With 18 video games throughout three days, there will likely be one thing for everybody within the first spherical of Champions League fixtures this season.
The brand new format kicks off with a handful of giant ties, together with AC Milan vs Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis vs Inter, because the street to Munich begins for 36 European hopefuls.
Listed here are ten issues to be careful for in gameweek one.
Juventus ushered within the period of supervisor Thiago Motta this summer season, having been dazzled by his exploits with Bologna.
He could have overachieved with Bologna, however expectations in Turin are completely different, and Tuesday’s conflict with a PSV Eindhoven aspect who’ve scored 20 targets of their first 5 video games of the marketing campaign will show to be a serious check for Motta and Juventus.
Juve come into the sport on a run of two straight attracts however followers will demand a return to profitable methods.
In case your workforce is seeking to signal a brand new striker, chances are high you are very acquainted with the names Viktor Gyokeres and Jonathan David.
The pair will butt heads when Sporting CP host Lille, battling to show who ought to be the highest switch goal for Europe’s elite sides.
Gyokeres already has eight targets to his title this season, whereas David, who’s within the remaining 12 months of his Lille contract, netted twice in qualification as his aspect noticed off Fenerbahce and Slavia Prague.
Erling Haaland has 99 targets to his title for Manchester Metropolis and can hope to make it 100 when Inter journey to the Etihad on Wednesday.
If Haaland scores on this one, he’ll break Cristiano Ronaldo’s report for the fewest video games wanted to achieve a century for one membership. The previous Actual Madrid star did it in 105 video games for the Spanish aspect, and Haaland is at the moment on 103 appearances.
This subsequent outing will likely be his remaining likelihood to say the report for his personal, and also you simply know he’ll come out like a person possessed.
After a bitterly disappointing 2023/24 marketing campaign, Bayern Munich have reshuffled. Vincent Kompany is within the dugout, Michael Olise is strutting his stuff on the wing and Matthijs de Ligt has been shipped off to Manchester United.
Three wins from three to start out the season has helped construct some momentum, however European eyes will likely be watching to see how they fare on the worldwide stage.
Bayern are up in opposition to a difficult Dinamo Zagreb aspect which options 21-year-old midfielder Martin Baturina, a reported goal for each Man Utd and Actual Madrid.
Actual Madrid have not been excellent this season, regardless of what 11 factors from 5 video games may recommend. Kylian Mbappe’s begin to life in Spain has hardly gone to plan.
As everyone knows, nonetheless, Madrid are a distinct animal within the Champions League, and so they could need to be to keep away from an upset at house to Bundesliga overachievers Stuttgart.
The German aspect are nonetheless discovering their ft after shedding most of their prime skills in the summertime, however Sebastian Hoeness is a incredible younger supervisor who will fancy his possibilities of exploiting the holes in Madrid’s shaky workforce.
For years, Pep Lijnders was synonymous with Jurgen Klopp, however the former Liverpool assistant has now unfold his wings and is again for an additional crack at administration with Purple Bull Salzburg.
The Austrian aspect are at all times a well-liked outfit amongst neutrals, a lot of whom are watching to see whether or not their favorite Soccer Supervisor wonderkids can justify the hype in actual life.
All eyes will likely be on Oscar Gloukh, Amar Dedic, Mads Bidstrup, Lucas Gourna-Douath and Bobby Clark, in addition to Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic.
Many feared for Paris Saint-Germain following Mbappe’s summer season exit, however the French aspect wasted little time switching up their picture and coming again with a bang.
Their younger aspect has been cooking underneath Luis Enrique, profitable 4 from 4 because of the dazzling showings of Bradley Barcola and Joao Neves, and they are going to be eager to show they’ll compete for this trophy even with out Mbappe within the ranks.
Girona will head to Paris on Wednesday seeking to bounce again from a crushing 4-1 defeat to Barcelona.
Diego Simeone fought and fought and fought for Conor Gallagher to hitch Atletico Madrid from Chelsea this summer season, and the midfielder has rapidly lived as much as the hype.
Greeted by a hero’s welcome, the 24-year-old has already gained over supporters of his new membership and even scored his first aim for Atleti within the weekend’s 3-0 win over Valencia.
Gallagher will lead his new aspect out on Thursday for a probably tough conflict with RB Leipzig.
Barcelona are arguably the in-form workforce in Europe. They have been completely flying underneath Hansi Flick and have rapidly pressured their manner again into the checklist of pre-tournament favourites to go all the way in which this season.
Their first check underneath the Champions League lights comes away to Monaco, who’re unbeaten in Ligue 1 and boast a imply defence that has conceded simply as soon as in 4 video games this season – and that was a penalty.
With Dani Olmo lacking by means of damage, Lamine Yamal might want to get up and produce certainly one of his prime performances to information Barca by means of this one.
Arsenal will welcome Declan Rice again into the workforce after he served his home suspension, however the Gunners stay with out the injured Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino. There are even fears Bukayo Saka may very well be set for a spell on the sidelines.
An away journey to final season’s Europa League winners Atalanta on Thursday will show an enormous check to a strained squad, not least as a result of Mikel Arteta additionally must have one eye on Sunday’s conflict of the titans in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Arteta will want all his tactical acumen to navigate this tough interval and maintain his largest names wholesome for what might simply be a season-defining 4 days.
