UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 Preview: Key Matches to Watch

The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League wraps up Matchday 1 on Thursday, and it does so with a bang. Manchester United are back, Bayern Munich mean business, and a handful of ambitious debutants are ready to test the established order.

Here’s how the night shapes up across Europe.

PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Firepower on Both Sides

PSV have been bullying the Eredivisie for a while now. On Thursday, they welcome a Shakhtar Donetsk side still forced to live a nomadic football existence, their domestic dominance in Ukraine shadowed by the reality of war at home.

Peter Bosz has PSV playing on the front foot. Ivan Perisic brings guile and experience to midfield, while USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi leads the line. Another American, Sergiño Dest, has nailed down the right-back spot and stayed loyal to the club.

They will, however, be without Mauro Junior, and Jerdy Schouten remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury.

Shakhtar arrive with their familiar blueprint. Take the best of Ukraine, blend it with a wave of Brazilian talent, and let them express themselves on the European stage. Arda Turan’s projected XI includes six Brazilians, with a young, all-Brazilian front line spearheaded by striker Kaua Elias. They’re missing Marlon and several other first-choice players, but they still carry threat.

PSV at home should dictate the game. Shakhtar, though, won’t come just to defend.

Prediction: PSV 3–2

Fenerbahce vs Roma: Big Spenders Meet a Rising Force

The Şükrü Saracoğlu will crackle. Fenerbahce are finally back in the Champions League and have spent like a club determined to stay there. Roma return too, reshaped and re-energized.

Fenerbahce stumbled at the weekend, losing to Besiktas, but they did get past Lyon in the playoff round. The squad is stacked: Mason Greenwood offers directness from the wing, Nathan Aké anchors the back line, and Ederson stands in goal. Up front, they can turn to Romelu Lukaku as a powerful option at striker.

Roma’s edge lies in the chemistry of their attack. Dutch international Donyell Malen leads the line, supplied by Paulo Dybala, the long-time heartbeat of the club, and Portuguese teenager Rodrigo Mora, who adds a fearless spark. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have started Serie A perfectly, riding early-season momentum into Europe.

Fenerbahce’s home atmosphere usually counts for something. Roma’s ceiling, though, is high.

Prediction: 1–1 draw

Sabah vs Manchester United: House Money vs Heavy Expectations

Sabah step into the Champions League spotlight for the first time. An Azeri debutant, a long-shot story, a club playing with house money. Every point would be a headline.

Manchester United, by contrast, carry the weight of expectation. Michael Carrick has guided them back into Europe’s elite, but a modest four points from their first three Premier League games means this trip could be a welcome reset.

United’s injury list is a concern. Marcus Rashford may miss out after limping off against Everton. Manuel Ugarte and Amad Diallo are also sidelined. That opens the door for Benjamin Šeško to start up front. Around him, the summer rebuild features Carlos Baleba from Brighton, Andrey Santos from Chelsea, and the versatile Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.

Sabah’s squad is a mosaic. On the wing, 20-year-old Nigerian Christian Nwachukwu brings pace and ambition, while Rwandan striker Joy Lance Mickels offers experience through the middle. They might find a moment, a counterattack, a set piece to remember.

But this night, on paper, belongs to United.

Prediction: Manchester United 3–0

Bodo/Glimt vs Bayern Munich: The Dark Horse Faces the Giant

No one underestimates Bodo/Glimt anymore. The Norwegian club have become Europe’s favorite dark horse, and a wild 6–5 aggregate win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the playoffs only strengthened that reputation.

They come into this tie in full swing, already 19 games into their domestic season with 47 points and a +34 goal difference. Patrick Berg leads a side that knows its patterns and trusts its rhythm. Still, they’re not at full strength: two starting midfielders, including Håkon Evjen, are out, and August Mikkelsen is missing up front.

Across from them stand Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga’s perennial powerhouse, still chasing that next Champions League title under Vincent Kompany. The core is formidable: Harry Kane through the middle, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise providing width and incision, Alphonso Davies driving from the back. Bayern chose continuity in the transfer window, keeping faith with a veteran squad built for nights like this.

Bodo/Glimt will test them. Bayern know they must set the tone early in this campaign.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 3–1

Slavia Praha vs RC Lens: A Chance to Reset

Slavia Praha dominated at home last season but flopped in Europe, one of only three teams to finish the League Phase without a single win. They remain the best side in Czechia. Now they get another shot at proving they belong at this level.

RC Lens, meanwhile, are still learning the rhythms of Champions League football. Their recent European history is thin, and the timing is awkward: they arrive in Prague on the back of consecutive defeats in Ligue 1, already feeling the strain of balancing domestic and continental duties.

Slavia have their own problems. Lukas Provod, David Zima, and Tomas Holes are all out, stripping depth and experience from key areas. Lens lean heavily on Florian Thauvin, their standout attacking midfielder and creative hub.

Home advantage matters here. Slavia know this is an opportunity to finally put a UCL win on the board.

Prediction: Slavia Praha 2–1

Como vs RB Leipzig: A Scenic Debut With Serious Ambition

The Champions League anthem will echo over Lake Como for the first time. It’s a romantic setting, but the footballing project is anything but sentimental.

Under Cesc Fàbregas, Como have built a side designed not just to participate, but to compete. In the No. 10 role, 22-year-old Nico Paz is tipped as a potential heir to Lionel Messi for Argentina. On the wings, Croatian international Martin Baturina and Senegal’s Assane Diao bring creativity and pace. Moise Kean is an option at striker, adding muscle and movement up top. This is their Champions League debut, and they get to host it on their own terms.

RB Leipzig know this model well. They, too, have built a reputation on developing elite talent and selling high. Martin Demichelis is now in charge, with Morocco international Neil El Aynaoui and Norway’s Antonio Nusa expected to feature out wide. Romulo and Christoph Baumgartner are out, while Marc Guiu, formerly of Chelsea, has arrived to bolster the attack.

Leipzig’s start under Demichelis has been uneven, their Bundesliga form split. Como, by contrast, have emerged as one of Serie A’s best sides and look ready to mount a domestic title push.

If that level carries into Europe, they won’t just be tourists in this competition.

Prediction: Como 3–1