10 Champions League matches to watch as league phase begins Tuesday

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League group stage gets underway on Tuesday, with 36 teams beginning their campaigns in a competition that will feature several heavyweight clashes on the opening matchday.

UEFA has highlighted a number of intriguing statistics ahead of the opening fixtures, including milestone appearances, impressive home records, historic rivalries and contrasting recent European form.

Here are 10 matches to watch across the three-day opening round, PUNCH Online curates 10 out of the 18 match day one games from the UEFA website on Monday.

1. Real Madrid vs Inter — Tuesday

Real Madrid host Inter in one of the biggest games of the opening round, with several notable storylines surrounding the encounter.

Kylian Mbappé is one goal away from moving level with Raúl González in fifth place on the Champions League’s all-time scoring list, having scored 70 goals.

Thibaut Courtois is also set to make his 100th Champions League appearance if selected.

The fixture also sees José Mourinho face his former club Inter, whom he guided to the Champions League title in 2009/10 as part of a historic treble.

Real Madrid have won six of their last seven meetings with Inter and have won 17 of their last 19 Champions League opening-day matches. Inter, meanwhile, have not won away against a Spanish side in their last 13 attempts.

2. Porto vs Manchester City — Tuesday

Manchester City will play their 150th European Cup match when they visit Porto.

The Portuguese club are appearing in the Champions League group stage or league phase for the 28th time, putting them fourth on the all-time list behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Porto have lost only one of their last 14 home UEFA matches but have won just two of their last 16 against English opposition.

City have lost six of their last nine Champions League away matches, while their only two defeats in 11 matches against Portuguese clubs include a 4-1 loss to Sporting CP in 2024/25.

3. Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Tuesday

Dortmund will welcome Villarreal to Germany looking to repeat their previous result against the Spanish side.

The clubs have met only once, with Dortmund winning 4-0 at home last season.

Dortmund have lost only two of their last 15 home matches against Spanish opponents and have won their last three.

Villarreal, however, have not lost in the Champions League proper to a goalless draw in their last 31 matches, setting up the prospect of an entertaining encounter.

4. Club Brugge vs Aston Villa — Tuesday

Aston Villa return to the Champions League against Club Brugge, whom they faced three times in the competition last season.

Club Brugge won the first meeting 1-0 before Villa responded with 3-1 and 3-0 victories in the round of 16.

The Belgian side have lost only three of their last 22 UEFA home matches and have scored at least three goals in six of their last seven European home games.

Villa, meanwhile, won 13 of 15 matches in last season’s Europa League and have lost only three of their last 21 UEFA group stage or league phase matches.

5. Barcelona vs Feyenoord — Wednesday

Barcelona begin their campaign against Feyenoord, with Lamine Yamal one of the players to watch.

The Barcelona winger needs two goals to equal Mbappé’s record for Champions League goals scored by a player aged 20 or under.

Barcelona have scored 50 goals across the two editions of the league phase since its introduction in 2024/25 — eight more than any other club.

Feyenoord, however, have failed to score in only two of their last 15 Champions League group stage or league phase matches, although they have gone 11 European away games without a win.

6. Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid — Wednesday

Liverpool face Atletico Madrid at Anfield in a repeat of last season’s opening-day fixture, which Liverpool won 3-2.

The Reds have finished in the top three of the league phase in each of the last two seasons and have won their last six league phase matches against Spanish teams.

Atletico captain Koke could make his 150th UEFA club competition appearance, while Diego Simeone remains the longest-serving coach in this season’s league phase, having taken charge of the Spanish club in December 2011.

Atletico have never won a Champions League group stage or league phase match against an English side, drawing four and losing six.

7. Napoli vs Arsenal — Wednesday

Arsenal travel to Napoli in another heavyweight encounter.

The clubs have met four times, with Arsenal winning three and Napoli one. The Gunners also won both legs of their 2018/19 Europa League quarter-final against the Italians.

Napoli have won only two of their last 10 Champions League matches and have lost their last three against English opposition.

Arsenal, however, conceded the fewest goals in last season’s league phase and knockout rounds combined, with seven, while recording nine clean sheets. They have also gone unbeaten on Matchday 1 in their last nine European campaigns.

8. Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava — Wednesday

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain begin their title defence against Slovan Bratislava.

Paris are seeking to become only the second club in the Champions League era to win the competition three seasons in succession, following Real Madrid’s achievement between 2015/16 and 2017/18.

Luis Enrique’s side have won their opening Champions League fixture in each of the last four seasons and conceded no goals in the last three.

Slovan have gone seven UEFA matches unbeaten but lost all eight games during their previous league phase campaign in 2024/25.

9. Bayern Munich vs Bodø/Glimt — Thursday

Bayern Munich face Bodø/Glimt with Harry Kane chasing another Champions League landmark.

Kane has scored 54 goals in 70 Champions League appearances and would become the third-fastest player to reach 55 if he scores.

Bayern have won their opening match in each of their last 22 Champions League campaigns and are unbeaten in their last 38 home group stage or league phase matches.

The German champions also need only one goal to become the second club after Real Madrid to reach 900 goals in European Cup history.

10. Manchester United vs Sabah — Thursday

Manchester United will mark a major European milestone when they face Azerbaijani club Sabah.

The fixture will be United’s 300th European Cup match, 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 an English club.

However, their recent record provides a warning: United have won only one of their last seven Champions League group stage or league phase matches.

Sabah, meanwhile, are making their first appearance in a UEFA group stage or league phase and won six of their eight qualifying matches.

Other fixtures

The other Matchday 1 fixtures are AEK Athens vs LASK, Lille vs Real Betis on Tuesday; Stuttgart vs Viking and Sporting CP vs Galatasaray on Wednesday; and Fenerbahçe vs Roma, PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk, Como vs RB Leipzig and Slavia Prague vs Lens on Thursday.

The 2026/27 Champions League league phase runs from September 8 to January 27, with 36 teams playing eight matches each.