Road to Budapest begins as Champions League 2025/26 starts tonight
Quick Read
The best eight teams will go straight into the round of sixteen. Teams from ninth to twenty fourth place will play extra matches to reach the knockouts, while the rest will go home early.
Femi Fabunmi
The Champions League is back tonight, starting a new season of exciting football across Europe.
The tournament begins with the league phase where 36 teams will each play eight games.
The best eight teams will go straight into the round of sixteen. Teams from ninth to twenty fourth place will play extra matches to reach the knockouts, while the rest will go home early.
This year is special for English football because six Premier League clubs are taking part. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will all fight to make history and bring the trophy home.
Tonight, some of the biggest names in football will step on the pitch. At the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Real Madrid will begin their journey with new coach Xabi Alonso when they face Marseille. Madrid fans are excited to see their team under Alonso, who was once a star player for the club.
In Italy, Juventus will face Borussia Dortmund in one of the night’s biggest games. Juventus come with confidence after beating Inter Milan at the weekend. Dortmund, with new signing Edon Zhegrova, will hope to surprise the Italians and take points away from Turin.
In Spain, Athletic Bilbao will host Arsenal. The Gunners reached the semi finals last season and want to go further this time. Coach Mikel Arteta believes his team is ready to win in Europe. Bilbao will be dangerous at home even without injured forward Nico Williams. His brother Inaki Williams will captain the team.
More matches will follow during the week. Tottenham will play Villarreal, Chelsea face Bayern Munich in Germany, Liverpool meet Atletico Madrid at Anfield, Manchester City face Napoli in a game that marks Kevin De Bruyne’s return against his former club, and Newcastle will host Barcelona in a huge clash at St James’ Park.
The big questions are clear. Can Real Madrid succeed with Alonso Can Juventus bring back their European strength Can Arsenal finally win the Champions League And will England’s six teams dominate this season
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