The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League has finally begun, and the opening matchday has already delivered plenty of goals, surprises and standout performances.
With 36 teams competing in the league phase, Europe’s biggest clubs will spend the next few months fighting for a place in the knockout rounds. Paris Saint-Germain have arrived as the defending champions, while Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are among the clubs expected to challenge for the trophy.
After an action-packed opening week, here are the biggest storylines to watch as the Champions League season continues.
Can PSG Win Three Champions League Titles in a Row?
Paris Saint-Germain have immediately shown why they are the team everyone wants to beat.
The defending champions opened their campaign with a huge 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava, with new signing Ferran Torres scoring a hat-trick and Ousmane Dembélé adding two goals. The result gave PSG the perfect start to their attempt at winning a third consecutive Champions League title.
Winning the competition three years in succession would put PSG among a very small group of European clubs to achieve such a feat.
The biggest question now is whether they can maintain this level against stronger opposition.
Barcelona Have Made a Statement
Barcelona also produced one of the most impressive performances of Matchday 1.
The Spanish side defeated Feyenoord 5-1, with Raphinha scoring twice while Lamine Yamal, Gabriel Jesus and Karim Adeyemi also found the net.
Barcelona’s midfield could also be one of the major talking points this season. Rodri has joined the club and was part of the starting lineup for the opening victory, adding experience and control to an already talented squad.
However, Barcelona’s real test will come when they face the competition’s strongest teams.
One of those tests arrives on October 20, when Barcelona hosts PSG.
Real Madrid Have Started With a Win
Real Madrid began their campaign by beating Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored for Madrid, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois played an important role as the Spanish giants held off Inter’s pressure.
Real Madrid’s Champions League history means they will always be considered one of the favourites, but the league phase will provide a serious test.
Their schedule includes meetings with RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal, with the trip to Arsenal on December 9 standing out as one of the biggest games of the league phase.
Arsenal Are Already Showing Their Ambition
Arsenal reached the Champions League final last season and have started the new campaign with another important result.
The Gunners defeated Napoli 1-0 away from home, with captain Martin Ødegaard scoring the winning goal late in the match.
The result gives Arsenal three valuable points, but their schedule becomes significantly more difficult.
They will travel to face Bayern Munich on October 21 before hosting Borussia Dortmund and later welcoming Real Madrid to London.
If Arsenal want to go one step further than last season, those matches could provide an early indication of their chances.
Bayern Munich Look Dangerous
Bayern Munich also made a powerful start.
The German champions defeated Bodø/Glimt 5-0, scoring all five goals in the second half. Jamal Musiala, Harry Kane, Alphonso Davies and Michael Olise were among the players involved in the emphatic victory.
Bayern will face Arsenal on October 21, making that one of the most interesting early fixtures of the competition.
With Harry Kane leading the attack and Bayern possessing considerable Champions League experience, they remain one of the teams capable of challenging PSG.
Liverpool Have Started With a Comeback
Liverpool also collected three points, although they had to work for them.
Atlético Madrid took the lead at Anfield before Liverpool came back to win 2-1, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister scoring for the hosts.
Liverpool’s new era under Andoni Iraola will be closely watched throughout the competition.
Their league-phase schedule includes difficult matches against Porto and Paris Saint-Germain, while their ability to compete with Europe’s elite will be tested as the season progresses.
Manchester City Have Also Made a Strong Start
Manchester City opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Porto, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals.
The result continued City’s perfect start under new manager Enzo Maresca and immediately placed Haaland among the players to watch in this season’s competition.
City will face PSG on October 14 before travelling to Barcelona in December.
Those two fixtures could tell us a lot about whether City’s new era can compete with Europe’s best.
Como Are the Surprise Story So Far
One of the most exciting stories from the opening matchday came from an unexpected club.
Como made its Champions League debut with a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig, producing one of the biggest surprises of the opening round. Cesc Fàbregas’ side impressed in front of its home supporters and immediately showed that the smaller clubs should not simply be treated as easy opponents.
Como’s result is a reminder of what makes the league-phase format interesting.
The Champions League is no longer simply about the biggest clubs meeting in the knockout rounds. Teams from less familiar European markets now have opportunities to create major stories against established opponents.
Manchester United’s European Return
Manchester United also made a winning return to the Champions League.
United defeated Azerbaijani debutants Sabah 4-0 at Old Trafford, giving Michael Carrick’s team an encouraging start to its European campaign.
The result will be welcomed by United supporters, although the club’s more difficult matches are still ahead.
United will face Atlético Madrid, Roma and Bayern Munich during the league phase, meaning the team will eventually face much stronger opposition.
The League Phase Makes Every Match Important
The 2026/27 Champions League uses the 36-team league-phase format for the third consecutive season.
Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents. The top eight teams automatically qualify for the round of 16, while clubs finishing from ninth to 24th must enter the knockout phase play-offs.
That makes every point valuable.
A strong start can put a team in an excellent position to qualify automatically, while a poor run could force even a major European club into the play-offs.
The Biggest Matches Still to Come
Although Matchday 1 is over, some of the most exciting fixtures are still ahead.
Barcelona will face PSG on October 20, while Bayern Munich will host Arsenal on October 21. PSG will then travel to Manchester City on October 14, before City visits Barcelona in December.
Real Madrid will also travel to Arsenal in December, creating another heavyweight European clash.
These matches could have a major impact on the final league-phase standings.