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The Champions League returns this week as Europe’s top clubs begin another chase for the biggest prize in club football.

Matchday one offers heavyweight reunions, unwanted records and no shortage of intrigue around some of the continent’s biggest sides. Jose Mourinho comes up against former club Inter Milan with history on the line, while Antonio Conte will be aiming to finally carry his domestic dominance onto the European stage.

Elsewhere, Barcelona need to confront familiar defensive issues, while Manchester United mark a significant landmark as they return to the competition.

Here are five things to keep an eye on during Champions League Matchday One.

The standout tie of the opening round sees Real Madrid host Inter Milan at the Bernabeu. Two of Europe’s most decorated clubs meet on the first night, with Jose Mourinho welcoming his old side to the Spanish capital.

Mourinho guided Inter to their most recent Champions League title as part of a treble-winning 2009/10 campaign. This season, he is trying to become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs, having also claimed the trophy with Porto in 2004. During his earlier spell at Real Madrid, his side were knocked out in the semi-finals in three successive seasons.

Inter head to Madrid carrying a miserable recent record against La Liga opposition. The Italian club have not beaten a Spanish side away from home in the Champions League since 2004/05, a sequence of 13 away matches that includes nine defeats.

Barcelona have been La Liga’s best team over the past two seasons, but their European runs have ended painfully. After a dramatic semi-final against Inter Milan saw the Catalan side fall apart late in 2024/25, Barca were then undone by a costly red card against Atletico Madrid in last season’s quarter-final.

Barcelona have not been able to find the right defensive balance in the Champions League, with Flick’s high line repeatedly exposed. Barca have gone 15 matches in this competition without a clean sheet, and that is a trend that has to change if the Spanish side are to end their 12-year wait for the trophy.

Liverpool host Atletico Madrid at Anfield on matchday one in a repeat of last season’s opening fixture. The Reds won that meeting 3-2, extending Atletico’s poor record against English opposition in the group stage. Atletico have never beaten a Premier League side in the group stage or league phase of the Champions League, losing six of their previous 10 meetings.

Liverpool could hand Bradley Barcola a full debut, with Anfield set to get its first look at the high-profile signing.

Antonio Conte has established himself as one of the outstanding managers of the modern era. A serial winner in domestic football, he has collected six league titles across four clubs and in two of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Yet despite that success, Conte has found it difficult to leave a real mark in Europe. The Italian has reached the quarter-finals only once in seven attempts during spells with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli.

Napoli’s league phase campaign last season was disastrous, as they won only twice in eight matches, finished 30th and were eliminated. The Serie A club had entered the tournament as Italian champions but failed to make an impact. Napoli are not viewed as among the favourites, but Conte will expect clear improvement. An opening game against 2026 runners-up Arsenal is an enormous early challenge.

Manchester United will mark a milestone on Thursday night when tournament debutants Sabah visit Old Trafford.

The Red Devils will become the first English club to reach 300 matches in the European Cup/Champions League, in what will be their first game in the competition since 2023/24. United are also preparing to begin a 26th campaign in the Champions League proper, another record for an English club.

There will be optimism that Manchester United can improve on their recent Champions League record, having gone out in the group stage in two of their last three campaigns.