PSG Chase Real Madrid’s Historic Record as Real Madrid Face Inter in Champions League Opener

The Champions League is back with its revamped format for a third consecutive season, bringing another long European campaign filled with new matchups, rising clubs and familiar giants.

The league phase features 36 teams, with each club playing eight matches against eight different opponents. The top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing from ninth to 24th will enter a two-legged playoff for the remaining eight places. Those finishing from 25th to 36th will be eliminated, with no Europa League safety net this time.

One of the biggest stories of the new campaign is Paris Saint-Germain. After winning their first Champions League title last season, Luis Enrique’s side now have an opportunity to chase an even bigger piece of history.

Only Real Madrid have managed to win three consecutive European Cups in the Champions League era. PSG will now begin their title defence with the ambition of establishing themselves among Europe’s greatest teams.

Dreams of the newcomers

Four clubs will make their Champions League main-phase debut this season: Como, Sabah FC, LASK Linz and Viking.

Como, coached by former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, earned their place in Europe after an impressive Serie A campaign. LASK Linz return to the spotlight after winning the Austrian league for the first time in 61 years, while Viking ended a 34-year wait for the Norwegian title.

Sabah’s journey is perhaps the most remarkable. Founded only a decade ago, the Azerbaijani club won the domestic double last season before navigating the qualifying rounds to reach the league phase.

New rivalries to watch

The Champions League has become familiar with blockbuster meetings such as Real Madrid vs Manchester City and Barcelona vs PSG. This season, however, the new format has created several first-time encounters.

PSG will meet Roma for the first time in the competition, while former European champions Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund will also face each other for the first time in the Champions League.

There will also be plenty of reunions. Rodri could face his former club Manchester City in Barcelona colours, while Cesc Fabregas will return to Camp Nou as Como’s head coach.

Mourinho begins with a special reunion

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid brings another emotional storyline. His Champions League campaign begins against Inter Milan, the club he famously led to European glory in 2010.

Mourinho guided Inter to a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the 2010 final, completing a historic treble. Now, from the Real Madrid dugout, he will begin his latest European journey against his former club.

The Champions League final will be played on June 5 next year at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium. Until then, Europe’s elite will battle through the new format in pursuit of the continent’s biggest club prize.