The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase begins on Tuesday, with 36 clubs set to embark on their European campaigns.
The opening round features several high-profile encounters involving some of Europe’s biggest clubs, alongside a number of intriguing individual milestones and historical storylines.
Here are 10 fixtures to watch during the first matchday:
1. Real Madrid vs Inter — Tuesday
Real Madrid welcome Inter in one of the standout fixtures of the opening round.
Kylian Mbappé is just one goal away from matching Raúl González’s 71 Champions League goals, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could make his 100th appearance in the competition if selected.
The game will also see José Mourinho face his former club, Inter, whom he led to Champions League glory in 2009/10.
Madrid have won six of their last seven meetings with Inter and have recorded victories in 17 of their last 19 Champions League opening fixtures. Inter, meanwhile, have failed to win away to Spanish opposition in their last 13 attempts.
2. Porto vs Manchester City — Tuesday
Manchester City will reach another European landmark when they visit Porto, with the fixture marking their 150th European Cup appearance.
Porto have featured in the Champions League group or league phase 28 times, ranking fourth behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The Portuguese giants have lost just once in their last 14 home UEFA matches but have struggled against English opposition, winning only two of their last 16 encounters.
City have also endured a difficult away record in the Champions League, losing six of their last nine matches on the road.
3. Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Tuesday
Dortmund face Villarreal hoping to repeat their dominant result from their previous meeting.
The German side defeated Villarreal 4-0 at home last season, while Dortmund have lost only twice in their last 15 home games against Spanish clubs.
Villarreal, however, have proved difficult to beat in the Champions League, having avoided defeat in their last 31 matches in the competition proper when they have scored.
4. Club Brugge vs Aston Villa — Tuesday
Aston Villa return to Champions League action with another meeting against Club Brugge.
The teams met three times last season, with Brugge winning the first encounter 1-0 before Villa responded with 3-1 and 3-0 victories in the round of 16.
Brugge have lost just three of their last 22 European home matches and have scored at least three goals in six of their last seven continental fixtures at home.
Villa, meanwhile, won 13 of 15 Europa League matches last season.
5. Barcelona vs Feyenoord — Wednesday
Barcelona begin their campaign at home against Feyenoord, with Lamine Yamal among the players attracting attention.
The young winger needs two goals to equal Kylian Mbappé’s record for Champions League goals scored by a player aged 20 or younger.
Barcelona have also been prolific since the league phase format was introduced, scoring 50 goals across the first two editions — eight more than any other club.
Feyenoord have scored in 13 of their last 15 Champions League group or league-phase matches but have gone 11 European away games without a victory.
6. Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid — Wednesday
Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid at Anfield in a repeat of last season’s opening-day encounter, which the Reds won 3-2.
Liverpool have finished among the top three in each of the last two league phases and have won their previous six league-phase meetings with Spanish opponents.
Atletico captain Koke could make his 150th appearance in UEFA club competitions, while manager Diego Simeone remains the longest-serving coach in this season’s league phase.
The Spanish club have never defeated an English side in a Champions League group or league-phase match.
7. Napoli vs Arsenal — Wednesday
Arsenal face Napoli in another heavyweight clash on Wednesday.
The two clubs have met four times, with Arsenal winning three and Napoli one. The Gunners also defeated the Italians over two legs in the 2018/19 Europa League quarter-finals.
Napoli have won only two of their last 10 Champions League matches and have suffered defeat in their last three games against English opposition.
Arsenal, meanwhile, conceded only seven goals throughout last season’s league phase and knockout rounds combined and kept nine clean sheets. They have also avoided defeat in their opening European fixture in each of their last nine campaigns.
8. Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava — Wednesday
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain begin their title defence against Slovan Bratislava.
Luis Enrique’s side are attempting to become only the second team in the Champions League era to win the competition three consecutive times, after Real Madrid achieved the feat between 2015/16 and 2017/18.
PSG have won their opening Champions League match in each of the last four seasons and have kept clean sheets in their last three.
Slovan enter the fixture unbeaten in their last seven UEFA matches but lost all eight games during their previous league-phase campaign in 2024/25.
9. Bayern Munich vs Bodø/Glimt — Thursday
Bayern Munich host Bodø/Glimt, with Harry Kane chasing another Champions League milestone.
Kane has scored 54 goals in 70 appearances and would become the third-fastest player to reach 55 goals if he finds the net.
Bayern have won their opening Champions League fixture in each of their last 22 campaigns and are unbeaten in their last 38 home group or league-phase matches.
The German giants are also one goal away from becoming only the second club after Real Madrid to score 900 goals in European Cup history.
10. Manchester United vs Sabah — Thursday
Manchester United will make European history when they take on Azerbaijani club Sabah.
The match will be United’s 300th European Cup fixture, making them the first English club to reach the landmark.
United are returning to the Champions League proper for the first time since 2023/24 and will make their 26th appearance in the competition, the most by any English club.
However, their recent form is concerning, with United winning only one of their last seven Champions League group or league-phase matches.
Sabah, meanwhile, are making their debut in a UEFA group or league phase after winning six of their eight qualifying matches.
The 2026/27 Champions League league phase runs from September 8 to January 27, with each of the 36 participating clubs playing eight matches.
