Champions League League Phase Begins with Real Madrid Win, Expert Picks for Matchday 1

Europe's biggest club competition is back, and the Champions League league phase kicked off Tuesday with a slate that instantly reminded you why this tournament sits above everything else in the sport. Real Madrid hosted Inter Milan in a Bernabeu rematch of last season's knockout drama, which Los Blancos comfortably won 2-1.

On Wednesday, the cream rose to the top with Arsenal, Barcelona, Liverpool and PSG all winning to get their league phase season off to the right start.

This first matchweek stretches across three days, Tuesday through Thursday, with six matches apiece as all 36 clubs in the expanded league phase begin their eight-game round robin toward the knockout playoffs. It's a format built for chaos and drama in equal measure, and Matchday 1 sets the tone.

Every match streams live on Paramount+, your home for every Champions League game all season long, plus replays, highlights and studio coverage breaking down the race for the top eight. If you haven't signed up yet, now's the time.

Here are our expert picks for this matchday:

Thursday

Game of the day: Manchester United vs. Sabah FK

Player to watch: Orphe Mbina, Sabah: I'm not sure I have ever been quite so unaware of a team involved in the Champions League as Sabah, a club that will celebrate the ninth anniversary of their founding two days before they take the field at Old Trafford. On numbers alone, I'm fascinated to see what we get from Mbina, who averaged over six shots per 90 minutes in the qualifying rounds, where he was predominantly used off the bench, scoring a crucial goal to eliminate Hapoel Be'er Sheva and get Sabah to the league phase. -- James Benge

Man of the match: Bryan Mbuemo, Manchester United: After scoring three goals in the opening games of the season, Mbuemo is now called to make his Champions League debut with Manchester United against Sabah, a must-win game for the Red Devils. He definitely has to deliver a Champions League-level performance and Michael Carrick will count on him alongside Marcus Rashford and Benjamin Sesko in the attacking line. -- Francesco Porzio

Prediction: Manchester United 3, Sabah 0: The jury's still out on Manchester United's overall abilities this season but they will be heavily favored against Azerbaijan's surprise champions, who may be in for a brutal Champions League debut at Old Trafford. Count on the hosts to enjoy a routine return to the Champions League days before the Manchester derby serves as a new stressor. -- Pardeep Cattry