Champions League fixtures today – your guide to Wednesday’s games

Don’t fear, people, there’s one other dose of Champions League motion after the competitors returned on Tuesday night time.

The typical thrills and spills woven into the material of this competitors will little doubt be on full show throughout the eight group games happening on Wednesday.

There’s a Champions League debut for Union Berlin and a repeat of the enduring 1999 closing, whereas Arsenal additionally rejoice their lengthy-awaited return to the competitors. It’s been six lengthy years for the Gunners.

Here’s what you want to find out about Wednesday’s Champions League fixtures.

A wave of optimism surrounds this Galatasaray outfit, who’ll be trying to trigger an upset in Group A by progressing on the expense of Manchester United. Come on, we all know Bayern Munich are topping the group, proper?

The Turkish facet start at house on Matchday 1 in opposition to FC Copenhagen, who’ve emerged as Champions League regulars in current occasions. However, the Danish facet have not reached the knockout phases since 2010/11.

A raft of acquainted names will probably be in motion for the hosts, together with Dries Mertens, Hakim Ziyech, and Mauro Icardi.

It’s Real Madrid’s crown to regain this season after they had been thrashed by Manchester City within the semi-finals final outing.

The capital membership have entered a brand new daybreak within the wake of Karim Benzema’s exit, however there is a new Galactico on the town with Jude Bellingham making his Champions League bow for Madrid. First up for the 14-time champions are competitors debutants Union Berlin, who’ve repeatedly overwhelmed the chances beneath Urs Fischer to compete with the massive boys.

This could possibly be a possible banana pores and skin for Carlo Ancelotti’s facet in opposition to a relentless and dogged Union outfit.

Perhaps the standout fixture of Wednesday’s motion.

Bayern have dominated the pinnacle-to-head duel with United this century, and lots of anticipate them to coast in opposition to Erik ten Hag’s depleted outfit in Bavaria. Although, it is truthful to say that it is not precisely blissful households within the Bayern camp heading into this fixture.

Nevertheless, with the addition of Harry Kane, Thomas Tuchel’s facet are thought of the best menace to Man City’s crown this season. They’ll be trying to dominate within the group phases as soon as once more.

These two aren’t any strangers to each other after they met within the Europa League final season, though there are a number of variations to either side heading into their maiden Champions League duel of the group stage.

Drawn in a weak Group B, the Gunners will probably be eager to rejoice their return to this competitors with a win, though Peter Bosz’s guests are undoubtedly able to spoiling the occasion.

While Arsenal have began the marketing campaign in a managed method, PSV have opened up in typical Bosz style, with targets, targets, and extra targets! This could possibly be a cracking sport.

Sevilla’s quest for third place in Group B begins in opposition to a Lens facet competing within the Champions League for the primary time this century.

Franck Haise has labored wonders on the Ligue 1 membership, guiding them to second within the league final season, however the canny supervisor has his work minimize out if his facet are to take pleasure in success in Europe this time period. Lens sit on the backside of Ligue 1 after 5 games.

However, Sevilla have not precisely began the season brightly both. They did not safe their first win of the marketing campaign till the weekend, with their home woes from 2022/23 permeating by way of the summer season. The La Liga facet certified for the group phases by advantage of their inevitable Europa League triumph.

Napoli regarded set to take pleasure in a deep Champions League run final season after dazzling within the group phases, however they ran out of puff in the direction of the top of the marketing campaign and had been dumped out by Milan within the final eight.

Rudi Garcia is now on the helm following Luciano Spalletti’s exit, and the previous Lyon coach has endured a reasonably combined begin in Naples. There’s actually a spark lacking, though they rallied from two targets down to earn a degree in Genoa on the weekend.

Their Champions League marketing campaign begins in Braga in opposition to a facet who’ve began the brand new season with related indifference. The Portuguese workforce have not performed on this competitors since 2012/13.

Roger Schmidt’s facet emerged as one of many shock packages final season, though they had been solely in a position to match their efficiency in 2021/22 by reaching the quarter-finals.

Benfica purred on this competitors at occasions beneath Schmidt, they usually’ll be eager to make one other impression this time round. They topped a bunch containing PSG and Juventus final outing.

Group D seems to be a decent one on paper, so each contest is critical. Benfica start at house to Austrian behemoths RB Salzburg, who might spring a shock or two.

Inter have emerged as cup specialists beneath Simone Inzaghi they usually’ve continued from the place they left off final season initially of 2023/24.

The Nerazzurri appear to be the most effective workforce in Serie A proper now, with their thumping Derby della Madonnina victory reinforcing that notion. Their stellar type on the backend of 2022/23 helped them attain the ultimate of this competitors earlier than they had been overwhelmed by Man City in Istanbul.

The early indicators counsel Inter are primed for one more deep run.

Escaping Group H will not be easy, nonetheless, they usually’ve bought a troublesome opening sport in San Sebastian. Appearing for the primary time since 2013/14, Real Sociedad are one of many sides to hold a watch out for in the course of the group phases. Imanol Alguacil’s model of soccer may be very watchable, with Take Kubo poised for a breakout marketing campaign.

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