Spanish giants Barcelona travel to the Principality to face AS Monaco in their UEFA Champions League opener at Stade Louis II. The Catalan club, last crowned Champions of Europe in 2014/15, is desperate to battle their way back into the European elite after years in the wilderness and after a strong start under new coach Hansi Flick, their hopes are rising. Flick’s men have five wins from five in La Liga and have Spain’s teenage Euro 2024 star Lamine Yamal playing a decisive role in their attack. However, Monaco shocked Barcelona when the two sides met last month.

Adi Hutter’s Monaco were Barca’s guests for their pre-season curtain raiser and scored a shock 3-0 win at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium. Monaco have also started the season on a positive note, winning three of their first four games.

When is the Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match taking place?

The Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will take place on Friday, September 20 (IST).

Where will the Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match be played?

The Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be played at Stade Louis II, Monaco.

What time will the Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match start?

The Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will start at 12:30 AM.

Which TV channels will live telecast the Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?

The Monaco vs Barcelona UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live telecast on the Sony Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?

The Monaco vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Arsenal face a tough trip to Bergamo in the first round of the UEFA Champions League as they take on Europa League champions Atalanta on Friday. After seeing off local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s men eye a winning start to their European dream at the Gewiss Stadium. Arteta confirmed Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be out “for a while” with an ankle injury he suffered on international duty with Norway. Declan Rice too will be out of the Gunners’ trip to Italy, due to a suspension.

Atalanta, on the other hand, will pose an intriguing first hurdle for Arsenal after their unexpected Europa League triumph last season. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side bounced back from successive Serie A defeats against Torino and Inter Milan with a 3-2 win against Fiorentina on Sunday.

When is the Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match taking place?

The Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will take place on Friday, September 20 (IST).

Where will the Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match be played?

The Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be played at the Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo.

What time will the Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match start?

The Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will start at 12:30 AM.

Which TV channels will live telecast the Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?

The Atalanta vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live telecast on the Sony Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?

The Atalanta vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Approaching a decade since Barcelona last won the Champions League, the Catalan giants face Monaco in this season’s European opener on Thursday aiming to make a statement. The club are desperate to battle their way back into the European elite after years in the wilderness and after a strong start under new coach Hansi Flick, their hopes are rising. There were some signs they were on the right track in Europe last season when they reached the quarter-finals for the first time in four years.

After a 3-2 win at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg they collapsed at home after Ronald Araujo was sent off in the first half with Barca leading by a goal.

PSG netted three times to oust Xavi Hernandez’s side 6-4 on aggregate and the coach was sacked at the end of a disappointing trophyless season.

Flick’s Barcelona have five wins from five in La Liga and have Spain’s teenage Euro 2024 star Lamine Yamal playing a decisive role in their attack.

The winger has developed at an alarming rate since making his Barcelona debut aged just 15 in April 2023.

Now 17, Yamal struck twice as Barcelona thrashed Girona 4-1 in the league on Sunday, avenging two heavy defeats by their fellow Catalans last season and demonstrating the team’s early progress.

“Lamine is a difference-maker… for me, he is already one of the best players in the world at 17 years of age,” said admiring Girona coach Michel Sanchez.

“It is difficult to imagine that after (Lionel) Messi another one would come along, but I hope that Lamine keeps improving because he’s a player than can reach that level.”

Even though comparisons to eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, Barcelona’s best ever player, pile pressure on Yamal, they keep flooding in.

Yamal’s emergence is yet another feather in the cap of the club’s feted La Masia youth academy and as shown on the way to glory with Spain in Germany this summer, he can make the difference for his team in any match.

The winger already has three goals and four assists this season, well on the way of matching his tally of 12 goal contributions last term.

Barcelona are still stricken by economic difficulties, signing only Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig this summer and struggling for a few weeks to register him with La Liga, but they have an immediate superstar in Yamal.

Defender Pau Cubarsi, also 17, is another from La Masia playing at a high level, along with other homegrown squad members like Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado and Gavi, who is on the comeback trail after a long-term injury.

The emergence of these players can help Barca battle with the continent’s best on a more even footing despite their financial handcuffs.

‘Confidence’ game

Barcelona welcome Bayern Munich to their temporary Olympic Stadium home and travel to face last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund in the pick of their group stage fixtures.

Hosts Monaco were Barca’s guests for their pre-season curtain raiser and scored a shock 3-0 victory in Catalonia.

