The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase begins today, Tuesday, September 8, with 36 clubs starting their pursuit of European football’s biggest club prize.
The opening matchday will be played across three days, with 18 fixtures scheduled between Tuesday and Thursday. Among the standout ties are Real Madrid vs Inter, Porto vs Manchester City, Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid and Napoli vs Arsenal.
The competition continues with the league-phase format introduced in 2024/25. Each team will play eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The top eight teams at the end of the league phase will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while teams finishing ninth to 24th will go into the knockout phase play-offs. Those finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition.
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With the first points of the campaign up for grabs, here are 10 matches worth watching.
- Real Madrid vs Inter
Real Madrid welcome Inter to the Santiago Bernabéu today in arguably the biggest fixture of the opening night.
The meeting brings together two of European football’s most successful clubs, with Real Madrid holding the record for the most European Cup and Champions League titles.
There is also an individual storyline to watch. Kylian Mbappé enters the campaign among the competition’s leading active scorers and will be looking to add to his Champions League tally as Madrid begin another title challenge.
- Porto vs Manchester City
Porto face Manchester City in another heavyweight encounter on Tuesday.
Porto are one of Europe’s most experienced clubs in the competition, while City continue to be among the sides expected to compete deep into the tournament.
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For Porto, the home setting could be important against a City side accustomed to controlling games through possession and pressure. The match should provide an early test of how both teams intend to approach the new league phase.
- Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
Borussia Dortmund host Villarreal in another meeting with plenty of recent history behind it.
The two sides faced each other in last season’s league phase, with Dortmund winning 4-0 at home. Villarreal will therefore arrive in Germany looking for a different outcome this time around.
For Dortmund, the challenge will be to turn home advantage into another strong start, while Villarreal will hope to avoid another difficult night in Germany.
- Barcelona vs Feyenoord
Barcelona begin their campaign at home to Feyenoord on Wednesday.
The fixture offers another European stage for Barcelona’s emerging generation, with Lamine Yamal among the young players attracting much of the attention.
Barcelona have also been one of the highest-scoring teams since the league-phase format was introduced, making this a game where their attacking quality will be closely watched.
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Feyenoord, however, will have little interest in simply making up the numbers and will look to frustrate the Spanish side and take advantage of any opportunities.
- Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid
Liverpool and Atlético Madrid meet at Anfield in one of Wednesday’s most intriguing fixtures.
The sides also met at the same venue on Matchday 1 last season, when Liverpool edged Atlético 3-2.
Liverpool have consistently performed well in the league phase, while Atlético arrive with the experience of Diego Simeone, who has been at the club since 2011.
With Liverpool’s attacking approach contrasting with Atlético’s traditionally disciplined style, this could be one of the night’s most tactical contests.
- Napoli vs Arsenal
Arsenal travel to Naples to face Napoli on Wednesday as they begin another Champions League campaign.
The Gunners reached last season’s final before losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, so they enter this season with another opportunity to challenge for the trophy.
Napoli, meanwhile, will be looking to make home advantage count against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
The fixture therefore presents an early test of Arsenal’s ability to handle the pressure of being among the clubs expected to go deep into the competition.
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- Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain begin their title defence at home to Slovan Bratislava.
PSG secured their second consecutive Champions League title last season after beating Arsenal on penalties in the final, and they now have the opportunity to become only the second club in the Champions League era to win the competition three times in a row, after Real Madrid’s achievement between 2016 and 2018.
On paper, the French champions enter as the more experienced side, but Slovan will be hoping to make their first league-phase campaign memorable with a surprise result.
- Sporting CP vs Galatasaray
Sporting CP host Galatasaray on Wednesday.
Sporting reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season, only the second time in the club’s history that they have reached that stage of the European Cup/Champions League.
They will now attempt to build on that run, while Galatasaray return to the league phase looking to make their presence felt against one of last season’s surprise performers.
- Bayern Munich vs Bodø/Glimt
Bayern Munich face Bodø/Glimt on Thursday in a meeting between two clubs with very different levels of Champions League history.
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Bayern bring considerable European pedigree into the fixture, but Bodø/Glimt have already shown that they cannot simply be dismissed. The Norwegian club reached the round of 16 last season after making their league-phase debut.
Another interesting subplot is Harry Kane, who enters the campaign on 54 Champions League goals and needs just one more to reach 55.
- Manchester United vs Sabah
Manchester United’s return to the Champions League comes against Azerbaijan’s Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The fixture will mark United’s 300th appearance in the European Cup/Champions League, making them the first English club to reach that landmark.
United are also returning to Europe’s premier competition after missing out in recent seasons, while Sabah are experiencing the league phase for the first time.
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For the Azerbaijani side, simply stepping onto the pitch at Old Trafford represents a major moment, but United will be expected to start their campaign strongly in front of their home supporters.
The first matchday offers more than just big-name fixtures. It brings together title contenders, established European clubs and sides hoping to establish themselves on the Champions League stage.
Real Madrid vs Inter and Porto vs Manchester City headline Tuesday, while Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid and Napoli vs Arsenal provide two of Wednesday’s biggest attractions. PSG begin their title defence, Barcelona start another European campaign and Bayern Munich and Manchester United complete the list of major attractions on Thursday.
With all 36 teams competing in one league table and every result contributing to their final position, there is little room for slow starts.
The Champions League is back and the race for the knockout stages begins today.
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