The 2025/2026 Champions League starts on Tuesday 16 September with a new competition formula bringing together 36 teams in the initial phase. The first day promises a show rich in prestigious encounters, with a kick-off at 6.45 pm by the Athletic Bilbao – Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven – Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, marking a historic first for the Belgian club. In the evening, at 9pm, the projectors will attach themselves to the major duel between the Juventus Turin and the Borussia Dortmund, as well as to the most expected shock in France: Real Madrid against the Olympique de Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

The Olympique de Marseille is facing a leading opponent for his entry into the competition, an event considered one of the most difficult in European football. Led by Roberto De Zerbi, OM will have the opportunity to test its capabilities against the Spanish giant, always in search of glory. This game will be one of the highlights of this first day. The day of Wednesday, September 17 also offers large-scale confrontations, including Ajax – Inter Milan, Bayern Munich – Chelsea and Liverpool – Atlético de Madrid, offering an exceptional choice to football enthusiasts. The title-winning Paris Saint-Germain will start its home campaign against Atalanta Bergame.

The first day will extend until Thursday 18 September with three additional meetings. Paris Saint-Germain will face Club Bruges in Bruges, marking the beginning of the chicken phase for the French club. Other Thursday games include Copenhagen – Leverkusen and Frankfurt – Galatasaray. For those who wish to bet on these meetings, a bonus of 10€ is offered with the promo code The first day matches are spread over two days, offering a dense and varied programme for European football fans.