That is long forgotten now with the Catalans raising their game several levels in the weeks since and showing the sort of swagger that helped them win La Liga in 2023.

“I think you can see the confidence we have, and when we have the ball, we have the quality to play and to create chances,” said Flick after the destruction of Girona.

The game brought one piece of bad news as Olmo suffered a hamstring injury which rules him out for around a month.

Flick may be forced to move winger Raphinha back into a central role against Monaco, the position in which he started the season before Olmo was registered.

Despite the injury, with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski in strong form and Yamal’s star continuing to rise, Barcelona are ready to show they have recovered European powerhouse status. 

Bayern Munich became the first team to score nine goals in a game in the modern Champions League as the new format of Europe’s elite club competition kicked off on Tuesday, with title holders Real Madrid and Liverpool also among the winners. Harry Kane scored four goals, including three penalties, as Vincent Kompany‘s Bayern hammered Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 at the Allianz Arena. Michael Olise scored twice on his Champions League debut, while Raphael Guerreiro, Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka were also on target for the home team in Germany.

Dinamo were 3-0 down at the break but scored twice in two minutes just after half-time to give the hosts a scare, with Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara on target. But Bayern then scored six times from the 57th minute onwards.

“An amazing game, a bit of a crazy game,” Kane told broadcaster DAZN. 

“It’s the first time I’ve scored three (penalties) in a game. That doesn’t happen at all really.”

Bayern had been the last team to score eight in a Champions League match, when they beat Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter-finals in 2020.

It was a remarkable way to mark the opening night of the brand-new Champions League, with the competition now featuring 36 teams all pooled together in one giant league instead of the old group stage.

Every participant now plays eight games against eight different opponents, with the top eight teams at the end of the league phase advancing automatically to the last 16.

Those finishing from ninth to 24th will go through to a play-off round to decide the remaining sides in the last 16, while the bottom 12 will be eliminated.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, introduced the new format to ward off the threat of a breakaway Super League by the biggest clubs, but it also hopes the changes will breathe new life into the competition.

Mbappe on target for Real

There was plenty of excitement around the continent on Tuesday, with reigning champions Madrid made to work hard before beating VfB Stuttgart 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Kylian Mbappe marked his first game in the competition with Real by scoring the opening goal just after half-time.

However, Deniz Undav equalised midway through the second half for a Stuttgart side appearing in the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

Real nevertheless emerged victorious as Antonio Rudiger headed them back in front against his old side seven minutes from time, and Brazilian youngster Endrick got the third goal in stoppage time.

“I know I can do more, each game I feel better and now I’m scoring goals, and I’m happy here,” new signing Mbappe told broadcaster Movistar.

“What we know is that the Champions League has changed and it’s important to win quickly to see if we can qualify quickly or not.”

Liverpool marked their return to Europe’s top table by coming from behind to win 3-1 away to seven-time champions AC Milan in Italy.

Christian Pulisic gave Milan an early lead, but Ibrahima Konate equalised and Virgil van Dijk headed the away side in front before the interval. Dominik Szoboszlai then wrapped up the victory for Liverpool at San Siro.

Villa back in the big time

Aston Villa enjoyed a 3-0 win away to Swiss champions Young Boys in Bern in their first ever match in the modern Champions League, 41 years after they last appeared in the old European Cup.

Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey scored in the first half for the 1982 European champions, and Amadou Onana completed their victory late on.

Villa boss Unai Emery wanted his team to take three points as a tribute to the club’s former striker Gary Shaw, a member of their European Cup-winning side who died on Monday aged 63 after being injured in a fall.

“Forty-two years (ago) they achieved winning the Champions League. We want to try and follow what that team achieved,” Emery said.

Elsewhere Juventus beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in Turin, with Kenan Yildiz opening the scoring in some style and Weston McKennie and Nicolas Gonzalez also netting. Ismael Saibari pulled one back.

Portuguese champions Sporting beat Lille 2-0 at home, with impressive Swedish striker Viktor Gyoekeres on target before a Zeno Debast piledriver. The French side had Angel Gomes sent off.

The action continues on Wednesday, including a rematch of the 2023 final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.

