The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League kicks off this week, promising another thrilling season of elite European football.
With the new league-phase format and 36 participating teams, the competition is set to be more dynamic than ever.
Matchday 1 fixtures (September 16–18, 2025)
Here are the key fixtures for this week:
- Tuesday, September 16:
- Athletic Club vs. Arsenal – 18:45 CET
- PSV Eindhoven vs. Union Saint-Gilloise – 18:45 CET
- Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund – 21:00 CET
- Real Madrid vs. Olympique Marseille – 21:00 CET
- Benfica vs. Qarabağ – 21:00 CET
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal – 21:00 CET
- Wednesday, September 17:
- Olympiacos vs. Pafos – 18:45 CET
- Slavia Praha vs. Bodø/Glimt – 18:45 CET
- Ajax vs. Inter Milan – 21:00 CET
- Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea – 21:00 CET
- Liverpool vs. Atlético Madrid – 21:00 CET
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atalanta – 21:00 CET
- Thursday, September 18:
- Club Brugge vs. Monaco – 18:45 CET
- Copenhagen vs. Bayer Leverkusen – 18:45 CET
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Galatasaray – 21:00 CET
- Manchester City vs. Napoli – 21:00 CET
- Newcastle United vs. Barcelona – 21:00 CET
Last season’s recap
The 2024/25 season concluded with Paris Saint-Germain clinching their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, dominating Inter Milan 5–0 in the final held at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Players to watch this season
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): After transferring from PSG, Mbappé aims to lead Real Madrid to their 16th European Cup.
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City): The prolific striker continues to be a formidable force in European competitions.
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain): Coming off a stellar season, Dembélé is a top contender for the Ballon d’Or.
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): The young talent is expected to make significant strides this season.
Game of the week
Newcastle United vs. Barcelona – A high-profile clash marking Newcastle’s return to the Champions League. Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, are in strong form, recently defeating Valencia 6-0. Despite injuries to key players, both teams are expected to deliver an exciting match.
Betting odds
- Winner Odds:
- Liverpool – 6/1
- Barcelona – 6/1
- PSG – 7/1
- Arsenal – 15/2
- Real Madrid – 8/1
- Top Scorer Odds:
- Erling Haaland – 13/2
- Kylian Mbappé – 15/2
- Robert Lewandowski – 9/1
- Mohamed Salah – 10/1
- Harry Kane – 10/1
Conclusion
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season is poised to deliver exceptional football, with top clubs and emerging talents ready to make their mark.
Stay tuned for another unforgettable journey to European glory.
