UCL: Matchday 1 - Team News & Lineups to Watch
The UEFA Champions League is back, and the group stages are kicking off with a bang! With new faces, returning legends, and exciting storylines, Matchday 1 promises a thrilling ride for football fans worldwide. To prepare you for the action, we've compiled essential team news and lineups you should be watching closely:
Group A:
Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan:
Team News:
- Bayern Munich are without the injured Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez. Sadio Mané is back from injury and could feature in the starting lineup.
- Inter Milan will be missing Romelu Lukaku and Marko Arnautović due to injuries.
Lineup to watch:
- Bayern Munich: Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in midfield will be crucial for Bayern's dominance. Keep an eye on Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané on the wings.
- Inter Milan: Lautaro Martínez will be a focal point for Inter's attack. The midfield trio of Nicolò Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Marcelo Brozović will be key to their success.
Group B:
Porto vs. Atlético Madrid:
Team News:
- Porto have a clean bill of health and should be ready to go.
- Atlético Madrid will be without Marcos Llorente, Reinildo Mandava, and Stefan Savić due to injury.
Lineup to watch:
- Porto: Mehdi Taremi and Evanilson form a dangerous attacking duo. The midfield partnership of Otávio and Brugga will be crucial to controlling the tempo.
- Atlético Madrid: Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata will lead the attack. Geoffrey Kondogbia and Rodrigo de Paul in midfield will be tasked with creating chances.
Group C:
Manchester City vs. RB Leipzig:
Team News:
- Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne who is recovering from injury.
- RB Leipzig are without the injured Dani Olmo and Timo Werner.
Lineup to watch:
- Manchester City: Erling Haaland will be a huge threat in the box. Expect Phil Foden and Jack Grealish to be creative forces in midfield.
- RB Leipzig: Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai will be key to their attack. Konrad Laimer and Xaver Schlager will be tasked with slowing down City's momentum.
Group D:
Newcastle vs. AC Milan:
Team News:
- Newcastle will be without Allan Saint-Maximin due to injury.
- AC Milan will be without Mike Maignan and Fikayo Tomori who are both injured.
Lineup to watch:
- Newcastle: Callum Wilson will lead the attack and will look to take advantage of Milan's defensive vulnerabilities. Bruno Guimarães will be influential in midfield.
- AC Milan: Rafael Leão will be a key player for Milan. The midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Rade Krunić, and Brahim Díaz will be tasked with creating chances.
Matchday 1 is just the beginning of another thrilling Champions League campaign. Be sure to tune in and catch these exciting matchups, and stay tuned for our analysis throughout the week!
