Stellar fixtures take center stage as UEFA Champions League returns

The Champions League returns with big clashes: Arsenal at Bilbao, Juve vs Dortmund, Real vs Marseille, Spurs debut, Chelsea at Bayern, and more drama.

The UEFA Champions League returns with stellar fixtures across Europe, which ones are you excited about the most? (Photo credit: uefa.com)

The UEFA Champions League is back! We got introduced to a new format last season, and, despite the initial reactions, everyone now seems to be on board with the exciting football we saw last season.

PSG are set to defend their title, but they will have to wait till Wednesday for them to face Atalanta. The champions will be without Desire Doue and Ballon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembele, who both got injured while playing for France last weekend.

Last season’s semifinalists Arsenal will open this season’s account away at Athletic Bilbao with Mikel Arteta eager to go one step further this season. The Ginners returned to the Champions League after a seven-year absence and have improved year-on-year. Will they do better this season?

A new-look Juventus will take on Borussia Dortmund in Turin on Tuesday, a few days after delivering a masterclass performance against Inter Milan in the Derby di Italia. Igor Tudor knows the danger his team can potentially face from the Germans, who have good records in the competition; they must be ready.

Record champions Real Madrid will start their campaign at home against French side Olympique Marseille, and this one can be quite tricky. Xabi Alonso will face Roberto Di Zerbi for the first time with both sides on different trajectories. Can Real Madrid rise to the occasion as always?

Finally, on Tuesday, reigning Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur will face Villarreal in London, with the Spaniards insisting on travelling with Thomas Partey despite his ongoing legal battles. On the pitch, it’s Thomas Frank’s European debut; how will he fare?

Ajax and Inter Milan is an interesting fixture on Wednesday, featuring a matchup between youth and experience, as the Dutch side challenges the 2023 finalists. Inter Milan should be the favourite on paper, but how will Ajax approach the game?

World champions Chelsea will be away at the Allianz Arena to negotiate with the German champions; it should be dubbed the Nicolas Jackson derby, as the Senegalese will be eligible to play against the side that told him he’s surplus to requirements and then attempted to block his move. Interesting one there.

Liverpool at home to Atletico Madrid is another one to look forward to. The defensive machines of Diego Simeone will face the attacking powers of Liverpool, and could Alexander Isak be making his debut for the Premier League champions?

The first round of games could tell us a lot about teams that will struggle, but the likes of Newcastle and Manchester City will wait until Thursday to have their own bow in the tournament, with Napoli facing City at the Etihad and Newcastle entertaining Barcelona at St James’s Park.