The group phase of the 2025-2026 Champions League began this week with a first day full of events. The games, which took place from September 16-18, were marked by spectacular scores and notable surprises. In particular, there was the draw between the Juventus and Borussia Dortmund (4-4), the convincing victory of Paris Saint-Germain against Atalanta (4-0), and the unexpected victory of Qarabağ against Benfica in Lisbon (2-3). After this first day, the general ranking of the 36 clubs was published, specifying the qualification rules: the first eight go directly to the eighth finals, the following go through a dam tower, and the last twelve are eliminated.

The first day confirmed the strength of major European clubs such as Liverpool and Barcelona, while offering impressive offensive performances by Belgian teams. For Olympique de Marseille (OM), the competition is expected to be particularly difficult, with confident and potentially revanchard opponents. This situation is all the more worrying as OM faces increased competition in a context where players are more determined than ever to succeed.

In addition, former OM player Chancel Mbemba, now in Lille, filed a complaint against his former club and president Pablo Longoria. According to the Team, the complaint concerns acts of moral harassment related to its removal, including attempts to transfer and the imposition of a foreign intermediary. Records were reportedly transmitted to the courts. OM did not wish to comment, while the Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office does not confirm or invalidate the existence of an investigation. This case adds a judicial dimension to the relationship between Mbemba and OM, which could end up face to face in Ligue 1 in early December.