FULL PREVIEW: Champions League Kicks Off With 18 Match Day One Clashes

The UEFA Champions League roars back to life on Tuesday (tomorrow), and with it comes the drama, nostalgia, and spectacle that only Europe’s premier club competition can deliver.

The expanded league phase means every fixture carries weight, and every debutant or veteran has something to prove.

Over the next three nights, the floodlights will shine on 18 encounters that stretch from the Basque Country to Manchester, from debutant dreams to heavyweight clashes between former champions.

This season’s curtain-raiser is no ordinary opening.

Three fixtures alone revive finals of the past — Juventus vs Dortmund recalls the 1997 showpiece, Ajax vs Inter brings echoes of the 1972 decider, while Bayern vs Chelsea reopens the wounds and memories of that unforgettable 2012 night in Munich.

Add in historic milestones in reach — Real Madrid chasing their 200th Champions League win, Erling Haaland hunting his 50th goal, and debut campaigns for Union Saint-Gilloise, Pafos, Bodø/Glimt, and Kairat Almaty — and Matchday 1 already looks loaded with storylines.

For the giants, it is about asserting dominance early.

Clubs like Bayern, Liverpool, and Real Madrid have made a habit of stamping their authority on Matchday 1 and building campaigns on fast starts.

For the newcomers, it is about writing themselves into the history books, sometimes with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Meanwhile, others — like Marseille, Sporting CP, and Galatasaray — are fighting to change the narrative of long European struggles.

Every fixture brings its own subplot, from returning heroes like Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester in Napoli colors, to personal streaks like Kylian Mbappé’s tendency to strike on opening night, or Mohamed Salah’s scoring streaks in the group phase. With records waiting to be broken and reputations to be made or shattered, Matchday 1 promises to set the tone for the road ahead.

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, reports from the key stats obtained on Monday from the UCL website.

Tuesday, 16 September
Athletic Club vs Arsenal (18:45 CET)
Athletic returns to the Champions League for the first time since 2014/15. At San Mamés, they’re fierce: 14 wins in their last 18 European home games.

Arsenal? They’re a different beast on Matchday 1 — unbeaten in eight straight openers (W6 D2) and only two defeats in their last 22 group games.

Spain beware: The Gunners have five straight wins over Spanish opponents.

Expect a clash of fortress vs consistency.

PSV Eindhoven vs Union Saint-Gilloise (18:45 CET)
PSV are relentless at home: unbeaten in 11 straight European group matches and scoring in 16 consecutive games in Eindhoven.

Ivan Perišić is a quiet weapon — 3 goals in 4 UCL games for PSV.

Union SG make their Champions League debut, but they’ve already beaten Dutch teams away (Ajax & Twente) in last season’s Europa League.

A debut dream vs a Dutch scoring streak.

Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund
A throwback to 1997: Dortmund beat Juve 3-1 in the final. But history leans Juve — six wins in nine vs Dortmund and never a home defeat on Matchday 1.

New Bianconeri star Jonathan David has 10 UCL goals in 18 games.

Dortmund’s road form in Italy is grim: 1 win in the last 7 trips. Still, they usually fly out the gates — three Matchday 1 wins in the last four years.

Serhou Guirassy? Nine goals in eight UCL games last season.

A heavyweight rematch, with firepower all around.

Real Madrid vs Marseille
Madrid are chasing milestones: 200th win and 700th goal in the UCL.

Los Blancos own Marseille: 4 wins out of 4 and just one home loss vs French sides in history.

Mbappé has a habit — scoring on Matchday 1 for three straight seasons.

Aubameyang has tormented Madrid before: 4 goals in 4 UCL games vs them.

Marseille’s record? Brutal — lost 18 of their last 21 UCL matches.

Madrid is chasing history, Marseille is chasing survival.

Benfica vs Qarabağ
Benfica = tradition. This is their 45th UCL campaign, second-most ever.

Rock-solid: unbeaten in 4 this season without conceding.

Qarabağ, the lone Azerbaijani torchbearer, returns for just their second UCL group phase.

They’ve taken scalps before: knocked out Braga in last season’s Europa League.

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Lisbon giants vs relentless outsiders.

Tottenham vs Villarreal
Spurs are home kings: 20-game unbeaten run in Europe at home.

But Spain is their curse: just 2 wins in 14 tries.

Villarreal’s away record? Strong recently: wins at Atalanta & Young Boys last time out.

Add the twist: ex-Spurs Solomon and Foyth now in Villarreal colors.

Tottenham’s fortress against Villarreal’s revenge tour.

Wednesday, 17 September
Olympiacos vs Pafos (18:45 CET)
Olympiacos leads Greece with 36 UCL entries, but group-stage woes remain: just 2 wins in their last 20.

