(Football news) The Uefa Champions league is back and the group stage kicks off today. Thirty two of the best teams will fight it out in eight groups of four as it is going to be the most highly anticipated edition of the competition with new faces in new teams fighting to be the world's best team.
The first matchday kicks off with two giants of the game as Liverpool locking horns with AC Milan on Wednesday. The two European giants share quite an intense rivalry but over the years fans haven’t witnessed it, AC Milan since then have slowly but steadily declined but the recent resurgence has made it possible to renew this unique continental rivalry. Fans will be hoping that a repeat of the most famous final in 2005 takes place as both share 13 Champions League titles between them. Liverpool will be without Harvey Elliot after he suffered a horrific injury at Leeds, Roberto Firmino and Neco Williams will also be out. Milan will be without Zlatan as he has a problem with his Achilles tendon which could mean that Giroud will lead the line for the Rossoneri. Both the teams will be eying a victory as they are in the group of death along with Atletico Madrid and Porto in Group B.
Inter take on Madrid at the San Siro in a mouth watering Group D fixture. After winning three champions league in a row, Real have gone three years without even being close to challenge for it and now Carlo Ancelloti has been assigned to bring back the glory days. With Madrid's main players going away, a new era of youngsters has begun and Ancelloti’s task becomes much more difficult. Inter on the other hand have made into successive Champions League after a long time and will be hoping to make the round of 16 this season. Real will be without Gareth Bale and Ferland Mendy as both will be on the sideline for a lengthy period whereas Inter have only Alessandro Bastoni out.
Manchester City take on RB Leipzig in what could be a very tricky first fixtures for Cityzens. Pep Guardiola will be hoping that this season they go one better and win the Champions League for the first time in the clubs history, last season they were the favourites to win the final but a tactical error from Pep cost them the coveted Champions League title. RB Leipzig have always been the giant killers as last year they knocked out United from the group stage, Pep’s first task will be to get out of the group as they will also take on the mighty PSG later on. City will be getting a massive boost as they will welcome back their star players Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, Leipzig will also have a full strength squad in what could be a high scoring encounter.
PSG take on Club Brugge in what could be the first time the football fans all over the world will see Messi, Mbappe and Neymar (MNM) play together. PSG this season are the favourites to win the Champions League as their squad is arguably the best in the world and also the added advantage of buying Messi means that a winning mentality will be instilled in the club, something that was lacking over the years. Mauricio Pochettino will be under a lot of pressure as everyone will be expecting them to go all the way for the first in the clubs history, PSG will be without Sergio Ramos who is still recovering from the injury he suffered last season. It is going to be an uphill task for the Belgian side to get anything from the fixture but the first full start for Messi will bring out a lot of attention to this game.
The other fixtures to keep an eye on Wednesday are:
Besiktas vs Dortmund
Sheriff vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Atletico Madrid vs Porto
Sporting vs Ajax