With Kylian Mbappe to his left and Vinicius Jr to his right, Endrick still doubled down on himself to cap off a dream debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Fresh from exchanging wedding vows and earning the ”Bobby” nickname in the Galacticos’ lockerroom, Brazilian sensation Endrick fired his first of many for Carlo Ancelotti’s men as Mbappe-starrer Real Madrid kickstarted their title defence with a hard-fought 3-1 win over gutsy VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Holders Real Madrid followed by contenders Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Juventus opened their accounts on matchday 1 of Europe’s biggest competition at the club level. Kicking off the new format of the 36-team Champions League tournament with nine goals, six-time winners Bayern Munich laid down the gauntlet by crushing Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 at the famous Allianz Arena in Munich. Hosts Sporting CP registered a 2-0 win over Lille while seven-time champions AC Milan bowed down to Liverpool after drawing first blood at San Siro.

Madness from Musiala

Unselfish from Rodrygo

Two gorgeous assists @Lays_football || #UCLassists pic.twitter.com/puKJ3lxkWw

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 17, 2024

1) Young Yildiz doing Del Piero things for Juventus

The youngest crop of Aston Villa supporters was not even born when the Premier League club featured in the European competition prior to the 2024-2025 season. Becoming the 11th English club to play the Champions League, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa defeated BSC Young Boys 3-0 in their first away fixture. Returning to the Champions League fold, Serie A heavyweights Juventus outclassed PSV 3-1 to announce their arrival. Netting an Alessandro Del Piero-esque goal, youngster Kenan Yildiz eclipsed the Italian legend to become the youngest-ever Champions League scorer for the Old Lady. Juve missed the last season of the European competition after being banned for breaching UEFA club licensing and FFP rules.

Yıldız’s finesse or Debast’s rocket?

Pick your Goal of the Day #UCLGOTD || @Heineken

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 17, 2024

2) Kane conquers Wayne in Champions League

Reopening the best England striker debate in the history of the beautiful game, goal-machine Harry Kane shattered Wayne Rooney‘s record on the opening day. The Bayern Munich forward netted four goals against Dinamo Zagreb in the 11-goal encounter. Kane holds the record for most Champions League goals by an English player. Taking his tally to 33 goals in the Champions League, Kane is three strikes ahead of the Manchester United and Everton legend. The England talisman scored two goals from the penalty spot for the Vincent Kompany-coached side. Thanks to Kane’s goal-scoring exploits, Bayern claimed the record for most goals in a Champions League game.

A work of art. #MiaSanMia #FCBDIN #UCL pic.twitter.com/GKbm6CgPq9

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) September 17, 2024

3) Un-Real debut for Endrick; Mbappe delivers for Blancos

Reigning champions Real Madrid made amends after playing a quiet first half against Stuttgart by coining the opener through Mbappe, seconds into the final 45 at the Bernabeu. Rodrigo paved the way for Mbappe to score his first Champions League for Los Blancos. Only one behind French icon Thiery Henry, Mbappe has matched Alfredo Di Stefano’s goal tally with his 49th strike in the Champions League. Interestingly, Mbappe was not the only Champions League debutant on the scoresheet for the La Liga heavyweights. Just 15 minutes into his Champions League intro, wonderkid Endrick produced the sucker punch as his left-footed strike from outside the box sealed Madrid’s first win of the new season. Surpassing club legend Raul Gonzalez, Endrick (18 years and 58 days) has become the youngest player to score for Real Madrid in Champions League history.

AC Milan vs Liverpool LIVE Streaming: When And Where To Watch© AFP

Real Madrid vs Stuttgart LIVE Streaming: Reigning UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid will kick off their 2024-25 season in the tournament against German Bundesliga runners-up VfB Stuttgart at home. The 15-time champions will also likely welcome back midfield stalwarts Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni from injury absences. This is the first of eight group games, after a change to the Champions League format. Things are on the up for Los Blancos, with summer signing Kylian Mbappe bagging goals in the previous two La Liga games. 

On the other hand, Stuttgart are in topsy-turvy form, with one win, one draw and one loss from their opening three Bundesliga matches.

When is the Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match taking place?

The Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will take place on Wednesday, September 18 (IST).

Where will the Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match be played?

The Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid.

What time will the Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match start?

The Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will start at 12:30 AM.

Which TV channels will live telecast the Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?

The Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live telecast on the Sony Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?

The Real Madrid vs Stuttgart, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.

(All details are as per information shared by the broadcaster)

The format may be new, but few would bet against the winner staying the same. As if record 15-time winners Real Madrid’s Champions League prospects were not great enough already, superstar striker Kylian Mbappe‘s arrival makes Los Blancos the most daunting team in the competition. German side Stuttgart have the honours of facing the reigning kings of Europe in the opening week of the competition, travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday. Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Wembley final to claim the trophy for the sixth time in the last 11 years.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, the most decorated manager in the history of the tournament with five triumphs, has not yet found the perfect set-up to get Mbappe firing from open play, but few doubt he will.

