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Soccer

Liverpool ready to fire, Isak debut, Chelsea's Kane test and PSG's title defence: Champions League talking points

DAZN

17, Sep

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Tonight sees the opening round of this season’s Champions League continue with some huge clashes.

Liverpool are set to hand Alexander Isak a debut in their home game with Athletic Madrid while holders Paris St-Germain open the defence of their crown with a visit from Atalanta.

Here, DAZN News picks out five key storylines ahead of this evening’s eagerly-anticipated action.

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Liverpool dreaming of number seven

Liverpool fans love a European night at Anfield and the atmosphere should be pretty special when Arne Slot’s men kick off their 2025-26 campaign with a visit from Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid.

Having made a perfect start to the defence of their Premier League title with four straight wins, the Reds will feel confident about another victory tonight.

Liverpool have been crowned champions of Europe six times – more than any other British club – and that illustrious history will be felt this evening.

Reds fans refer to their club as ‘European royalty’ and Slot's huge summer spending spree has encouraged hopes of a seventh European Cup this season.

@liverpoolfc

All eyes on Isak ahead of Reds bow

It seems a pretty decent bet that Alexander Isak will make his debut at some point this evening.

And what a stage to do it on; a Champions League opener at Anfield in front of a hugely expectant capacity crowd.

The Sweden striker may start on the bench given Liverpool's formidable start to the season, but he will surely play some part against Diego Simeone's side.

What odds on Isak getting on the scoresheet? That would be some story.

Alexander Isak Liverpool 2025 Liverpool FC

Huge test for Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has performed a seriously impressive job since arriving from Leicester City last summer.

He guided the Blues to the Conference League title and Champions League qualification before winning the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

Quite how far he can take Chelsea in this season’s Champions League remains to be seen.

There is a youthful energy about Maresca’s side ahead of tonight’s tough opener away to Bayern Munich.

The German giants are Bundesliga champions and have won the European Cup six times – while in-form Harry Kane has started the season with nine goals in six games.

Chelsea, though, are officially the best club side on the planet following their Stateside success this summer and can head to Germany with confidence.

Maresca, Enrique 2025 Getty Images

PSG out to retain their crown

After decades of trying, Paris St-Germain finally got their hands on the European Cup last season.

They smashed Inter Milan 5-0 on a hugely emotional night in Munich.

That was testament to the outstanding work of PSG coach Luis Enrique, who became only the sixth coach to win this tournament with two different clubs after his triumph with Barcelona in 2015.

Enrique has transformed the Parisian giants, who host Serie A outfit Atalanta tonight in the French capital in their Champions League opener.

It might take a special team to stop PSG, who won a treble last season, from retaining their Champions League crown this term.

Steph Chambers - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Inter ready to erase the pain

The scars of last season’s humiliating Champions League defeat to PSG perhaps may never fully heal for some Inter players and supporters.

But they need to move on from that nightmare evening in Munich heading into tonight’s trip to Dutch giants Ajax.

Cristian Chivu has refused to change too much upon his arrival at Inter in the summer.

The Romanian took over from Simone Inzaghi but the pressure is already mounting on him.

Since opening their Serie A campaign with a 5-0 home win over Torino, Chivu’s men lost at home to Udinese and were then beaten 4-3 at Juventus on Sunday.

Chivu has been criticised in the Italian media and tonight’s game in Amsterdam has taken on added importance.

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