Arsenal under pressure to deliver, Trent uncertainty and Spurs set to shine: Champions League talking points

The UEFA Champions League is back, as the 2025-26 campaign arrives - and tonight’s fixtures are dripping with potentially explosive storylines and tasty sub-plots.

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are in action along with Real Madrid, record 15-time winners of European football’s elite competition.

There is also a mouthwatering clash between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, both former Champions League winners.

Here, DAZN News looks at the key angles surrounding the first set of games this evening.

How to watch the Champions League on DAZN

• Canada: Watch every Champions League game with a DAZN subscription

• U.S.: Watch three exclusive Champions League games every match week, in Spanish language, with a DAZN subscription

• New Zealand: Watch every Champions League game with a DAZN subscription

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Can Arsenal finally deliver in Europe?

Much has been made of the Gunners’ failure to win the Premier League during Mikel Arteta’s reign, and rightly so.

But their lack of success in the Champions League is similarly glaring.

They fell short again last season after being beaten by eventual winners Paris St-Germain at the semi-final stage.

Having signed Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze this summer, it is time for some serious progress at the Emirates.

After five years without any tangible success, that means delivering some long-awaited silverware to the Arsenal trophy cabinet.

Why not the Champions League? Their campaign begins in Bilbao tonight against Athletic Club.

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Real Madrid under pressure to come again

For a club of Real Madrid’s illustrious standing, last season was simply unacceptable.

They failed to lift a trophy for the first time since 2020-21 and Carlo Ancelotti was shown the door at the end of the campaign.

Into his place strode Xabi Alonso, a Madrid legend who carved out a hugely impressive managerial reputation at Bayern Leverkusen.  

Alonso led Leverkusen to their first ever Bundesliga title - secured without losing a game - as well as the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager during the 2023-24 campaign.

The former midfielder made 236 appearances for Madrid, winning the Champions League with them in 2014 having famously helped Liverpool to glory in Istanbulin 2005.

Much like the Reds, Madrid exist to win trophies and Alonso will look to take his team, Kylian Mbappe et al, all the way in this season's competition.

You know they will be there or thereabouts next spring.

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Trent to warm the bench again tonight?

Trent Alexander-Arnold has found life tough at Real Madrid since arriving at Anfield earlier this summer.

In Madrid’s opening four La Liga games, the England international has started just two of them and is yet to complete 90 minutes in the famous white jersey.

He started in the 1-0 win over Osasuna on the opening but was dropped for the next game with Dani Carvajal starting.

Alexander-Arnold then returned to the starting XI for the 2-1 home win over Real Mallorca yet was back on the bench again for last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Real Sociedad.

He came on to replace the more experienced Carvajal in that game, so it will be intriguing to see who Alonso starts tonight at home to Marseille.

The Los Blancos boss said last week: “Fortunately, we have healthy competition within the team, and they’re challenged internally because there are team-mates who are ready.

“It also happens in other positions, like centre back or winger. Whoever deserves it will play; it’s going to be very repetitive all year.”

 

Tottenham Hotspur a surprise package?

Nobody seems quite sure how good Spurs could be this season in the Champions League, least of all themselves.

They are back in Europe's top club competition for the first time since the 2022/23 season, qualifying by winning the Europa League last season under former manager Ange Postecoglou.

It is a new chapter being written by new boss Thomas Frank and there is no denying there is plenty of quality in his squad.

Maybe they lack the depth to go deep in the competition, but victory at home to Villarreal tonight would have Spurs fans dreaming of more European glory.

Visionhaus/Getty Images

 

Spotlight on Bellingham after recent spat

Much like Alexander-Arnold in Madrid, Jobe Bellingham is still finding his feet after swapping English football for life on the continent.

Bellingham, 19, joined Borussia Dortumund from newly-promoted Sunderland this summer.

He started their first two Bundesliga games but was a substitute at the weekend in their 2-0 win at Heidenheim, coming on in the 66th minute.

The teenager’s father Mark was allegedly involved in an incident following Dortmund’s season-opener away to St. Pauli.

Jobe started the game but was taken off at half-time by coach Niko Kovac and according to reports in Germany, Mark Bellingham waited in the tunnel after full-time and questioned sporting director Sebastian Kehl about the decision. 

He was said to be upset both by his son’s withdrawal and and Dortmund’s collapse, with the team surrendering a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3.

Dortmund have tightened their post-match rules by barring players' families from the dressing room area.

What kind of impact might Bellingham have in tonight's mouthwatering trip to Juventus?

 

Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 1 

Tuesday 16 September 

• Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal
• PSV vs Union Saint-Gilloise
• Benfica vs Qarabag FK
• Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund 
• Real Madrid vs Marseille 
• Tottenham vs Villarreal 

Wednesday 17 September 

• Olympiacos vs AE Pafos 
• Slavia Prague vs Bodo/Glimt 
• Ajax vs Inter 
• Bayern Munich vs Chelsea 
• Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid 
• PSG vs Atalanta 

Thursday, 18 September 

• Club Brugge vs Monaco 
• Copenhagen vs Bayer Leverkusen 
• Frankfurt vs Galatasaray 
• Manchester City vs Napoli 
• Newcastle vs Barcelona 
• Sporting vs Kairat Almaty 

Which Champions League matches are available on DAZN in the United States?

(All matches are available in Spanish. More matches to be added in the New Year.)

Matchweek 1

• Tuesday, Sept 16: Real Madrid vs. Marseille
• Wednesday, Sept. 17: PSG vs. Atalanta
• Thursday, Sept. 18: Manchester City vs. Napoli

Matchweek 2

• Tuesday, Sept. 30: Galatasaray vs. Liverpool
• Wednesday, Oct. 1: Villarreal vs. Juventus
• Wednesday, Oct. 1: Barcelona vs. PSG

Matchweek 3

• Tuesday, Oct. 21: Villarreal vs. Manchester City
• Wednesday, Oct. 22: Real Madrid vs. Juventus
• Wednesday, Oct. 22: Bayern Munich vs. Club Brugge

Matchweek 4

• Tuesday, Nov. 4: PSG vs. Bayern Munich
• Wednesday, Nov. 5: Inter Milan vs. Kairat Almaty
• Wednesday, Nov. 5: Newcastle vs. Athletic Club

Matchweek 5

• Tuesday, Nov. 25: Manchester City vs. Bayer Leverkusen
• Wednesday, Nov. 26: Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
• Wednesday, Nov. 26: Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan

Matchweek 6

• Tuesday, Dec. 9: Atalanta vs. Chelsea
• Wednesday, Dec. 10: Club Brugge vs. Arsenal
• Wednesday, Dec. 10: Real Madrid vs. Manchester City