The 2019/20 UEFA Champions League group stage begins with matchday one this week, with all 32 teams in action all over the continent across Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here’s a look at five of the biggest ‘must watch’ games taking place…
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona
With the potential return of Lionel Messi makes Barcelona’s visit to Borussia Dortmund even more enticing as the superstar is in the squad after missing the first four games of the season.
Barcelona will be desperate to make a strong start in difficult times as Group F also features a resurgent Inter.
Dortmund have plenty to prove in Europe this season as they were eliminated from the group stage last year.
PSG vs Real Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain will host Real Madrid in a heavyweight clash at the Parc des Princes in Group A on Wednesday.
Real Madrid have only won two of their opening four domestic games and conceded six times.
A lot of focus will be on Neymar in Paris this week. The Brazilian superstar didn’t get his dream return to Barcelona during the summer and was heckled and booed by his own club’s fans when he made his first appearance of the season over the weekend – despite scoring a fairly incredible bicycle kick.
https://youtu.be/liPob_A_5_o
Napoli vs Liverpool
Liverpool begin the defence of their Champions League title by facing a team they had to beat at home no matchday six just to get out of the group stage last season.
The Reds were beaten when they travelled to Stadio San Paolo in early October. Liverpool, who would lose all three group stage away games, failed to score and conceded a late Napoli winner from Lorenzo Insigne.
With Genk and Red Bull Salzburg completing Group E, this trip to Napoli is likely to be Liverpool’s most challenging game and toughest test in this phase of the competition.
https://youtu.be/-bcB-647G_s
Atletico Madrid vs Juventus
Atletico Madrid and Juventus meet in matchday one of Group D after playing out an epic two-legged knockout tie in the Champions League last season. A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick to overturn the tie for Juventus after a 2-0 first leg deficit.
Atletico have sold Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin thus bringing in younger talents like Joao Felix and Marcos Llorente.
These great clubs are two of European football’s biggest underachievers at a continental level. They have played in 12 European Cup/Champions League finals between them over the years, but have lost as many as 10 of those – including four in a row between 2014 and 2017.
https://youtu.be/lMbVFM3h0os
Chelsea vs Valencia
It is vital for Chelsea to get an early win under their belt when Valencia visit Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were fired to Premier League victory over the weekend by home-grown youngsters Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, all of whom will be taking a step into the known for what will be their respective Champions League debuts.
