The 2025/2026 Champions League begins on Tuesday 16 September with a new competition formula of 36 teams in the initial phase. The first day promises prestigious matches, the kick-off of which will be given at 6:45 pm with clashes like Athletic Bilbao – Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven – Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, a historic first for the Belgian club. The evening will be marked by the shock between Juventus Turin and Borussia Dortmund, as well as the most anticipated match in France: Real Madrid – Marseille Olympic, played at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. OM faces a formidable opponent as soon as they enter the competition, a difficult task that will test their ability to compete with the Spanish giant, always in search of their title.

The programming on Wednesday 17 September remains dense, with three major duels: Ajax – Inter Milan, Bayern Munich – Chelsea and Liverpool – Atlético de Madrid. The title-winning Paris Saint-Germain will launch its home campaign against Atalanta Bergame. The first day will exceptionally extend until Thursday 18 September with three additional meetings, including Club Bruges – AS Monaco, which marks the beginning of the chicken phase for the French club in Belgium. These games offer European fans a wide choice of exciting encounters and highlight the importance of this initial phase in determining the future title contenders.

According to RMC journalist Daniel Riolo, OM’s main ambition for this competition is to qualify among the top 24 European teams, rather than aiming for the final victory. Although the workforce is not rich in the experience of great appointments, OM is expected to show its value on the continental scene. The opposition against Real Madrid, the triple winner of the Champions League, is a real challenge. Supporters hope that De Zerbi’s team will be able to compete and surprise, and that qualification and competitiveness will remain at hand.