UEFA Champions League 2018-19: 8 matches to look forward to on Match Day 1

The Group Stage matches for UEFA Champions League 2018-19 start from 18th September 2018. There will be a number of matches between top teams from the best leagues in Europe. The likes of Machester City and Liverpool would represent the Premier League, whereas all the Champions League regulars in Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern, and Juventus would represent the best talent in Europe.

Real Madrid have won the last three titles and the Champions League winners have been dominated by Spanish sides over the past 10 years. Inter Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have all won in the recent past, but it has been the teams from La Liga who have left a mark of continuous success in the tournament with Guardiola's Barcelona and Zidane's Real Madrid tasting back to back successes.

Now without Ronaldo, Real Madrid are looking to rebuild, and other teams would be looking to take advantage of this. We will get a taste of all this action starting from MatchDay 1 of the UEFA Champions League Group Stage.

Here, we take a look at 8 of the best match-ups to look forward to from MatchDay 1 of the UEFA Champions League 2018-19:

#1 Barcelona vs PSV Eindhoven

The Spanish champions Barcelona will face the Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven in the first match of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Barcelona have always been strong competitors in the group stage of the competition and will be a tough challenge for PSV Eindhoven. The revamped Barcelona squad with the arrivals of Malcom and Arthur have already started the La Liga season on a strong note and will be looking to register their first win against PSV and get three points on the board.

For PSV, they have done really well to get through the playoffs and get to the Group Stages but they would have to go above and beyond and a point away from home would be a good result for them.

#2 Inter Milan vs Tottenham

Mauro Icardi of Inter would be hoping to take his side past Tottenham

The first MatchDay of the UEFA Champions League also sees another great matchup in Group B. While Barcelona would be taking on PSV, the fourth-placed team in England would be taking on the fourth-placed team in Italy. Both Inter Milan and Tottenham would be looking at getting all three points from this match.

Tottenham, with the likes of Kane, Alli and Eriksen already have Champions League experience which could prove crucial over Inter. But Inter do have bolstered their squad with Naingollan, Keita Balde and Lautaro Martinez and will provide stiff challenge. Tottenham with the guile of Pochettino have a good start to this season in the Premier league already and might just have the edge against Inter who had a shaky start in Serie A.

#3 Monaco vs Atletico Madrid

Griezmann will be Atletico's main man in the UCL

Matchday 1 sees 2 of the 3 big giants in Group A - Monaco and Atletico Madrid taking on each other. Borussia Dortmund the other team will be taking on Club Brugge in the second match. Both Atletico and Monaco have champions league pedigree in the past years. Atletico have reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League twice while Monaco reached the last four of the 2016-17 season.

But since then, Monaco have arguably lost their core group of players to other top teams in England and Spain while Atleti have strengthened bringing in Lemar and Kalinic. Atletico should look to win this away fixture and look to replicate their Europa success here as well.

#4 Liverpool vs PSG

Neymar, Cavani

and

Mbappe will be up against Salah, Mane and Firmino

Group C has already been branded as the Group of Death with Liverpool, PSG and Napoli all vying for the top 2 places to qualify for the Knockout stages. In the first match, Tuchel and his men travel to Anfield to face this year's runners-up. This will also see the clash of 2 former Dortmund managers in Klopp vs Tuchel who are well aware of each other's tactics.

This will be a tough test for PSG. So far they have collected all 15 points possible from their first five matches in Ligue 1. Liverpool, though have a tough series of fixtures in a span of few days and will be looking to impose their high intensity football on the French champions.

#5 Real Madrid vs Roma

Real Madrid need Bale to continue his superb form

Real Madrid and Roma, the two big giants in Group G will be up against each other in the first Group Stage match. Real Madrid will be at home against last year's giant killers AS Roma.

Real Madrid already have a commanding start this season with Julen Lopetegui keeping his trust with youngsters to mount a title challenge. Roma have not had a very convincing start in the Seria A season this year. Real would be looking to take advantage and hope to get a win at home.

#6 Valencia vs Juventus

Juve will hope that Ronaldo continues his Champions league form

Valencia and Juventus are two of the big three in Group H who would be taking on each other in the first Match Day clash. Valencia have mixed start this season in La Liga while Juventus after the arrival of Ronaldo have had a good but far from perfect start to their Serie A campaign.

Playing against Valencia at the Mestala would be tough, but one player who relishes playing against them is Cristiano Ronaldo. And Juve would be hoping he continues his prolific Champions League form for them and help them start with a win against Valencia

#7 Benfica vs Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich will hope to be title contenders this season

Bayern Munich and Benfica both have started their respective domestic campaigns in a strong and confident manner. This match would be important for both teams as the other team Ajax would be facing AEK Athens in the other match. A win in this match would be crucial going forward.

Bayern Munich would have to rely on the likes of Lewandowski, Rodriguez and Muller to power them to victory against the current Liga NOS leaders. Benfica meanwhile would hope that Pizzzi, Salvio and Jonas put up a strong fight against the Bundesliga champions and fire them to victory at home.

#8 Manchester City vs Lyon

City

would be hoping to repeat their Premier League success in the Champions League

Manchester City have started this season where they left off the last term and apart from a draw against Wolves in the Premier League and have been handed a relatively easier draw facing Lyon in their first match.

Though De Bruyne is injured at the moment, the abundance of talent in Sterling, Aguero, David Silva should see them past the Nabil Fekir led Lyon at the Etihad. Lyon, with the likes of Memphis Depay in their team would be looking to make an impact but quality of City might prove too much for the French side lacking Champions league football in recent years.