The UEFA Champions League group stage draw has set the stage for a thrilling opening round of fixtures, highlighted by a swift reunion between Manchester City and their former midfield maestro, Kevin De Bruyne, who recently transferred to Napoli. The Etihad Stadium will host this much-anticipated clash on Thursday, September 18th, as De Bruyne returns to face his former teammates and manager Pep Guardiola, who expressed his pleasure at welcoming back both De Bruyne and Leroy Sane (now with Galatasaray) to Manchester. The first matchday of the Champions League group stage is spread across three days, promising a flurry of exciting encounters featuring Europe’s elite clubs.
The draw has produced a number of compelling storylines. Club World Cup winners Chelsea will travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich, the very stadium where they clinched the Champions League title in 2012. Premier League champions Liverpool will commence their European campaign with a home fixture against Atletico Madrid, while Newcastle United, returning to the Champions League after a lengthy absence, will welcome Spanish champions Barcelona to St. James’ Park. These matches, taking place on Wednesday, September 17th, are sure to captivate fans across the globe.
The opening matchday also features Arsenal, last season’s semi-finalists, traveling to Spain to face Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, September 16th. Tottenham Hotspur, who secured their Champions League spot by winning the Europa League final against Manchester United, will begin their campaign with a home game against Villarreal. These Tuesday fixtures, along with PSV Eindhoven vs. Union Saint-Gilloise, offer an exciting prelude to the midweek action. Furthermore, Juventus will host Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid will welcome Marseille, and Benfica will face Qarabag, rounding out the Tuesday fixtures.
Other notable opening fixtures include reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain hosting Atalanta in the French capital. This match pits the French giants against the Italian side, promising a clash of attacking football. Elsewhere, Ajax will take on last season’s finalists, Inter Milan, in a rematch of their previous European encounter. These fixtures, along with the remaining matches scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, complete a captivating first round of group stage action.
Wednesday’s fixtures continue with Olympiacos hosting Pafos and Slavia Prague facing Bodo/Glimt in earlier kick-offs. The evening’s marquee matches see Ajax face Inter Milan, while Bayern Munich and Chelsea renew their rivalry in a highly anticipated clash. Liverpool’s home game against Atletico Madrid rounds out the Wednesday fixtures, providing a compelling set of encounters for football fans.
Thursday, September 18th, features Manchester City’s reunion with Kevin De Bruyne as they host Napoli. Alongside this key match, Newcastle United will enjoy their Champions League return with a home fixture against Barcelona. Other Thursday matches include Club Brugge against Monaco and FC Copenhagen against Bayer Leverkusen in the earlier kick-offs. Eintracht Frankfurt’s clash with Galatasaray and Sporting’s match against Kairat Almaty complete the opening round of the Champions League group stage. These matches set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling competition, with each team vying for a place in the knockout stages.
