Champions League Predictions: Matchday 1

So. More. Football.

The new 2024/25 Champions League is almost in full swing, with the UEFA club competition kicking off this week.

Group divisions are no more as the ‘Swiss model’ still holds. With 36 teams now competing in the ‘league stage’, each match day (except the last) will have 18 matches spread over three days.

The amount of action will undoubtedly test Wi-Fi connections around the world with multiple screens coming out to ensure match day 1 is caught as live as possible.

This should be a lot of fun, and here’s how 90 min thinks the first week of the league stage will be over.

Tuesday 17 September

There will be six games each day, two games will start early and four games will start at the same time in the evening.

There is a Premier League representative in one of the starters on Tuesday just like the Champions League starters Aston Villa to the Swiss side Little Boys looking to get their campaign off on the right foot. Thiago Motta’s Juventus they are also there as they accept those of Peter Bosz PSV in Turin.

Eternal winners Real Madrid they are involved later, and they have a hard part too Stuttgart coming to town. Sebastian Hoeness’ side finished second in the Bundesliga last season, and they couldn’t have asked for a more lucrative Day 1 encounter on their return to Europe’s top club competition.

Milan’s quarrel Liverpool Tuesday’s game is undoubtedly the highlight, however, as the Rossoneri, who beat Venezia in Serie A on Saturday, face a Reds outfit who were beaten for the first time under Arne Slot at the weekend.

Bayern Munich they have been scoring goals under Vincent Kompany to start 2024/25, and their campaign starts at home Dinamo Zagreb. A very competitive encounter is expected to come to the capital of Portugal as Sports CP you are welcome Lillethe winners of the play-offs, go to Lisbon.

Wednesday 18 September

There is a replay of the 2023 final to enjoy under the lights at the Etihad, but before then Manchester City take the Scudetto holders Inter, Bologna played their first Champions League game since 1964 as they faced the Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in Dall’Ara.

Two play-off winners entered Sparta Prague again Salzburg clash again on Wednesday, with Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp’s right-hand man at Liverpool, leading the Austrians into battle.

City’s clash with Inter should be a spectacle if Pep Guardiola’s side have a good start to the new season. Inter have played well and are the best team in Italy by far, but they were held by Monza at the weekend.

Borussia Dortmundwho were defeated in the final last week, start their league stage away in Belgium as they face the home champions Club Brugge. Paris Saint-Germain looks unlikely despite the exit of Kylian Mbappe and they should start their Champions League campaign with a win for the new ones. Girona in the capital of France.

Celtic they endured poor group stages in 2022/23 and 2023/24, but look no further in 2024/25 when Brendan Rodgers continues to influence the call. Rodgers’ side have been on top form in pre-season, and have enjoyed a flawless start to the new season. They have a good chance of a rare victory in this tournament when they meet Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park.

Thursday 19 September

Champions of the Bundesliga Bayer Leverkusen will be aiming to make a splash in the competition following their historic 2023/24 campaign, but a trip to De Kuip is not for the faint of heart. Xabi Alonso’s will be put to the test Feyenoord on Thursday, even if the Dutch side endured an indifferent start to the new season.

Benfica they eased their way into 2024/25 again, but they won’t be able to cruise in peace when they meet matchday 1 where Red Star Belgrade. The Portuguese side are unbeaten in four after losing on the opening weekend of the Primeira Liga season.

Brest vs Sturm Graztwo Pot 4 teams, are unlikely to attract much attention, despite the French side being one of five clubs to make their debut in the competition this week.

Arsenal they may be down, but they will be full of confidence on their trip to Bergamo to face the Europa League winners. Atalanta. Gabriel’s header ensured they left the North London derby with all three points on Sunday.

An interesting game comes to Madrid as Atletico take it RB Leipzigwhile Monaco deal with the purring Barcelona The team looking to quickly avenge the defeat of the French team in the Joan Gamper Trophy. That should be fun.

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