• Paris Saint-Germain the reigning champions after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 final

• Newcastle United and Tottenham back in Europe's top club competition

• Bodø/Glimt, Kairat, Pafos and Union Saint-Gilloise all make their debuts on this stage

The Champions League returns this week, with the league phase kicking off and all 36 clubs in action across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

To start the tournament, Matchday 1 sees the games spread across three days and for the first time ever there will be six English clubs involved.

Tuesday - Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal (17:45)

The hosts go into Tuesday's clash off the back of a 1-0 home loss to Alaves and two of their four home goals this season having come from the penalty spot.

Arsenal have conceded just one goal in their first four league games and won on their last visit to Spain, with a 2-1 success at Real Madrid last season.

Predicted Result: Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Tuesday - PSV Eindhoven vs Union Saint-Gilloise (17:45)

There have been an average of five goals per game in PSV Eindhoven's last five league games, with Peter Bosz's men scoring five against NAC at the weekend.

Union Saint-Gilloise have kept clean sheets in each of their last four matches.

Predicted Result: PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Union Saint-Gilloise

Tuesday - Benfica vs Qarabag (20:00)

Benfica kept clean sheets at home to Nice and Fenerbahce in qualifying and are unbeaten in the Primera Liga so far this term (three wins and one draw).

Qarabag are playing in the Champions League for the first time since 2017-18 and won just one of eight matches in last season's Europa League.

Predicted Result: Benfica 2-0 Qarabag

Tuesday - Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund (20:00)

It's been 10 years since these two heavyweights last met in Europe, with Juventus winning both ties home and away.

Both teams, who met in the 1996-97 final, are unbeaten and sit second in their domestic leagues.

Predicted Result: Juventus 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

Tuesday - Real Madrid vs Marseille (20:00)

Real Madrid have started the La Liga season with four straight wins and Xabi Alonso is already making strides having taken over from Carlo Ancelotti.

Kylian Mbappe has already scored four goals for the Spanish giants, while Marseille head to the Bernabeu having lost both away games without scoring a goal.

Predicted Result: Real Madrid 3-0 Marseille

Tuesday - Tottenham vs Villarreal (20:00)

Europa League holders Spurs have won three of their first four Premier League games under Thomas Frank, with only Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool having scored more goals this season.

Villarreal have just one point from two La Liga away games and were beaten 2-0 at Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

Predicted Result: Tottenham 2-0 Villarreal

Wednesday - Olympiakos vs Pafos (17:45)

Olympiakos have started their domestic campaign with three straight wins, scoring nine goals and not yet conceding.

Pafos are playing in the Champions League for the first time, having beaten both Dynamo Kyiv and Crvena zvezda in the qualifying rounds.

Predicted Result: Olympiakos 3-1 Pafos

Wednesday - Slavia Prague vs Bodo/Glimt (17:45)

Slavia Prague lead the Czech top-flight and won both of their Champions League qualifying home ties last season.

Bodo/Glimt reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last term and beat Sturm Graz in qualifying to make the league stage.

Predicted Result: Slavia Prague 1-2 Bodo/Glimt

Wednesday - Ajax vs Inter Milan (20:00)

Two former champions meet in Amsterdam and Inter Milan are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Ajax, claiming three wins and a draw.

There have been two or more goals in each of Ajax's five games this season, while Inter have scored nine goals in three Serie A matches.

Predicted Result: Ajax 1-2 Inter Milan

Wednesday - Bayern Munich vs Chelsea (20:00)

Bayern Munich have scored 11 goals in their two Bundesliga home matches this season, without conceding at the other end.

Chelsea have conceded in both of their two away games – at West Ham and Brentford – but have also scored seven times in those matches.

Predicted Result: Bayern Munich 3-2 Chelsea

Wednesday - Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid (20:00)

Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have played each other on eight previous occasions and both have won three each with two draws.

The Reds have made a 100% start to the season in the Premier League, while Atleti have won just one of their first four matches.

Predicted Result: Liverpool 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Wednesday - PSG vs Atalanta (20:00)

Defending champions PSG look set to be without three key players for Wednesday's opener, in Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Atalanta are unbeaten in their three Serie A matches and have scored in all three of those games.

Predicted Result: PSG 1-1 Atalanta

Thursday - Club Brugge vs Monaco (17:45)

Despite comfortably beating Rangers in qualifying, Club Brugge have won just two of their last five league games.

Monaco go into this clash having won their last two Ligue 1 matches, with Takumi Minamino scoring in both.

Predicted Result: Club Brugge 1-3 Monaco

Thursday - FC Copenhagen vs Bayer Leverkusen (17:45)

Hosts FC Copenhagen beat Malmo and Basel en route to the League phase, but go into Thursday's clash after losing to Brondby in their domestic league.

Having recently sacked Erik ten Hag, Bayer Leverkusen have taken four points from their last two games, scoring six goals in the process.

Predicted Result: FC Copenhagen 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Thursday - Eintracht Frankfurt vs Galatasaray (20:00)

Eintracht Frankfurt finished third in last season's Bundesliga to qualify for this year's Champions League, with four or more goals scored in all four of their domestic games this term.

Galatasaray have won their first five Super Lig matches and have scored 15 goals during that run.

Predicted Result: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Galatasaray

Thursday - Man City vs Napoli (20:00)

Fresh from their Manchester derby success, City look to improve on their European home record – with just two wins in their last five Champions League games at the Etihad.

Napoli won 3-1 at Fiorentina on Saturday and are expected to include former Citizens favourite Kevin De Bruyne in their starting line-up.

Predicted Result: Man City 1-1 Napoli

Thursday - Newcastle vs Barcelona (20:00)

Newcastle United have kept clean sheets in three of their first four league games, but have struggled at the other end of the pitch.

Barcelona, who won 2-0 on their last trip to St James' Park back in March 2003, go into this clash on the back of a 6-0 victory over Valencia on Sunday.

Predicted Result: Newcastle 0-2 Barcelona

Thursday - Sporting Lisbon vs Kairat (20:00)

Sporting Lisbon finished 23rd in last season's league phase and go into this opening round clash having won four and lost one of their five domestic matches.

Kairat will play in the Champions League proper for the first time in their history, having beaten Celtic in qualifying.

Predicted Result: Sporting Lisbon 1-0 Kairat