The UEFA Champions League is back this week, and it’s bigger than ever.
With the introduction of the new ‘league’ phase of the competition, fans of Europe’s elite competition will be treated to more football than ever.
This week, 18 games will be played across three nights to kick things off.
And while we’d love to watch every single one of these games, it’s actually completely impossible.
So, with that in mind, we’ve decided to create a viewing guide for the next few days to help you pick which games to watch.
You’re welcome.
When? Tuesday 17 September, 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
A team who hasn’t conceded a goal all season versus one who has scored 20 in just five league games.
There’s real ‘unstoppable force vs immovable object’ vibes about this clash between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven.
La Vecchia Signora head into the game with a new-look squad and a new manager in Thiago Motta at the helm, but their struggles in the final third – having fired blanks in their last two games – and their penchant for clean sheets – having kept four in four games – suggest that not too much has changed from the Max Allegri era quite yet.
PSV, on the other hand, are playing like a team possessed in the Eredivisie. Their 20 goals in just five games have come thanks to 7-1 and 5-1 thumpings of Almere and RKC Waalwijk respectively.
This has all the makings of a Champions League classic.
When? Tuesday 17 August, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
With 13 Champions League titles between them, it’s fair to say that this is a heavyweight clash.
And while AC Milan aren’t close to the side that once dominated Europe, they still have a few players who can cause Liverpool problems at San Siro.
The Reds will need to be wary of the threat of the likes of Rafael Leao and former Premier League players Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in order to bounce back from their shock defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
When? Wednesday 18 September, 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
If you fancy a break from the football, then Wednesday’s 17:45 games are your chance.
However, if you’re hellbent on watching some football, then your best option is Bologna’s first European game in over five decades.
The Serie A side will face off against Champions League stalwarts Shakhtar Donetsk at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Wednesday evening, and will do so with a completely different team to the one which secured them a place in Europe’s elite competition.
Bologna were raided during the summer transfer window, seeing their manager Thiago Motta up sticks for Juventus, and Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirzkee move to the Premier League.
They’ll be hoping that two-time Europa Conference League finalist and new manager Vincenzo Italiano will bring his European pedigree with him to the Renato Dall’Ara.
When? Wednesday 18 September, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
A replay of the 2023 UEFA Champions League final during gameweek one? Maybe this new Champions League format isn’t so bad after all.
Inter will be travelling to Manchester seeking for revenge after their final defeat in Istanbul, but don’t expect them to get it while Erling Haaland is in the form that he’s in.
Having scored nine goals in just four league games, the Norway international looks pretty unstoppable right now.
When? Thursday 19 September, 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
Yes, Thursday night UEFA Champions League football. It’s a strange world we live in.
We’re being treated to some pretty damn enticing games on Thursday too.
The first of which is Bayer Leverkusen’s first Champions League game under Xabi Alonso – a jarring thought considering how brilliant they’ve been since he took charge.
After their remarkable unbeaten domestic double and Europa League final appearance in 2023/24, Alonso’s Leverkusen will now be hoping to make their make in Europe’s elite competition, and we wouldn’t be against them doing so.
Their first opponents will be Feyenoord, previously managed by Arne Slot, and keen to right the wrongs of their early season form – they’ve won just one of their four Eredivisie games thus far.
When? Thursday 19 September, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT)
Despite an early season injury crisis, Arsenal will head into their first Champions League game of the season on a massive high having beaten north London derby rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
The Gunners are set to face off against Europa League winners Atalanta in Bergamo, and having watched the Serie A side put Liverpool to the sword last season, theyll be well aware of the threat they pose.
