Five must-watch fixtures on Champions League Matchday One | OneFootball

Five must-watch fixtures on Champions League Matchday One | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: Football Muse

Football Muse

·8 September 2026

Five must-watch fixtures on Champions League Matchday One

Article image:Five must-watch fixtures on Champions League Matchday One

Champions League football returns tonight and there are some tasty matchday one fixtures as the action gets underway.

Here are five of the best fixtures on Champions League Matchday One.


OneFootball Videos


Real Madrid and Inter Milan do battle at the Bernabeu in a match-up between two genuine giants of the European game.

Jose Mourinho meets his former side, having etched his name into Inter Milan history after leading the Nerazzurri toChampions League success in 2009/10. The club's treble-winning former manager will now look to mastermind a matchday one win against the Italian champions.

Mourinho's move back to Madrid was a surprise in the summer, and the Special One will want to prove that there's still something special about him as an elite coach.

Denzel Dumfries also faces his old side, after leaving the San Siro for Spain in the summer.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

Andoni Iraola gets his first taste of European action whenLiverpool host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Iraola will be breathing a little easier after Friday's win at Ipswich Town, but the arrival of Atletico Madrid on Merseyside poses a much tougher test.

The two teams met on the opening night of last season's competition, with Liverpool snatching a stoppage-time win through Virgil van Dijk. The Reds have impressed since the introduction of the league phase, finishing in the top three on each occasion. Iraola will want to get off to a good start as he looks to maintain that record.

Sporting CP equalled their best-ever run in the Champions League last season by reaching the quarter-finals, before a narrow 1-0 aggregate loss toArsenal. The Portuguese side will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds again this season, ahead of facing a Galatasaray team who also look like a potential dark horse.

The Turkish Super Lig championsadded ex-Sporting starlet Rafael Leao to their squad in the summer, with the winger joining Victor Osimhen in an exciting frontline.

Napoli vs Arsenal

Arsenal came within penalty kicks of winning a first Champions League last season, with their success built on a brilliant defensive record. The Gunners did not lose a game in normal time last season and led the Champions League for clean sheets (7) and fewest goals conceded (9).

A trip to Naples represents a tricky early test, despite the Italian side's poor performance in last season's league phase.

Como vs RB Leipzig

Como make their Champions League debut this week to cap a rapid rise for the boldly ambitious Serie A side.

Cesc Fabregas led Como to a top-four finish in Serie A last season, finishing above Juventus and AC Milan in the table.

Como's first challenge is against an RB Leipzig side who have also found success in recruiting emerging talent.

View publisher imprint