![The battle for this season's Champions League trophy gets under way on September 19, 2023 [Francisco Seco/AP Photo]](https://mmnews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/UCL.jpg)
The Champions League starts back up on Tuesday and Manchester City begins its defense of the title when it hosts Red Star Belgrade, however, history is not on Pep Guardiola’s side as he tries to lead Manchester City to back-to-back Champions League titles this season.
Real Madrid is the only club to retain the trophy in the modern era by winning it three times in a row from 2016-18.
“We’re incredibly happy to defend this crown, but this competition doesn’t allow you mistakes,” Guardiola said ahead of City’s opening Group G game against Red Star Belgrade. “The competition gives us a new challenge so (we’ll) at least try.”
The European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992 and no team had successfully defended the trophy until a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Madrid in 2017. The Spanish giant went on to complete a three-peat the following year.
Madrid won the first five editions of the trophy, from 1956-60, when the competition was in its former guise as a straight knockout tournament. The European Cup was also only open to the champions of Europe’s leagues, as well as the current holder of the trophy.
Here are five matches to watch:
Manchester City vs Red Star Belgrade
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
When: 19:00 GMT
Man City hope to continue their unbeaten streak from last season’s campaign as they take on Serbian side Red Star Belgrade.
The hosts will be without the injured John Stones, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic and Kevin de Bruyne. However, Erling Haaland, who was the Champions League’s top scorer last season, is expected to start.
Feyenoord vs Celtic
Where: Stadion Feyenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands
When: 19:00 GMT
Injuries have ravaged both teams, who are domestic champions of their respective leagues.
Celtic are without defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Stephen Welsh and Yuki Kobayashi, and wingers Liel Abada and Marco Tilio are also out.
Feyenoord are without injured goalkeeper Justin Bijlow while striker Santiago Gimenez is suspended. But the Eredivisie side are in fine scoring form after hitting six, five and then six again in their last three matches.
During their last Champions League group stage campaign in 2017, the Dutch side won once and lost five of their games.
AC Milan vs Newcastle
Where: San Siro, Milan, Italy
When: 16:45 GMT
Newcastle are back in Europe’s biggest club tournament after an absence of 20 years. They face the tall task of taking on last season’s semifinalists AC Milan at the San Siro but can be heartened by the fact that the Italian side has won just one of their last 11 matches against an English side.
The English team have former Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali on their side after he joined the Magpies in July.
This is Milan’s 20th Champions League campaign, the second most of any Italian side after Juventus (23). They crashed out of the first round of group stages once in the past 14 campaigns (2021-22).
Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund
Where: Parc des Princes, Paris, France
When: 19:00 GMT
The last time these two teams met was in the last 16 in the 2019-20 campaign. PSG lost their first leg away 2-1 but won the return leg 2-0 before eventually making it to the final.
The perennial French champions, without Neymar and Lionel Messi, will count on their star player Kylian Mbappe to score in a group that also has AC Milan and Newcastle.
Borussia Dortmund’s record against French teams in 14 matches has been a mixed bag with the German side winning eight and losing six. But in their recent league game against Freiburg, Dortmund scored six goals, so entertainment for tonight looks assured.
Barcelona vs Antwerp
Where: Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, Spain
Where: 19:00 GMT
Reigning La Liga champions Barcelona have failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League in their last two tries.
Xavi Hernandez’s team, fresh off an impressive 5-0 win against Real Betis in La Liga, will host the Belgian champions at the Olympic Stadium because Barcelona’s regular home ground of Camp Nou is undergoing renovations.
Antwerp are coached by former Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel, and the Dutchman has said his team won’t be afraid to test themselves and will try to play their aggressive, physical, attacking style.
