Champions League

There's another game kicking off within the next half an hour.

LASK incredibly came from 4-0 down on aggregate to beat Celtic 5-4 in the play-offs and progress to the Champions League proper for the first time in their history.

They were crowned Austrian champions for the second time in their history last season but tonight they travel to Greece to take on AEK Athens - who return to the Champions League for the first time since 2018-19.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Mac: PSG have a great team, but would they be so great if they were playing in a competitive league week in, week out? The fact they've been able to rest players, move fixtures and still walk the league and be fresh for the knockouts seems unfair. The Premier League may have more financial leverage, but with the fixture congestion and competitiveness in English football, it puts English teams at a disadvantage.

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist, speaking to BBC Sport

I expect Paris St-Germain to get very close to winning it again.

But Barcelona are flying. They would like another centre-back and a number nine. It is what Hansi Flick wanted to get to the next level but he feels they are on the way to the top anyway.

Arsenal have found a way to win regularly, and with that off their shoulders, players feel a release that will make them play better.

Those three should be in the semis unless they meet before. The fourth, again draw permitting, should be Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Manchester City.

Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa are launching their Champions League campaign off the back of last season's magnificent Europa League triumph.

The 1982 European champions have had the heart ripped out of them since that memorable night against Freiburg in Istanbul in May.

Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins - who all started that final - have all gone.

And new-look Villa have managed just one shot on target in three Premier League games this season - and no goals.

Will Unai Emery's side finally get their season up and running in Bruges?

Bridge Water: Bayern Munich v Barcelona final, Kane to lift the trophy.

Champions League

Image source, Getty Images

By the way, this season's final is back at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. The last time it was held there it was an all-Premier League affair, with Liverpool beating Tottenham 2-0 in 2019 to win it for the sixth time.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin is alongside Ian Dennis in Portugal for 5 Live commentary of Porto against Manchester City. Kelly Cates presents build-up from 19:00, with full match commentary to follow at 20:00.

Viva Bavaria: Really enjoy this new format of the Champions League, far better than the previous group stage. And far, far better than the old style European Cup where it was a rotation of the same old teams who'd park the bus in the away leg to get a 0-0 to try to win at home. Better football and more goals now.

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist, speaking to BBC Sport

If Paris St-Germain do the three-peat, it would be an incredible achievement. I think two in a row is already special - three in a row is impossible unless you've got Cristiano Ronaldo in your team, which they don't.

I don't believe fully in the Jose Mourinho-Real Madrid project, so I would go for Bayern Munich and Arsenal to reach the final.

They are probably the teams, other than PSG, who have deserved to be there the most in the past two seasons. To win it, I'll go for Arsenal.

They have the best defence in Europe by far and that's what wins you titles.

Champions League

The BBC has retained the rights to broadcast highlights of the men's Champions League until the end of the 2030-31 campaign.

There are two shows on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website this week - on Wednesday and Thursday, both at 22:40 BST.

There's also a Champions League Final Score over the next three nights from 19:00 on the Red Button.

How to follow the Champions League on the BBC.

Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

A huge night for young Aston Villa midfielder George Hemmings.

Aged 19 years and 188 days, he is the second youngest Aston Villa player to start a European Cup/Champions League match, behind Mark Walters in March 1983 v Juventus (18 years, 287 days).

Mike B: The Champions League should be a straight knockout competition with NO seeding.

Over at the Bernabeu a little later, it's Trent Alexander-Arnold against former Liverpool team-mate Curtis Jones, when record 15-time winners Real Madrid host champions of Italy Inter Milan.

That's going to be tasty.

Jose Mourinho's current club against Jose Mourinho's former club.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The loss of Leon Goretzka for the start of Aston Villa's European campaign is a huge blow.

Experienced Germany midfielder Goretzka, a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2020, was signed last month but has yet to make an appearance for his new club.

Posting on Instagram, Goretzka wrote: "Dear Villans.

"First of all, thank you for the incredible welcome. After my first few days at this club, the feeling that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be has grown stronger with each passing day.

"Unfortunately, my body has reacted to the increased workload after my time away from the pitch. It's frustrating, but I need this short break now to come back at full strength.

"I'll use the coming days, including the international break, to recover fully and I'll be back ready to fight and give everything for you and for Villa. Can't wait to see you on the pitch soon"

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Club Brugge boss Ivan Leko recalls Jan Virgili and Carlos Forbs for the hosts.

Former Wolves winger Forbs returns from a domestic ban as the pair replace Romeo Vermant and Mamadou Diakhon.

Club Brugge XI: Sommer, Sabbe, Han-beom Lee, Mechele, Seys, Potts, Vetlesen, Vanaken; Forbs, Tresoldi, Virgili.

Subs: Jackers, Vanden Driessche, Tsawa, Vermant, Mike, Siquet, Coulibaly, Spileers, Aldoor, Diakhon, Vasovic, Lemarechal.

Matty Cash has been left at home with muscle discomfort so Aaron Wan-Bissaka makes his full Aston Villa debut.

Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley drop to the bench with Pau Torres in and Joao Gomes available for Villa in Europe while he serves his ban in the Premier League for his red card at Brighton last month.

Aston Villa XI: Suzuki, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Gomes, McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings, Jackson.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Barkley, Ruggeri, Abraham, Garnacho, Mbaye, Bogarde, Alysson.

It's raining in Bruges with a little over an hour before kick-off.

The teams news has just dropped.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are the last English team to win the Champions League. That was four seasons ago.

Are they among the favourites this time? And what about Arsenal. Having gone so close last season, will they go all the way this time?

Send all your thoughts and predictions this way please.

Will Manchester United make an impact on their return to the competition? Do Liverpool and Aston Villa have any chance?

Hands up - who's missed it?

The Champions League is back with a bang - six games on each of the next three nights, featuring five Premier League clubs.

On Thursday, Manchester United play their first game in Europe's most prestigious competition since December 2023.

On Wednesday, Arsenal are in Italy to face Napoli, six-time winners Liverpool host Atletico Madrid, while Paris St-Germain - back-to-back winners - launch their campaign.

Tonight, our focus is on Manchester City, whoare in Portugal to face Porto, and Aston Villa, who are in Belgium to play Club Brugge.

Image source, Getty Images

One hundred and one days after Arsenal lost on penalties in the final, the Champions League is back.

Will a Premier League club go all the way this time and bring Ol' Big Ears back to England?