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Why Thursday’s Champions League action could be more intriguing than you think
The Champions League is back, and fans are treated to an extra bonus night of action on Matchday 1, with a third evening from the opening round of the league phase.
Following on from two drama-fuelled evenings on Tuesday and Wednesday, there's plenty more to take in in the final batch of fixtures.
Man United are back
After two seasons away, Manchester United are back in the Champions League and their first participation in the league phase of the competition.
The last time they reached Europe's top table, they managed just one win and finished bottom of their group, but they return as a much better-functioning outfit under the charge of Michael Carrick.
Carrick proved his Premier League credentials in interim charge last term, but takes a first foray in Europe as a manager, and has to balance United's domestic duties as well.
They open kindly, as they take on Champions League first-timers Sabah, who the Red Devils should have way too much for, given the profile of their opponents.
However, Carrick and co should be wary of the banana skin, because the last thing they'd want to ruin their Champions League comeback is a defeat to this season's minnows.
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The Ballon d'Or winner on show?
The nominations for the 2026 Ballon d'Or were released this week and the red-hot favourite to lift the famous Golden Ball is England skipper Harry Kane.
He'll be back in Champions League action tonight, ready to continue to show why he's deserving of being the first Bayern Munich player to win the award since 1981.
Kane led the German side to the semi-finals last season, but he and Bayern are determined to get their hands on the trophy and begin their campaign against last-season's surprise package Bodo/Glimt.
They'll need to be wary of the Norwegians after their giant-killing run in 2025-26, but with Kane leading the attack, the focus will be on the Ballon d'Or frontrunner.
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Como come to party
Serie A hasn't enjoyed too much success in the Champions League in recent times, with no representation beyond the round of 32 in last year's competition.
However, Como, could be the ones to watch in 2026, after they gate crashed the top four and qualified for Europe's elite for the first time in their history.
Under Cesc Fabregas, I Lariani continue to progress and have already made an encouraging start to their league season.
Now history will be made as they welcome RB Leipzig as their first opponents in the Champions League.
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Full fixtures and results list for Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 Champions League
Tuesday September 8
- AEK Athens 1-0 LASK
- Club Brugge 3-2 Aston Villa
- Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Villarreal
- Lille 2-3 Real Betis
- Porto 0-2 Manchester City
- Real Madrid 2-1 Inter
Wednesday September 9
- Barcelona vs. Feyenoord
- Stuttgart vs. Viking
- Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid
- Napoli vs. Arsenal
- PSG vs. Slovan Bratislava
- Sporting CP vs. Galatasaray
Thursday September 10
- Fenerbahçe vs. Roma (5.45pm)
- PSV vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (5.45pm)
- Bayern Munich vs. Bodo/Glimt (8pm)
- Como vs. RB Leipzig (8pm)
- Manchester United vs. Sabah (8pm)
- Slavia Prague vs. Lens (8pm)
How to watch the Champions League on DAZN
- US: Watch three exclusive Champions League games every match week, in Spanish language, with a DAZN subscription
- Canada: Watch every Champions League game with a DAZN subscription
- New Zealand: Watch every Champions League game with a DAZN subscription
