Razeen Gutta
Football’s greatest club competition is set for another season. With an earlier start than is annually the case, the new season will reignite historic rivalries, bring forth new heroes and see one team crowned champions of Europe in Istanbul come June 2023.
Current holders Real Madrid will begin their Champions League defence in Glasgow on Tuesday, with Scottish champions Celtic standing in the way of Carlo Ancelotti’s side as they look to kick off the new campaign with a win.
Liverpool were the runners-up in Paris last season and Jurgen Klopp’s side will look to go one step further this time around. It all begins for the Reds with another trip to Napoli this Wednesday, as the sides meet again after facing off in the 2019/20 season.
While last year’s finalists look to go again, the odds and analytics tell a different story, with Bayern Munich and Manchester City the favourites heading into the new campaign.
According to the Soccer Power Index (SPI), which looks at predicted performances instead of historical showings, Bayern are currently the best side on the continent.
The German giants have recently signed Sadio Mané from Liverpool and begin their season in the group of death alongside Barcelona and Inter Milan, whom they face on Wednesday.
SPI analyses each team’s defensive and attacking abilities coupled with their chances of emerging from the group; and after Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola’s side rank second highest.
The Cityzens will look to finally end their wait for a European cup this season as the long route to Istanbul begins with a trip to Seville come Tuesday night.
Some of the other Matchday One ties include a mouthwatering clash between PSG and Juventus on Tuesday.
And the return of Champions League football to North London when the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium plays host to Marseille on Wednesday.
Uefa Champions League Matchday One Fixtures:
Tuesday, 6 September —
GNK Dinamo Zagreb v Chelsea
RB Salzburg v Milan
Celtic v Real Madrid
RB Leipzig v Shakhtar Donetsk
Borussia Dortmund v FC Copenhagen
Sevilla v Manchester City
PSG v Juventus
Benfica v Maccabi Haifa
Wednesday, 7 September —
Ajax v Rangers
Napoli v Liverpool
Atletico Madrid v FC Porto
Club Brugge v Bayer Leverkusen
Barcelona v Viktoria Plzen
Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
Eintracht Frankfurt v Sporting CP
Tottenham Hotspur v Marseille
Image source: @Uefa