10 issues to look out for in Champions League gameweek 1
With 18 video games throughout three days, there will probably be one thing for everybody within the first spherical of Champions League fixtures this season.
The brand new format kicks off with a handful of big ties, together with AC Milan vs Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis vs Inter, because the street to Munich begins for 36 European hopefuls.
Listed below are ten issues to be careful for in gameweek one.
Juventus ushered within the period of supervisor Thiago Motta this summer time, having been dazzled by his exploits with Bologna.
He might have overachieved with Bologna, however expectations in Turin are completely different, and Tuesday’s conflict with a PSV Eindhoven facet who’ve scored 20 objectives of their first 5 video games of the marketing campaign will show to be a serious take a look at for Motta and Juventus.
Juve come into the sport on a run of two straight attracts however followers will demand a return to successful methods.
In case your workforce is seeking to signal a brand new striker, chances are high you are very acquainted with the names Viktor Gyokeres and Jonathan David.
The pair will butt heads when Sporting CP host Lille, battling to show who must be the highest switch goal for Europe’s elite sides.
Gyokeres already has eight objectives to his title this season, whereas David, who’s within the remaining 12 months of his Lille contract, netted twice in qualification as his facet noticed off Fenerbahce and Slavia Prague.
Erling Haaland has 99 objectives to his title for Manchester Metropolis and can hope to make it 100 when Inter journey to the Etihad on Wednesday.
If Haaland scores on this one, he’ll break Cristiano Ronaldo’s document for the fewest video games wanted to achieve a century for one membership. The previous Actual Madrid star did it in 105 video games for the Spanish facet, and Haaland is at present on 103 appearances.
This subsequent outing will probably be his remaining probability to say the document for his personal, and also you simply know he’ll come out like a person possessed.
After a bitterly disappointing 2023/24 marketing campaign, Bayern Munich have reshuffled. Vincent Kompany is within the dugout, Michael Olise is strutting his stuff on the wing and Matthijs de Ligt has been shipped off to Manchester United.
Three wins from three to start out the season has helped construct some momentum, however European eyes will probably be watching to see how they fare on the worldwide stage.
Bayern are up towards a difficult Dinamo Zagreb facet which options 21-year-old midfielder Martin Baturina, a reported goal for each Man Utd and Actual Madrid.
Actual Madrid have not been superb this season, regardless of what 11 factors from 5 video games would possibly recommend. Kylian Mbappe’s begin to life in Spain has hardly gone to plan.
As everyone knows, nevertheless, Madrid are a special animal within the Champions League, they usually might should be to keep away from an upset at house to Bundesliga overachievers Stuttgart.
The German facet are nonetheless discovering their ft after dropping most of their high skills in the summertime, however Sebastian Hoeness is a unbelievable younger supervisor who will fancy his probabilities of exploiting the holes in Madrid’s shaky workforce.
For years, Pep Lijnders was synonymous with Jurgen Klopp, however the former Liverpool assistant has now unfold his wings and is again for an additional crack at administration with Purple Bull Salzburg.
The Austrian facet are at all times a preferred outfit amongst neutrals, lots of whom are watching to see whether or not their favorite Soccer Supervisor wonderkids can justify the hype in actual life.
All eyes will probably be on Oscar Gloukh, Amar Dedic, Mads Bidstrup, Lucas Gourna-Douath and Bobby Clark, in addition to Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic.
Many feared for Paris Saint-Germain following Mbappe’s summer time exit, however the French facet wasted little time switching up their picture and coming again with a bang.
Their younger facet has been cooking underneath Luis Enrique, successful 4 from 4 due to the dazzling showings of Bradley Barcola and Joao Neves, and they are going to be eager to show they will compete for this trophy even with out Mbappe within the ranks.
Girona will head to Paris on Wednesday seeking to bounce again from a crushing 4-1 defeat to Barcelona.
Diego Simeone fought and fought and fought for Conor Gallagher to affix Atletico Madrid from Chelsea this summer time, and the midfielder has shortly lived as much as the hype.
Greeted by a hero’s welcome, the 24-year-old has already received over supporters of his new membership and even scored his first objective for Atleti within the weekend’s 3-0 win over Valencia.
Gallagher will lead his new facet out on Thursday for a doubtlessly tough conflict with RB Leipzig.
Barcelona are arguably the in-form workforce in Europe. They have been completely flying underneath Hansi Flick and have shortly pressured their approach again into the record of pre-tournament favourites to go all the best way this season.
Their first take a look at underneath the Champions League lights comes away to Monaco, who’re unbeaten in Ligue 1 and boast a imply defence that has conceded simply as soon as in 4 video games this season – and that was a penalty.
With Dani Olmo lacking by means of damage, Lamine Yamal might want to arise and produce one in all his high performances to information Barca by means of this one.
Arsenal will welcome Declan Rice again into the workforce after he served his home suspension, however the Gunners stay with out the injured Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino. There are even fears Bukayo Saka may very well be set for a spell on the sidelines.
An away journey to final season’s Europa League winners Atalanta on Thursday will show a large take a look at to a strained squad, not least as a result of Mikel Arteta additionally must have one eye on Sunday’s conflict of the titans towards Manchester Metropolis.
Arteta will want all his tactical acumen to navigate this tough interval and hold his greatest names wholesome for what might simply be a season-defining 4 days.
