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Soccer

Pep's Euro glory quest, De Bruyne return and classic Newcastle-Barca rematch: Champions League talking points

DAZN

18, Sep

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

Manchester City kick off their quest for glory with a mouthwatering reunion with club legend Kevin de Bruyne, who joined Napoli in the summer.

The visit of the Serie A champions to Etihad Stadium is one of the games of matchday one, with Newcastle United’s clash with Spanish giants Barcelona similarly compelling.

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

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Can Pep inspire City to the Holy Grail again?

This is Pep Guardiola’s 10th season as manager of Manchester City and the success he has enjoyed has been quite remarkable.

Or at least it has been domestically.

He has won six Premier League titles and overseen City’s feat in becoming the first side to be crowned English champions in four successive seasons.

There have also been two FA Cups and four League Cups enter the trophy cabinet since Guardiola arrived in the summer of 2016.

But in Europe, it has been a different story.

The treble-clinching 1-0 Champions League final win over Inter Milan in 2022-23 remains City’s only success in the European Cup.

There have been numerous near-misses and agonising defeats under Guardiola.

But with the way they demolished Manchester United on Sunday, and with the likes of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland bang in form, perhaps City can start thinking about ruling Europe once again.

Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Return of a club legend

Tonight’s visit of Napoli is an occasion to stir the blood, not least because Antonio Conte’s men are the champions of Italy and a formidable force.

But the inclusion in their ranks of Manchester City legend Kevin de Bruyne adds a huge layer of intrigue to proceedings.

The Belgian moved to Naples on a free transfer this summer following the end of his trophy-laden decade at Etihad Stadium.

Over his ten years at there, De Bruyne won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League as part of 2023's treble triumph, as well as racking up 119 assists - only Ryan Giggs can better that in the league's history.

“I know it will be strange,” he said. “City is my club and that will never change.”

De Bruyne can be assured of the warmest of receptions by City fans and they will be rightly wary of his threat.

The 34-year-old has been on fire this season, scoring five goals in as many appearances for club and country.

Ominously, Conte’s side sit top of Serie A with three wins in three games.

Kevin De Bruyne Getty

Can the Magpies make their mark in Europe?

Eddie Howe may find himself immortalised in a bronze statue outside St James’ Park one day.

His place in Toon folklore is assured after he guided Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years last season.

Their 2-1 victory over Liverpool in last season’s Carabao Cup final will go down in history and they went on to secure Champions League qualification.

Then Alexander Isak jumped ship for Anfield and it was all doom and gloom on Tyneside.

But Nick Woltemade has arrived from Stuttgart in a club-record £69million transfer and scored the winner on his debut against Wolves last weekend.

Thus optimism will drip from every corner of St James’ Park this evening when Barcelona arrive.

This is the start of just Newcastle’s second Champions League campaign in over 20 years.

In 2023-24, they finished bottom of their Champions League group in a bitterly disappointing return to Europe’s premier competition.

Now they are back and will look to kick things off in style against the Spanish champions.

Deutschland Nick Woltemade U21 EM 250625 Getty Images

Visit of Spanish giants evokes memories of 1997 classic

Faustino Asprilla scored a hat-trick for Newcastle against Barcelona to secure a thrilling 3-2 win in the Champions League at St James' Park, September 17, 1997.

Now, 28 years on, the sides meet again for the third time in the Champions League. It should be some night on Tyneside.

Barcelona, meanwhile, won La Liga last season but exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage after losing 7-6 on aggregate to Inter Milan.

Newcastle and their vaunted opponents will both be looking to make a statement this evening.

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Renewed confidence for Leverkusen

Having taken over from Erik ten Hag just two league games into the season, Kasper Hjulmand got off to a successful start as Bayer Leverkusen coach.

Last Friday, he led his new team to a 3-1 home victory over in-form Eintracht Frankfurt despite being reduced to nine men.

That first Bundesliga win of the season should give the German vice-champions confidence as they travel to the Danish capital to face FC Copenhagen in their Champions League opener this evening.

The Danish champions lost top spot in the Danish Superliga at the weekend, suffering a painful 2-1 defeat to bitter rivals Brøndby - a result they will be determined to bounce back from.

The game will be extra special for Hjulmand as he returns to his home country and to Parken – where he experienced both highs and lows during his four-year spell as Denmark coach.

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