Champions League Predictions: Delight for Manchester clubs and Arsenal but frustration for Villa and Liverpool

The Champions League returns this week and there are some mouthwatering ties to get the competition up and running.

All 36 teams are in action with the fixtures unusually taking place across three nights.

Here, we take a look at the five British clubs and also the European elite as they get their campaigns underway.

UEFA Champions League – League Stage – 1

Tuesday 8, September 2026

Club Brugge KV CLU

17:45 Jan Breydel Stadion

Aston Villa AST

AEK Athens FC AEK

17:45 Allwyn Arena

Lask Linz LAS

Lille LIL

20:00 Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Real Betis BET

Borussia Dortmund DOR

20:00 Signal Iduna Park

Villarreal VIL

FC Porto POR

20:00

Manchester City MCI

Real Madrid REA

20:00

Inter INT

Wednesday 9, September 2026

VfB Stuttgart STU

17:45 MHPArena

Viking VIK

Barcelona BAR

17:45 Camp Nou

Feyenoord FEY

Liverpool LIV

20:00 Anfield

Atletico Madrid ATM

Paris Saint Germain PSG

20:00 Parc des Princes

Slovan Bratislava SLO

Sporting CP SPO

20:00

Galatasaray GAL

Napoli NAP

20:00 Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Arsenal ARS

Thursday 10, September 2026

PSV Eindhoven PSV

17:45 Philips Stadion

Shakhtar Donetsk SHA

Fenerbahçe FEN

17:45 Chobani Stadium Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu

AS Roma ROM

Manchester United MUN

20:00 Old Trafford

Sabah FA

Bayern München BAY

20:00 Allianz Arena

Bodo/Glimt BOD

Slavia Praha SLA

20:00 Fortuna Arena

Lens LEN

Como COM

20:00 Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia

RB Leipzig LEI

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Club Brugge v Aston Villa (5.45pm)
It has been a difficult few months for Aston Villa following their Europa League triumph last season. Unai Emery’s squad has been decimated with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez all moving on. Villa have replaced them but it will inevitably take time for the newboys to gel and their Premier League performances have, so far, looked disjointed. Club Brugge have won four of five in the Belgian First Division and will see this as an opportunity. The teams met in the Champions League two seasons ago with Club Brugge winning a league phase clash at home before Villa won home and away in the round of 16.
Prediction: Club Brugge 2-1 Aston Villa

Porto v Manchester City (8pm)
Enzo Maresca has made an impressive start at Manchester City with three wins from three in the Premier League. A revamped squad appears to be taking shape and they will head to Portugal in confident mood. The same can be said for Porto, though, with Francesco Farioli’s side winning all five domestic contests so far. The home side have won just two of their last 16 matches against Premier League clubs and the financial might of the English clubs will probably be on display once again at the Dragao.
Prediction: Porto 1-2 Manchester City

Real Madrid v Inter Milan (8pm)
Two of Europe’s biggest clubs clash in what is likely to be an emotional night for Jose Mourinho. The Real Madrid boss led Inter to Champions League glory in 2010 before taking over at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time. He is now back at the Spanish giants and in need of a win after Friday’s controversial defeat at Real Betis. Mourinho has made a largely positive start to his second spell but successive defeats would prompt the usual tongue wagging. Inter are not the same force they were 16 years ago but have made a strong start domestically, winning their first three Serie A fixtures. Keeping the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr quiet is a much greater task, though.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Barcelona v Feyenoord (5.45pm)
Barcelona continue to march on with four successive wins to open the new La Liga season. They have scored five goals in three of those four games and already have the advantage over likely title rivals Real Madrid. The signing of Rodri has improved an already formidable squad and they will take some stopping both domestically and in Europe. Feyenoord are unbeaten in the Eredivisie but this is an altogether different challenge. Expect Barca to win and win well.
Prediction: Barcelona 4-0 Feyenoord

Liverpool v Atletico Madrid (8pm)
Liverpool enjoyed their first victory of the season at Ipswich on Friday night but there are still question marks around Andoni Iraola’s side, particularly in midfield. The main takeaway from the triumph at Portman Road was the return to form of Alexander Isak and the Sweden international will be key to their chances of beating Atletico. The Rojiblancos are a different beast to previous iterations under Diego Simeone who is tasked with maintaining their free-scoring form of last season while also tightening up at the back.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Napoli v Arsenal (8pm)
Arsenal flexed their muscles once again against Chelsea on Sunday, overpowering Xabi Alonso’s side with a 2-1 win that was more emphatic than the scoreline suggested. The English champions have a 100% record after three games and already look a good bet to repeat their title win of last season. Napoli have limped out of the gate in comparison and their 3-2 defeat at Inter at the weekend was their second in succession. Having also lost to Como, Max Allegri’s side have shown a vulnerability against good sides and Arsenal should have the quality to take advantage.
Prediction: Napoli 0-3 Arsenal

PSG v Slovan Bratislava (8pm)
It’s definitely not a crisis at PSG but a run of four domestic games without a win is a huge surprise given their superiority in recent seasons. Luis Enrique’s side have won this tournament in each of the last two years and they will undoubtedly challenge again this term. If they could handpick an opponent to get back to winning ways, it could well be Slovan Bratislava. This could be a very long night for the Slovakians.
Prediction: PSG 5-0 Slovan Bratislava

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Manchester United v Sabah (8pm)
Sabah have come through four knockout ties to reach the league phase and were rewarded with a dream trip to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United side back in the Champions League for the first time since December 2023. United will be eager to get off to a wining start and banish the frustration of conceding an injury-time equaliser at Everton on Sunday. Michael Carrick’s side continue to show progress but still lack the quality to stage a genuine title challenge.
Prediction: Manchester United 4-0 Sabah