10 Champions League matches to watch as league phase begins Tuesday

The new Champions League league phase opens with Real Madrid hosting Inter, a heavyweight fixture packed with milestones, familiar faces and sharply contrasting records.

Kylian Mbappé needs one goal to draw level with Raúl González in fifth place on the competition’s all-time scoring list, having reached 70 goals. Thibaut Courtois could also make his 100th Champions League appearance if selected. The match brings José Mourinho back against Inter, the club he led to the 2009/10 Champions League title as part of a historic treble.

Real Madrid have won six of their last seven meetings with Inter and 17 of their last 19 Champions League opening-day matches. Inter, however, have failed to win away against a Spanish side in their last 13 attempts.

Manchester City will make their 150th European Cup appearance when they visit Porto. Porto are entering the Champions League group or league phase for the 28th time, ranking fourth behind Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The Portuguese club have lost only once in their last 14 home UEFA matches, though they have won only two of their last 16 games against English opposition. City have lost six of their last nine Champions League away matches, and their two defeats in 11 matches against Portuguese clubs include a 4-1 loss to Sporting CP in 2024/25.

Borussia Dortmund will host Villarreal after beating the Spanish side 4-0 at home last season, the clubs’ only previous meeting. Dortmund have lost just two of their last 15 home matches against Spanish opponents and have won their last three. Villarreal, meanwhile, have avoided defeat in their last 31 Champions League proper matches, setting up another notable opening-round contest. PUNCH Online selected these and seven other fixtures from UEFA’s 18-match first round.