The 25-year-old had arguably his best game for the club in the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday in La Liga, threatening the Basque side with his pace and connecting well with Vinicius Junior in attack.

Mbappe scored, albeit from the penalty spot, and he is looking forward to his Champions League debut in Madrid’s resplendent white.

“It will be very important for me — as I said on the first day, I came to Madrid to live these type of nights,” explained the striker.

“I am very focused on what we have to do, the Champions League has changed a lot, it’s a new competition, and we have to win to start well.”

The new-look structure has thrown up ties for Madrid at home against Dortmund, in a rematch of last season’s showpiece, and away at Liverpool, whom they defeated in the 2022 final.

First come Stuttgart, continuing a streak of German opponents for Los Blancos, after they faced Bayern Munich in the semis before Dortmund in London.

Los Blancos have played one European game already this season, defeating Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup in August, with Mbappe scoring on his debut.

Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger came through Stuttgart’s youth system and played in the first team for four seasons.

Ancelotti has problems in midfield with Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni out injured, although the Italian was hopeful the latter two could take part against the Germans.

Star-studded

While Madrid’s shiny new toy Mbappe is drawing much of the attention, Ancelotti has plenty of stars at his disposal with the talent to turn defeats into draws and draws into victories, something of a penchant for the club, particularly under the lights in Europe.

Bellingham was Madrid’s key player for the first half of last season, making an immediate impact on his arrival from Dortmund.

Brazilian forward Vinicius was vital in the home straight, netting a brace in the semis against Bayern and scoring again in the final.

The forward has struggled to find his best level at the start of the season but his coach will show plenty of patience.

“We love him here because although right now he’s not at his best, nobody can forget that with Vini we have won two Champions Leagues,” pointed out Ancelotti last week.

Mbappe says he is working on his on-pitch relationship with Vinicius, with both netting penalties in the win over La Real.

“We try to find each other in training to create the connection and help the team,” continued Mbappe.

“He’s a great player and I’m happy to play with him in Real Madrid — what’s important is goals, not who takes the penalties.”

Mbappe has three La Liga goals from four games this season, including two penalties, while Vinicius has two, both from the spot.

Once the two forwards are firing on all cylinders in open play Madrid’s already sizeable chance of winning the Champions League yet again will grow further still.

Holders Real Madrid will face Liverpool away and host Borussia Dortmund in a repeat of last season’s final in the league stage of the new-look Champions League, the draw for which took place on Thursday. Every team will play eight games against eight different opponents in the new format of Europe’s elite club competition, with all 36 clubs now pooled together into one league rather than split into groups. Madrid, who have signed France superstar Kylian Mbappe since winning a record-extending 15th European Cup, will also notably play AC Milan at home and will go to Atalanta.

Real beat last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw earlier this month.

Liverpool, who are back in the Champions League after a one-season absence, will also notably meet Milan and take on tournament debutants Girona.

However, supporters of the Anfield club will perhaps be most excited about the prospect of hosting German champions Bayer Leverkusen, coached by former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, winners of the competition in 2023, will play at home to Italian champions Inter Milan and go to both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

However, they were also handed more comfortable opponents including Club Brugge, Sparta Prague and Slovan Bratislava, who have never played in the modern Champions League proper.

Other standout head-to-heads will include Bayern Munich against both PSG and Barcelona, and Arsenal against Inter and Paris.

The number of clubs in the Champions League has increased from 32 in the past, with the 36 participants split into four seeded pots of nine for the draw.

Every team faces two teams from each of the four pots, one at home and one away. The first matches will be played on September 17, 18 and 19.

The two extra matchdays in the new league phase will take place in January, at the end of which the top eight clubs in the 36-team classification will advance directly to the last 16.

Those ranked between ninth and 24th place will go through to play a play-off round from which will emerge the remaining eight sides advancing to the last 16.

The bottom 12 in the league phase will be eliminated altogether, with no clubs parachuting down into the Europa League as in the past.

The Europa League and third-tier Conference League, the draws for which take place on Friday, will also now feature 36 clubs, although the latter competition will involve only six matchdays in the league phase.

File image of UEFA Champions League trophy.© AFP