Five Champions League matches to watch this week

Eighteen matches are played between 8 and 10 September on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 Champions League. We have picked out the five that stand out for their quality and their storylines. Galatasaray's match heads the list; here are the fixtures that will be talked about most this week.

1) Sporting CP vs Galatasaray (9 September, 22:00): Galatasaray's Champions League opener, and a difficult away trip at that. With Victor Osimhen and Mario Lemina expected to be out for at least three weeks, Barış Alper Yılmaz is likely to be tried at centre-forward and summer signing Rafael Leão to come on in the second half. Sporting CP reached the quarter-finals last season before losing to eventual runners-up Arsenal, their best European campaign in the club's history (22 goals, six wins), and enter this season on a five-match winning run.

Why watch: the first indication of what identity Galatasaray can produce in Europe without their leading scorer. Sporting are 53 per cent favourites in the betting markets, but Galatasaray's four-match unbeaten run and the option of bringing on an experienced name like Leão in the second half make a surprise result possible.

2) Real Madrid vs Inter (8 September, 22:00): José Mourinho's first major European test of his second Real Madrid spell — against the club he left as champions in 2010, with Inter head coach Cristian Chivu himself a member of that 2010 squad. Real Madrid are looking to recover after a surprise defeat at Betis; Mbappé's four goals this season catch the eye. Inter arrive unbeaten in 15 matches under Chivu.

Why watch: Mourinho's emotional return, his first big test against his former player Chivu, and the two clubs' Champions League history. Real Madrid have scored eight and conceded two across the last four meetings, but whether they can extend that run through a patchy spell is the question.

3) Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid (9 September, 22:00): Andoni Iraola, who left Bournemouth to take charge of Liverpool in the summer, takes charge of his first Champions League match at Anfield, against the vastly experienced Diego Simeone. Liverpool came away from Ipswich with a 2-0 win after back-to-back 2-2 draws with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest; Alexander Isak has scored three in his last two. Atlético Madrid arrive after a 3-0 league defeat to Athletic Bilbao; striker Alexander Sørloth is injured and Arnau Ortiz suspended. The sides also met in last season's league phase, Liverpool winning 3-2 at Anfield through Virgil van Dijk; Liverpool have won the last three Champions League meetings.

Why watch: a new head coach's first big test, two sides in uneven form, and how Isak's scoring touch fares against a fragile Atlético defence.

4) Napoli vs Arsenal (9 September, 22:00): Arsenal, runners-up in last season's Champions League final, have won all four of their league matches this season and arrive with an 83 per cent win rate and 67 per cent away. Napoli come in on a difficult run after consecutive defeats to Como and Inter and are dealing with a long injury list; Arsenal are missing defender William Saliba, with Jurrien Timber and Cristhian Mosquera doubtful.

Why watch: an opening match between two sides whose form graphs point in opposite directions, a current comparison of Italian and English football, and the question of whether Napoli can use home advantage despite their injury crisis.

5) Porto vs Manchester City (8 September, 22:00): Manchester City under new head coach Enzo Maresca have won all three Premier League matches so far (Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Coventry) for nine points; City are listed as sixth favourites for the Champions League behind PSG, Barcelona and Arsenal. Hosts Porto have won all five of their league matches, scoring 11 and conceding one, and were Portuguese champions last season; they went out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage to Nottingham Forest.

Why watch: an opener between two sides arriving in flawless domestic form, with questions over whether Erling Haaland will be rotated, and Maresca's City facing their first big away test.

Two further fixtures stand out beyond those five. In Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal (8 September, 22:00) the hosts arrive on a three-match winning run while the visitors have only two points from four league games; Dortmund won this fixture 4-0 last season. In Barcelona vs Feyenoord (9 September, 19:45), Hansi Flick's side, four from four in LaLiga with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha to the fore, host a Feyenoord team on a 19-match unbeaten run. For the full opening-weekend schedule, Türkiye kick-off times and broadcast details, see our main Champions League guide. Detailed previews of Galatasaray's match and Real Madrid vs Inter are in separate stories.