Home comfort though: 7 unbeaten at home (W5 D2).

Debutants Pafos bring fire: only 1 loss in their last 12 European games and goals in 13 of their last 14.

Greece’s veterans vs Cyprus’s fearless newcomers.

Slavia Praha vs Bodø/Glimt (18:45 CET)
History in the making: first-ever Czech vs Norwegian clash in UCL.

Slavia are struggling: 7 games without a European win.

Bodø/Glimt ride history too — first Norwegian side in UCL since Rosenborg (2007/08).

But their away form is cold: 7 without a win on the road.

Both are hunting for a reset.

Ajax vs Inter
A 1972 final repeat: Ajax 2-0 Inter back then.

Ajax are cursed vs Italian clubs: 0 wins in 13 home games since 2002.

But they start strong: 4 Matchday 1 wins in the last 5 campaigns.

Inter are unbeaten in 13 vs Dutch teams, but struggle on Matchday 1 (2 wins in last 13 openers).

Sommer (60th Swiss appearance) and Barella (50th UCL game) chase milestones.

Nostalgia, droughts, and milestones on the line.

Bayern München vs Chelsea
Another final remake — 2012’s heartbreak for Bayern, glory for Chelsea.

Bayern’s fortress is unmatched: 34 home UCL group games unbeaten (W32 D2).

They always start strong: 21 straight opening wins, most without conceding.

Chelsea know how to handle Germans though: 7 wins in last 11.

Nicolas Jackson, loaned from Chelsea, could haunt them in Munich colors.

Revenge, streaks, and iron-clad fortresses.

Liverpool vs Atlético de Madrid
Anfield is a fortress: 14 straight group home wins, with goals galore.

Salah (18 in last 20 group games) and Wirtz (6 in 9, German record pace) are flying.

Atleti are poor vs English teams in groups: 0 wins in 8 tries.

But Simeone’s men rarely stumble on Matchday 1: lost just twice in 15 campaigns.

Red-hot Anfield vs Atleti resilience.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Atalanta
Paris is in rhythm: 99 straight UCL games without a 0-0.

They also dominate Italians lately: 5 wins in their last 6.

Atalanta loves traveling: unbeaten in 8 away European group games.

And goals guaranteed: scored in 21 of the last 23 group fixtures.

Paris flair vs Atalanta chaos — goals guaranteed.

Thursday, 18 September
Club Brugge vs Monaco (18:45 CET)
Brugge thrives at home: only 2 losses in last 17.

Monaco always brings goals: just 1 goalless game in their last 70.

Both teams score often, and both rarely settle.

Goals are written all over this.

Copenhagen vs Leverkusen (18:45 CET)
Copenhagen finally broke their German curse last season against Heidenheim.

They’re strong at home: lost just 2 of last 18 UCL group games.

Leverkusen, though, are ruthless: 11 wins in the last 16 group games and destroyed Feyenoord 4-0 on the last Matchday 1.

Danish grit vs German precision.

Frankfurt vs Galatasaray
Frankfurt rarely slips at home: 2 losses in 13.

Gala are floundering: winless in 9 away games and 1 win in the last 17 UCL group matches.

But they score: 25 of the last 27 European games with a goal.

Frankfurt’s favorites, Gala fighting for survival.

Manchester City vs Napoli
City is a machine: 21 unbeaten at home in UCL groups (W18 D3).

Haaland is hunting history: 49 goals in 48 UCL games, could smash Van Nistelrooy’s 50-goal pace.

Napoli struggles in England: 0 wins in 10 away games, but steady overall: scored in 15 of last 16 group games.

Extra spice: De Bruyne returns to Manchester — in Napoli colors.

A blockbuster: Haaland’s milestone vs De Bruyne’s homecoming.

Newcastle vs Barcelona
Newcastle’s last home win vs Barça? That famous 3-2 in 1997 with Asprilla’s hat-trick.

The Magpies are usually strong at home — 3 losses in 31 — but enter on a 2-game home losing streak in Europe.

Barça rarely falls on Matchday 1: 20 wins in 29.

Lewandowski is on fire: 9 goals in last 7 UCL group games, Raphinha adds 16 in last 16.

St James’ Park meets La Liga giants in a throwback thriller.

Sporting CP vs Kairat Almaty
Sporting are slumping: winless in the last 6 UCL games.

But they usually start well: 3 Matchday 1 wins in the last 4.

Kairat’s debut in the UCL proper — only the second Kazakh side ever.

They bring defensive steel: 4 clean sheets in 5 qualifiers.

Sporting tradition vs Kazakh newcomers with nothing to lose.

That’s Matchday 1 lined up: history remade, debutants dreaming, and giants chasing records.