Champions League Matchday 1 – Six English clubs kick off as Europe’s elite set the pace
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle open their campaigns with tough tests
Six English clubs begin their European charge as Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid loom large
The Champions League returns this week and for the first time six Premier League sides are in the mix. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all step into the expanded league phase, where 36 teams play eight matches each against opponents from other nations. The top eight will reach the round of 16, the next sixteen will battle through play-offs, and the rest will drop out.
Here’s how the English clubs shape up for Matchday 1.
Athletic Club v Arsenal – Tuesday 16 September, 17:45 BST
Arsenal’s European progress has been steady under Mikel Arteta, and this time they expect another deep run. Their line-up will be tested, though, with Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knee), Martin Ødegaard (shoulder) and Ben White all missing. David Raya should start in goal, while Gabriel leads the defence. Declan Rice will be partnered in midfield by Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi, with Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli forming the front three.
Athletic Club are without Nico Williams and Beñat Prados, but Inaki Williams captains the side with Oihan Sancet providing guile in midfield. They lost at home to Alavés at the weekend, yet San Mamés remains a difficult place to visit.
Prediction: Arsenal to grind out a narrow win, Martinelli the likely spark.
Tottenham Hotspur v Villarreal – Tuesday 16 September, 20:00 BST
Thomas Frank makes his Champions League bow with a strong squad. Dominic Solanke is out with an ankle injury, but Spurs still have firepower. Guglielmo Vicario is expected in goal behind Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence. In midfield Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall will look to control the game, with Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison and Xavi Simons up front.
Villarreal travel without Gerard Moreno and Willy Kambwala, but former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pépé is in fine form. Ayoze Pérez partners Georges Mikautadze in attack, with Tajon Buchanan adding width. Spurs’ record at home in Europe is excellent and should give them an edge.
Prediction: Spurs to win, Richarlison on the scoresheet.
Bayern Munich v Chelsea – Wednesday 17 September, 20:00 BST
Chelsea face the toughest of assignments in Munich. Enzo Maresca’s men are without Levi Colwill, Liam Delap and Afonso Sousa Essugo, while Benoît Badiashile and Roméo Lavia are doubts. Robert Sánchez should start in goal, with Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella at the back. Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández anchor midfield, with Neto, Cole Palmer and Jamie Gittens supporting João Pedro in attack.
Bayern are missing Alphonso Davies, Raphaël Guerreiro, Hiroki Ito and Jamal Musiala, but they still look imposing. Manuel Neuer starts behind Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Josip Stanišić. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović patrol midfield, with Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Luis Díaz providing support for Harry Kane.
Prediction: Bayern to win, Kane decisive against English opposition again.
Liverpool v Atlético Madrid – Wednesday 17 September, 20:00 BST
Liverpool arrive with four league wins from four, but Curtis Jones is ruled out and Alexis Mac Allister is a doubt with an ankle issue. Alisson Becker will start in goal, with Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez likely across the back line. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch will join Mac Allister if fit. Florian Wirtz should link with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitiké in attack.
Atlético travel without Thiago Almada and Álex Baena. Julián Álvarez is a doubt after a knock, while José María Giménez, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko and Rodrigo González are all fitness concerns. Jan Oblak will be in goal with Koke and Rodrigo Riquelme likely to provide balance. Antoine Griezmann remains the talisman.
Liverpool’s home record in Europe is outstanding, fourteen straight group-phase wins at Anfield.
Prediction: Liverpool to win, Salah and Wirtz central to the story.
Manchester City v Napoli – Thursday 18 September, 20:00 BST
Erling Haaland is one goal shy of fifty in the Champions League, and City will back him to reach it here. They are missing John Stones, Rayan Cherki, Mateo Kovačić, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Omar Marmoush, but Pep Guardiola still has options. Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected in goal, with Rico Lewis, Rúben Dias, Nathan Aké and Joško Gvardiol across the back. Rodri sits behind Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden and Jérémy Doku. Haaland starts up front.
Napoli arrive with Kevin De Bruyne back in Manchester, alongside Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund. Victor Osimhen is out, so Højlund should lead the line, with De Bruyne and Matteo Politano providing the supply.
Prediction: City to win, Haaland to reach his half-century.
Newcastle United v Barcelona – Thursday 18 September, 20:00 BST
St James’ Park will be electric. Newcastle are without Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa, but otherwise strong. Nick Pope is in goal, with Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn and Tino Livramento across defence. Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton control midfield, with Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes in attack.
Barcelona miss Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Marc-André ter Stegen. Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal are doubts. Robert Lewandowski leads the line, with Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Fermin López supporting. Pedri anchors midfield alongside Marc Casadó, while Jules Koundé and Eric García marshal the defence.
Prediction: Draw with goals, Lewandowski and Barnes to strike.
The European heavyweights
Real Madrid begin without Jude Bellingham, Endrick, Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rüdiger, while Eduardo Camavinga is a doubt. Even so, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo and Arda Güler should feature alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold. Marseille are without Nayef Aguerd, with Amine Gouiri doubtful, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads their attack.
Juventus host Borussia Dortmund in a repeat of the 1997 final. Jonathan David leads the line for Juve, while Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi will carry Dortmund’s hopes. Inter travel to Ajax with Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram ready to strike. Paris Saint-Germain, missing Ousmane Dembélé, welcome Atalanta, who could be without Gianluca Scamacca.
Our view – It was always…Football
Six English sides in one Champions League season underlines the depth of the Premier League. Liverpool look ruthless, Arsenal will need their squad depth, City are again favourites, Chelsea face a brutal start, Spurs are full of energy under Thomas Frank and Newcastle’s crowd will make every night an ordeal for opponents.
Beyond England, Bayern and Real Madrid are the early markers, Barcelona have goals everywhere, Inter look balanced, and Paris still insist their time will come.
The opening week offers storylines everywhere. De Bruyne back in Manchester, Haaland chasing records, Saka sidelined, Wirtz stepping into Anfield’s glare, Kane against Chelsea. The Champions League always delivers moments, and this time feels no different.