The wait is over. The league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League begins today, with 36 clubs starting their journey towards the final in Madrid.

The opening round will be played across three days, and there are already some very interesting matches on the schedule. Real Madrid welcome Inter to the Santiago Bernabéu tonight, while Manchester City begin their campaign away at Porto. Borussia Dortmund face Villarreal, with Aston Villa travelling to Club Brugge for one of the two early matches.

The format remains the same as last season. All 36 teams compete in one league table and each club plays eight matches against different opponents. The first eight qualify directly for the last 16, while the teams between ninth and 24th place continue through the playoff round.

That means every point matters from the beginning. A poor opening month can leave even the biggest clubs with plenty of work to do later in the season.

Can Anyone Stop PSG?

Paris Saint-Germain enters the competition as champions for the second year in a row. Luis Enrique’s team defeated Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final and now have the opportunity to win the Champions League for a third consecutive season.

PSG have managed to keep most of their successful team together, which could give them an advantage over several of their biggest rivals. While other clubs spent the summer rebuilding, the French champions already know exactly how they want to play.

Their campaign begins on Wednesday at home against Slovan Bratislava. It looks like a good opportunity to start with three points, but defending the title brings a different kind of pressure. Every opponent will want to be the team that finally stops them.

So who are the main favourites to lift the trophy in Madrid? Let’s check the latest Champions League winner odds.

New Arrivals

Several of the main contenders enter the Champions League season with new faces and a different look.

Real Madrid have brought José Mourinho back to the club, and his first European match comes against Inter. It is a fitting start considering Mourinho won the Champions League with the Italian side in 2010 before moving to Madrid.

His return has created plenty of excitement, but there is also pressure to deliver immediately. Madrid invested heavily during the summer, and Mourinho must now find the right balance in a squad full of stars. Facing Inter should give us an early idea of how quickly his ideas are coming together.

Manchester City also begin a new chapter under Enzo Maresca. Their midfield looks very different following Rodri’s departure and the arrivals of Enzo Fernández and Elliot Anderson. Tonight’s visit to Porto will not be an easy introduction, especially with the Portuguese side starting the season in excellent form.

Rodri will now try to help Barcelona finally return to the top of European football. The World Cup Golden Ball winner gives them more control in midfield and could be the missing piece in a team packed with attacking talent.

With so many top players ready to take the stage, let’s take a look at the latest odds for the Champions League top goalscorer.

Some New Names Join Europe’s Biggest Stage

This season will also introduce four clubs to the Champions League for the first time. Como, Sabah, Viking and LASK will all make their debuts in the competition.

They may not be expected to challenge for the trophy, but the league phase has already shown that unfamiliar opponents can cause problems. Trips to Azerbaijan or Norway will offer a completely different challenge compared with the usual European nights in Madrid, Paris or Munich.

For these clubs, simply reaching this stage is already a major achievement. Now they have eight matches to show that they belong among Europe’s best.

The road to Madrid begins tonight. PSG remain the team to beat, but clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal will all believe they can lift the trophy on 5 June.

After a summer full of transfers and coaching changes, the first matches should finally give us some real answers.

Poker.pro Champions League Picks

Looking for something to follow between poker sessions? We’ve prepared a four-match Champions League accumulator on BC.GAME, where a $10 bet could return $66.17 if all four selections land.

We’re backing Manchester City to beat Porto, although it should be a difficult first European test for Enzo Maresca. City have started the domestic season well, which is also reflected in the Premier League table, where they sit top after three rounds. They will now look to carry that form into Europe.

In Como against RB Leipzig, our selection is over 2.5 goals. Both teams play attractive football and usually look to score one more than their opponent. That approach should give us an open match with chances at both ends.

Fenerbahçe enters the new season with several well-known players and some interesting new additions. On the other side, Roma have looked practically unbeatable in Serie A so far. We expect the home side to create chances in front of their supporters, while Roma should have enough quality to respond, which is why we are backing both teams to score.

Our final selection is Aston Villa to win or draw away at Club Brugge. A trip to Belgium is never easy, but we believe Villa have enough quality to avoid defeat and begin their Champions League campaign with a positive result.

The four selections combine for total odds of 6.617. Good luck if you decide to follow the bet.