Week One standout fixtures

The UEFA Champions League enters the league phase this week, with Matchday 1 throwing up plenty of exciting fixtures spread across three days.

The league phase replaces the old group stage, where 32 teams were split into eight groups of four, with the top two going through to the last 16.

Now we have 36 teams, with the top eight at the end of the league phase going straight through to the last 16.

The 16 teams finishing from ninth through to 24th will then battle it out in the knockout phase play-offs to book a place in the last 16, while teams 25 to 36 will be eliminated in January.

Now we have eight matchdays to look forward to, with the first taking place in the early hours of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Here are the pick of the 18 matches taking place.

Manchester City v Inter Milan (Thursday)

Manchester City are 3.00 to win the UEFA Champions League outright in 2024/25 and have a tricky opener against Inter Milan, who are 26.00 to win the tournament for the fourth time in their history.

The game will be a repeat of the 2023 UEFA Champions League final in Instanbul, which City won 1-0 thanks to a goals from Spanish ace Rodri.

City can be backed at 1.53 to start their campaign with a win, while Inter are 6.25 and the draw is available at 4.33.

AC Milan v Liverpool (Wednesday)

Liverpool also have a tricky opening game in Matchday 1 when they travel to take on AC Milan.

These two sides have plenty of history in this competition with some epic battles throughout the years, including 2005 and 2007.

Liverpool beat Milan in the 2005 final, before the Italians gained revenge two years later.

Arne Slot’s side can be backed at 1.90 to start with a win in Milan, while the home side are 3.60 and the draw is available at 3.80.

Atalanta v Arsenal (Friday)

Arsenal are among the hot fancies to win the UEFA Champions League this season and can be backed at 9.00 to go all the way.

The Gunners also face a trip to Italy to take on Atalanta, who have proven to be a dark horse in the past and can be backed at 51.00.

Arsenal are priced at 1.85 to begin with a win, while Atalanta are 4.00, with the draw 3.80.

Real Madrid v VFB Stuttgart (Wednesday)

Real Madrid are the current holders of the UEFA Champions League and have won the competition a staggering 15 times.

This season they will look to make it 16 and are priced at 4.50 to get the job done.

Los Blancos open up the campaign with a home clash against VFB Stuttgart, who will be hoping to make it into the last 16.

Although there are no easy games, Real are 1.28 to win, with Stuttgart available at 9.50 to pull off a huge shock at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Bayern Munich v Dinamo Zagreb (Wednesday)

Bayern are 13.00 to win the UEFA Champions League this season and have a comfortable opener against Dinamo Zagreb.

The Croatian champions have it all to do and are 13.00 to pull off a huge boilover in Munich.