The elite European football competition is back, and it’s bigger than ever. Fans will experience the new expanded format of the Champions League as the tournament returns today across arenas all over Europe. Viewers have plenty of options to choose from, with six fixtures scheduled for today: two early kickoffs and four later games. Today’s fixtures feature a balanced mix of familiar household names, long-absent teams, and at least one storied clash.
Juventus are back on the big European stage after serving their one-year UEFA ban for FFP-related charges. The Old Lady will play at the Allianz Stadium at 5:45 pm (WAT) against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. At the same time, Aston Villa will be making their Champions League debut at Wankdorf Stadium against Young Boys. Although Villa are former European champions, their triumph came in 1982, during the pre-Champions League era of the European Cup.
Later, at 8:00 pm (WAT) in Italy, seven-time champions AC Milan will host Liverpool. These two sides have faced off in two previous Champions League finals and have lifted the trophy a combined 13 times. Milan are coming off a comprehensive 4-0 win over the weekend, following a poor start to the Italian league. On the other hand, Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the season over the weekend after a perfect start. With Milan looking to continue their newfound form and Liverpool aiming to bounce back, fans can expect an exciting encounter.
Defending champions Real Madrid begin their title defense at the Bernabeu, where they will face VfB Stuttgart. New signing Kylian Mbappe will be the focal point of Carlo Ancelotti’s attack, as the Frenchman looks to continue his impressive start to the season. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, buoyed by their strong league form, will face Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena. Striker Harry Kane, who netted a hat-trick in Bayern’s 6-1 win over the weekend, will lead their attack tonight.
Lille will visit Sporting CP today after suffering two consecutive losses in Ligue 1. Sporting, on the other hand, are on a five-game winning streak and currently sit atop the Primeira Liga standings, heading into tonight’s game as favorites.
