Geneva, Sep 29 (AP) The Champions League is set to explore new territories this week, while fans eagerly anticipate the renewal of the iconic Barcelona-Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) rivalry. This historic matchup stands as one of the most captivating in modern football. .
José Mourinho is making headlines as he returns to Stamford Bridge, where he previously enjoyed two successful coaching spells with Chelsea. However, this time, he's at the helm of Benfica for his inaugural Champions League game. .
In the expansive history of the European Cup and Champions League, spanning 71 seasons, Real Madrid, with its record 15 titles, has yet to set foot in Kazakhstan. That changes this Tuesday as they face Kairat Almaty. This matchup sees the world's No. 1 club facing the No. 151 in UEFA rankings. On the same day, Bayern Munich, ranked No. 2, takes a rare trip to Cyprus to face No. 91 Pafos, a newcomer to the competition. .
Tottenham Hotspur recently ventured inside the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semifinals. They return now for the Norwegian champions' first-ever home fixture in the Champions League main stage. .
Of all the exciting fixtures, the standout match on Wednesday is Barcelona hosting PSG. This rivalry is forever marked by the iconic “La Remontada” of 2017, a game where Barcelona astonishingly overcame a 4-0 deficit from the first leg, securing a 6-1 victory. .
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal appears fit post-groin injury and is ready for his first start since finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting to Ousmane Dembélé. Unfortunately, Dembélé remains sidelined with an injury sustained during international duty. As Dembélé misses the chance to reunite with his former club, PSG's coach Luis Enrique returns to the team he led to victory in the 2015 Champions League. .
Barcelona versus PSG is a fixture that revives memories of that unforgettable 2017 comeback. Following that season, PSG acquired Neymar for a world-record fee, funds Barcelona invested in purchasing Dembélé from Borussia Dortmund. However, since then, PSG twice eliminated Barcelona in subsequent knockout rounds, highlighted by Kylian Mbappe’s pivotal performances. .
Switching focus, Saturday's wild league games suggest that Atletico Madrid hosting Eintracht Frankfurt will be a spectacle. Atletico stunned Real Madrid with a 5-2 victory, while Eintracht enjoyed a high-scoring matchup against Borussia Mönchengladbach. .
In this year's Champions League, Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium's standout, impressed with a 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven. Belgium's clubs, including Club Brugge, have had notable performances this season, with Brugge securing four consecutive qualifying wins before defeating Monaco 4-1. Union hosts Newcastle in a matchup close to captain Christian Burgess’s heart. Brugge faces Atalanta on Tuesday. .
Four teams—Barcelona, Pafos, Qarabag, and Union Saint-Gilloise—are hosting games away from their usual venues. Barcelona fans will pack the Olympic Stadium as the team takes on PSG, marking the highest-profile home game of the season. Significant renovations and safety approvals still linger over Camp Nou, requiring UEFA's special exemption to use more than one home venue. .
Pafos will play host to Bayern in Limassol, while Union remains in Brussels, leveraging Anderlecht’s stadium for Champions League matches. .
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