The new season of the Champions League began last night, and with the first round of the group stage, 36 clubs start the fight for placement in the knockout stage. The first round brings several big derbies and repeats of old finals.
Tuesday, September 16th:
Athletic Bilbao – Arsenal (6:45 p.m.)
Athletic returns to the Champions League for the first time since the 2014/15 season. Last season in Europe, they recorded four home wins in the group stage of the Europa League, but also a 0:3 defeat to Manchester United in the semifinal. Arsenal is unbeaten in eight opening rounds of European campaigns in a row (6 wins, 2 draws). In the last 22 group stage matches of the Champions League, they have lost only twice.
PSV – Union Saint-Gilloise (6:45 p.m.)
PSV is unbeaten at home in the last 11 European matches. Belgian Union debuts in the Champions League, and last season they celebrated twice on away trips in the Netherlands against Twente and Ajax in the Europa League.
Juventus – Borussia Dortmund (9 p.m.)
A repeat of the 1997 final, which went to Dortmund (3:1). Juve has six wins in nine duels with Borussia. They have never lost the opening home match (six wins, three draws). Jonathan David, the new signing from this summer, has ten goals in 18 Champions League matches. Dortmund celebrated only once in the last seven away trips to Italy.
Real Madrid – Marseille (9:00 p.m.)
Real is chasing its 200th win and 700th goal in the Champions League. The French champion lost 18 of the last 21 matches in this competition. Kylian Mbappe scored a goal in every opening match of the last three seasons. Aubameyang has shaken Real’s net four times in the Champions League, all in Dortmund’s jersey.
Benfica – Qarabag (9:00 p.m.)
Benfica is competing for the 45th time, which is the second-highest number after Real. This season, they are unbeaten and have not yet conceded a goal. Qarabag participates for the second time in the group stage and is the only representative of Azerbaijan in the elite competition.
Tottenham – Villarreal (9:00 p.m.)
Spurs are unbeaten in the last 20 European matches at home. Villarreal has only two wins against English clubs in the last 20 appearances. Manor Solomon, this summer, came on loan to Villarreal precisely from Tottenham.
Wednesday, September 17th:
Olympiacos – Pafos (6:45 p.m.)
The Greek giant plays its 36th appearance in the Champions League, more than any other club from Greece. They are unbeaten at home in the last seven European matches. Pafos debuts and becomes the third Cypriot club to qualify for the group stage.
Slavia Prague – Bodo/Glimt (6:45 p.m.)
The first meeting of clubs from the Czech Republic and Norway in the Champions League. Slavia is playing the group stage for the third time, but without a win in the last seven European matches. Bodø/Glimt debuts and is the first Norwegian club in the Champions League since Rosenborg in 2007.
Ajax – Inter (9:00 p.m.)
A repeat of the 1972 final, when Ajax won 2:0. The Dutch have not won against Italian clubs at home in the last 13 matches. Inter is unbeaten in the last 13 matches against Dutch teams. Yann Sommer could become the first Swiss with 60 appearances in the Champions League.
Bayern – Chelsea (9:00 p.m.)
A repeat of the 2012 final which went to Chelsea. Bayern is unbeaten in 34 home group stage matches. The German champion celebrated in every opening match in the last 21 seasons. Chelsea has 15 wins in the last 23 group stage matches.
Liverpool – Atletico Madrid (9:00 p.m.)
Liverpool has 14 home wins in a row in European competitions, nine of them without conceding a goal. Atletico has never beaten an English club in the group stage of the Champions League (four draws, four defeats).
Paris SG – Atalanta (9:00 p.m.)
PSG has only one defeat in the last 12 matches against Italian clubs. Atalanta is unbeaten in the last eight European away trips.
Thursday, September 18th:
Club Brugge – Monaco (6:45 p.m.)
Brugge lost only two of the last 17 European home matches. Monaco celebrated in four of the last seven opening rounds.
Copenhagen – Leverkusen (6:45 p.m.)
Copenhagen was defeated only twice in the last 18 home matches in the Champions League. Leverkusen won 11 of the last 16 group stage matches.
Eintracht Frankfurt – Galatasaray (9:00 p.m.)
Frankfurt competes for the second time in the group stage. Galatasaray is without a win in the last nine European away trips and has only one win in the last 17 group stage matches.
Manchester City – Napoli (9:00 p.m.)
City is unbeaten at home in 21 group stage matches, and Haaland is on the verge of a milestone – 50 goals in the Champions League. Napoli has never celebrated in ten away trips to England.
Newcastle – Barcelona (9:00 p.m.)
Barcelona celebrated in three of four previous mutual duels, but Newcastle remembers the win from 1997 (3:2). The Catalans have 20 wins in 29 opening group stage matches.
Sporting CP – Kairat Almaty (9:00 p.m.)
Sporting won the 1st round three times in the last four seasons. Kairat is the second club from Kazakhstan in the group stage, after Astana.
