Champions League returns: schedule of the first round matches
Kyiv • UNN
On September 16, the first round of the 2025/2026 Champions League begins, where for the first time since the 2005/2006 season there are no Ukrainian clubs. However, Ukrainian footballers will play as part of European teams, including Trubin, Sudakov, Lunin, and Zabarnyi.
Today, September 16, the first round of the most prestigious football tournament - the Champions League of the 2025/2026 season - begins. The round starts on Tuesday and will last until Thursday, writes UNN.
Details
For the first time since the 2005/2006 season, Ukrainian clubs failed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, but clubs with Ukrainian players will play their matches.
Today, September 16, Portuguese "Benfica", for which goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and midfielder Georgiy Sudakov play, will meet Azerbaijani "Qarabag". Sudakov managed to debut for the Portuguese over the weekend, coming on as a substitute in the 70th minute in the match against "Santa Clara".
Sudakov replaced Andreas Schjelderup with a score of 1:0, but the match ended in a 1:1 draw.
Also on Tuesday, Madrid's "Real" with Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin will compete at home with French "Marseille", and on Wednesday, French "PSG" with Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi will meet Italian "Atalanta" at home.
Full match schedule
Tuesday, September 16:
- 19:45 "Athletic" Bilbao (Spain) – "Arsenal" (England);
- 19:45 PSV (Netherlands) – "Union Saint-Gilloise" (Belgium);
- 22:00 "Benfica" (Portugal) – "Qarabag" (Azerbaijan);
- 22:00 "Real" Madrid (Spain) – "Marseille" (France);
- 22:00 "Tottenham" (England) – "Villarreal" (Spain);
- 22:00 "Juventus" (Italy) – "Borussia" Dortmund (Germany).
Wednesday, September 17:
- 19:45 "Olympiacos" (Greece) – "Paphos" (Cyprus);
- 19:45 "Slavia" Prague (Czech Republic) – "Bodø/Glimt" (Norway);
- 22:00 "Ajax" (Netherlands) – "Inter" (Italy);
- 22:00 "Bayern" (Germany) – "Chelsea" (England);
- 22:00 "Liverpool" (England) – "Atletico" Madrid (Spain);
- 22:00 “PSG” (France) – "Atalanta" (Italy);
Thursday, September 18:
- 19:45 "Club Brugge" (Belgium) – "Monaco" (France);
- 19:45 "Copenhagen" (Denmark) – "Bayer" (Germany);
- 22:00 "Eintracht" (Germany) – "Galatasaray" (Turkey);
- 22:00 "Manchester City" (England) – "Napoli" (Italy);
- 22:00 "Newcastle" (England) – "Barcelona" (Spain);
- 22:00 "Sporting" (Portugal) – "Kairat" (Kazakhstan).