 Champions League outings for PSV.
Union SG debut in the competition but have already upset Dutch clubs Ajax and Twente in last season’s Europa League.
Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund
A rematch of the 1997 final won by Dortmund, though Juve hold the edge historically with six wins in nine meetings.
Jonathan David arrives in Turin with 10 UCL goals in 18 appearances.
Dortmund’s record in Italy is poor (1 win in last 7 trips), but they tend to start strong, three opening wins in their last four seasons.
Serhou Guirassy netted nine goals in last season’s campaign.
Real Madrid vs Marseille
Madrid eye their 200th win and 700th goal in the Champions League.
Los Blancos have beaten Marseille in all four meetings and have only one home defeat against French sides.
Mbappé has scored on Matchday 1 for three straight seasons.
Aubameyang has four goals in four appearances against Madrid.
Marseille’s record is dire: 18 losses in their last 21 group games.
Benfica vs Qarabağ
Benfica enter their 45th Champions League campaign, second-most in history.
The Portuguese giants are unbeaten in four games this season without conceding.
Qarabağ return for their second group-stage appearance, representing Azerbaijan proudly after knocking out Braga in last year’s Europa League.
Tottenham vs Villarreal
Spurs are unbeaten in 20 home European matches.
But Spanish opposition has haunted them: just two wins in 14 attempts.
Villarreal travel well, winning at Atalanta and Young Boys in recent campaigns.
Former Spurs men Solomon and Foyth return in yellow.
Wednesday, 17 September
Olympiacos vs Pafos (18:45 CET)
Olympiacos boast 36 entries but only two wins in their last 20 group matches.
They are, however, unbeaten in their last seven at home.
Debutants Pafos arrive in fine form, scoring in 13 of their last 14 European games.
Slavia Praha vs Bodø/Glimt (18:45 CET)
First-ever Czech vs Norwegian clash in the UCL.
Slavia are winless in their last seven European fixtures.
Bodø/Glimt are the first Norwegian side in the competition since Rosenborg in 2007/08, but they’ve gone seven without an away win.
Ajax vs Inter
A 1972 final repeat.
Ajax have not beaten Italian opponents at home since 2002 (0 wins in 13).
They do, however, often start strong: four wins in their last five openers.
Inter are unbeaten in 13 against Dutch clubs but struggle on Matchday 1 (2 wins in 13).
Bayern München vs Chelsea
Another final remake: Bayern’s heartbreak in 2012.
Bayern are unbeaten in 34 home group games (W32 D2).
They have won 21 consecutive openers, many without conceding.
Chelsea have won seven of their last 11 against German sides.
Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea, could haunt them in Munich.
Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid
Anfield has witnessed 14 straight home group wins.
Salah has 18 goals in his last 20 group matches.
Atlético have never beaten English sides in the group stage (0W, 8L).
But Simeone’s men rarely stumble on Matchday 1, losing only twice in 15 campaigns.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Atalanta
PSG have gone 99 straight UCL games without a 0-0.
They have beaten Italian opponents five times in their last six meetings.
Atalanta thrive on the road, unbeaten in eight away group games.
Goals are almost guaranteed: they’ve scored in 21 of their last 23 group fixtures.
Thursday, 18 September
Club Brugge vs Monaco (18:45 CET)
Brugge are formidable at home, with just two losses in 17.
Monaco rarely play dull football, only one goalless match in their last 70.
Copenhagen vs Bayer Leverkusen (18:45 CET)
Copenhagen finally broke their German hoodoo last year and are tough at home (two defeats in 18).
Leverkusen are ruthless: 11 wins in their last 16 group matches, including a 4-0 demolition of Feyenoord on opening night last year.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Galatasaray
Frankfurt have lost just twice in their last 13 European home games.
Galatasaray are struggling: winless in nine away and just one win in their last 17 group fixtures.
Goals are likely, though Gala have scored in 25 of their last 27 outings.
Manchester City vs Napoli
City are unbeaten in 21 home group games (W18 D3).
Haaland has 49 goals in 48 appearances and is closing in on the fastest 50 in UCL history.
Napoli have never won in England (0 in 10).
Extra spice: Kevin De Bruyne returns to Manchester in Napoli colors.
Newcastle United vs Barcelona
Newcastle famously beat Barça 3-2 in 1997, Asprilla scoring a hat-trick.
The Magpies are strong at home overall (3 losses in 31) but have lost their last two European games at St James’ Park.
Barcelona are consistent starters: 20 wins in 29 openers.
Lewandowski has nine goals in his last seven group games; Raphinha has 16 in 16.
Sporting CP vs Kairat Almaty
Sporting are winless in their last six UCL outings.
But they usually open well: three wins in their last four openers.
Kairat debut in the UCL proper, only the second Kazakh side to do so.
They bring defensive grit, with four clean sheets in five qualifiers.
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