The Uefa Champions League returns!

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

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