As soon as Swiss champions Young Boys and CR7-supported Manchester United walk onto the pitch in Basel tomorrow, the famous Champions League anthem will be heard again after a few months-long break.Don’t know about you, but it will definitely cause some goosebumps among us, who are passionate about the world’s most prestigious club competition. In May, Chelsea reached a much-deserved glory, overpowering Manchester City to become Europe’s best side in 2021.The UEFA Champions League kick starts the new season, with plenty of action already in the first round. Just like we know, 32 teams are divided into eight groups, and it’s B, D, and E are the ones that attract our attention instantly, with as many as three UCL classics scheduled for the maiden round.BARCELONA vs BAYERN MUNICHFallen Spanish giants against mighty Germans. Every once in a while, these two European powerhouses meet in the UCL, and every single time it causes fireworks. And seldomly more than a dozen balls in the back of the net.Just check out their last encounter, back in the quarter-finals of the covid-torn 2019/2020 campaign. It was a one-leg tie played in Lisbon, and the Bavarians humiliated the Blaugrana 8-2 in what would be Quique Setien’s very last dance in Barcelona’s dugout.It was awful for the Blaugrana last time they met (©Manu Fernandez/Pool via Getty Images)In the meantime, lots of new names arrived at Allianz Arena, with former RB Leipzig axis Nagelsmann-Upamecano-Sabitzer rejoining under the Munich flag. So far, it looks intimidating, and Bayern will be one of the favourites to go all the way (stay with us tomorrow to find out about the odds who’ll win the UCL).”We don’t force anyone to come to Bayern”, says Bavarian giant CEOOn the other end, Barcelona are in shambles. Messi left the club, Griezmann followed, and their coach Ronald Koeman is behaving like a child whose favourite toy has been taken away from him, but he still wants to command and give orders to anybody, parents included. Memphis Depay is basically the only light in the dark Barcelona’s night, and he’ll need plenty of firepower support to fight the mighty Bavarians once they collide on Tuesday night at Camp Nou. We wouldn’t be surprised to see lots of goals on both ends.Pjanic is frustrated, it was essential that Griezmann leaves, we’ll survive Messi’s painful exitLIVERPOOL vs MILANAs classic as it gets. Sure, those are not those Reds and Rossoneri we used to watch back in the ’00s, in those epic UCL finals in 2005 and 2007. But nevertheless, we’ll surely enjoy another spectacle when they meet at Enfield on Wednesday night.Jurgen Klopp’s side is favourite against another fallen European giant trying to restore the old glory. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s comeback brings back hope that Italians could stun the Kop and win maybe crucial points for advancing to the next round. That veteran duo Ibrahimovic-Giroud has vast experience, especially in this kind of ties which could be essential for Milan.Ibra scores minutes after coming onto the pitch after a four months absenceOf course, the Scousers led by unplayable Salah are the least bit afraid of their rivals, with a duty to kick off their UCL campaign with an important win.There’s no chance this game will end in a goalless draw. That’s for sure.Salah scores his 100th Premier League goal in Liverpool win over LeedsINTER vs REAL MADRIDUnlike their city rivals, Inter are in a slow downfall after a highly successful previous season. Departures of Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku had made them very vulnerable, and Real Madrid are not the best choice to start the season with.Still, they are playing at Guizepe Meaza stadium and are obliged to win at least a point against Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit.Benzema and Vinicius show in five goal thrashing of Celta VigoLos Blancos are looking confident in the first days of the new season, and it seems like Kylian Mbappe is not needed here. Lots of firepower in offence promises a stellar start and an away victory that would make quite a statement.Real is a real deal. Let’s not forget that.CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – GROUP STAGE – ROUND 1Tue 19.45: (8.50) Young Boys (4.50) Man.Utd. (1.40)Tue 19.45: (1.70) Sevilla (3.70) Salzburg (5.10)Tue 22.00: (3.50) Barcelona (3.45) Bayern (2.10)Tue 22.00: (3.25) Dynamo Kyiv (3.20) Benfica (2.30)Tue 22.00: (2.60) Villareal (3.30) Atalanta (2.70)Tue 22.00: (2.75) Lille (3.05) Wolfsburg (2.75)Tue 22.00: (1.23) Chelsea (6.25) Zenit (13.0)Tue 22.00: (6.50) Malmo (4.30) Juventus (1.50)Wed 19.45: (5.40) Besiktas (4.00) Dortmund (1.62)Wed 19.45: (4.30) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.50) Shakhtar (1.88)Wed 22.00: (13.0) Club Brugge (6.50) PSG (1.22)Wed 22.00: (1.35) Man.City (5.30) RB Leipzig (8.00)Wed 22.00: (1.65) Atl.Madrid (3.60) Porto (6.00)Wed 22.00: (1.60) Liverpool (4.00) Milan (5.70)Wed 22.00: (2.85) Sporting (3.30) Ajax (2.50)Wed 22.00: (2.55) Inter (3.30) Real Madrid (2.75)
