Rory Smith
Football Correspondent for The Observer on BBC Radio 5 Live

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There are no surprises in European football any more - the big clubs have spent the better part of 30 years killing them off. I think Qarabag will be better than many expect, based on their Europa League form last year, and Galatasaray and Athletic Bilbao might offer a bit of variety in the last 16.

But in terms of actually progressing into the latter stages, it has to be Napoli, given the depth of squad Antonio Conte has built. Yep, that's right: this year's dark horses are... the champions of Italy.

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The 2025-26 Champions League season is the second to take place under a new format.

There are some slight changes to the competition since last season.

BBC Sport take a look at the new rules.

• Clubs can admit the temporary replacement of just one outfield player who is ruled out for an extended period of time, with a long-term injury or illness - applicable during the league phase until matchday six.
• Teams that are ranked one to four after the league phase will play the second leg of the quarter-final stages at home. For the semi-final, teams ranked one and two will also play the second leg at home.
• Uefa have brought forward the kick-off time for the Champions League final to 17:00 BST from the 2025-26 season onwards.

More on the new rules

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at the Etihad Stadium

There were loud cheers at the Etihad Stadium when Kevin de Bruyne's name was read out earlier.

The reaction was less positive for Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund.

I suspect all three are fully motivated for their own different reasons tonight.

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The Champions League was revamped before the 2024-25 season with a new 36-team league phase.

In the expanded tournament each side plays eight different teams - four at home and four away - in the league phase.

Teams who finish in the top eight automatically qualify for the last 16, while those placing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.

Sides who finish 25th or lower will be eliminated - and will not drop into the Europa League.

• Read more about the Champions League format

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

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Kevin de Bruyne won 16 trophies in a decade at Manchester City. There are plans to immortalise him with a statue outside Etihad Stadium.

The midfielder left City when his contract expired in June and, having made it clear it was not his choice to leave, is now plotting their downfall with Napoli.

His arrival in Naples has been lauded and likened to that of Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who is still revered by the Italian side's supporters.

De Bruyne appears to have fitted in seamlessly at his new residence, scoring two goals in his opening three games, and the City defenders will know first-hand the quality he possesses.

Read more here.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at the Etihad Stadium

Napoli's team of analysts are just taking their seats next to me.

There are only a couple of them so far but I suspect they might make a bit of noise.

Napoli

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Napoli, managed by former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, are the champions of Italy with some very familiar names who know all about Manchester City.

As well as Kevin de Bruyne, their squad includes Manchester United players past and present.

Midfielder Scott McTominay and forward Romelu Lukaku helped the team win Serie A, while Rasmus Hojlund scored on his debut against Fiorentina on Saturday after joining on a season-long loan earlier this month.

In addition, former Chelsea and Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour has featured for the team as a substitute this season.

Image source, Reuters

In the Champions League, Kevin de Bruyne recorded 25 assists for Manchester City - 10 more than any other player for the club in the competition.

"Manchester City made the decision to get rid of Kevin de Bruyne," says former City goalkeeper Joe Hart on TNT Sports.

"Knowing him like I do, he will be like: 'I am good enough and I will show you'.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe speaking to TNT Sports: "We're boosted by the result on Saturday. That was a big one to get off the mark in terms of Premier League wins. I think it means we go into this with a slightly different feeling. We're excited about the competition. Amazing to be part of it. I think, more than that, we want to be competitive this time and progress to the next stage."

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Cyprus and Denmark are currently on course to win the two extra Champions League places on offer for next season's competition.

Since the start of the 2024-25 season, when the Champions League's first round expanded from 32 teams to 36, Uefa have handed an extra qualifying place to each of the two best-performing nations in the previous season.

Using Uefa's association rankings, where points are earned by winning and drawing matches in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, the two nations with the highest points get given a direct qualification each for the following season's Champions League.

Throughout the season, teams earn two points for every win and one for draws across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. There are also bonus points on offer for every round reached across the three competitions, although more points are given to teams competing in the Champions League than in the other competitions.

• Read more

Manchester City

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Erling Haaland is used to rewriting the record books and the Manchester City striker could smash another record tonight.

Haaland - who has scored 49 times in 48 Champions League appearances - is on the brink of setting a new record for fewest appearances to 50 goals in the competition.

The current record is 62 games, achieved by former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2007.

As well as City (26 goals), Haaland has scored in the Champions League for his previous clubs Borussia Dortmund (15) and Red Bull Salzburg (8).

Newcastle come into the game on the back of their first Premier League win of the season, a 1-0 victory over Wolves with Nick Woltemade scoring the only goal.

Barcelona meanwhile beat Valencia 6-0 on Sunday to take them onto 10 points from four La Liga games and 13 goals scored.

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It is one of the most recognisable anthems in sport - but where did the Champions League anthem come from?

The anthem was written by British composer Tony Britten in 1992 to mark the Champions League rebrand from the European Cup.

Britten was inspired by George Frideric Handel's Zadok the Priest, which is traditionally played at the coronation of British monarchs.

The inspiration helped him create the iconic football anthem, sung by the Academy of Saint Martin and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Uefa wanted this competition to be about the best of football rather than the worst and said they must have an anthem," Britten told the BBC in 2020.

• Read more about the Champions League anthem

And there we go. The points are shared in Denmark in a match that had two very late goals, an opener from Henrik Larsson's son, Jordan, and a stunning Alejandro Grimaldo free-kick.

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Job done for Club Brugge, who have blown Monaco away in their Champions League opener.

Three goals in the space of 10 minutes put the home side out of reach at half-time, with Nicolo Tresoldi, Raphael Onyedika and Hans Vanaken all on the scoresheet.

Monaco improved somewhat after the break, but a fourth from French teenager Mamadou Diakhon sealed their fate in Bruges.

Ansu Fati, on loan from Barcelona, grabbed a consolation goal for the Ligue 1 side in stoppage time.

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says this fixture has a "magical feel to it".

"I'm really excited to sample the atmosphere - I think it will be an incredible thing again," he said.

"We will try to get a positive result and prepare the players for the game. I'm looking forward to how we match up against them and there is a lot of confidence restored after winning on Saturday."

Bruno Guimaraes says Newcastle's midfield is "one of the best in the Premier League", praising Sandro Tonali's influence on the side.

"I enjoy playing at his side - I think we complete each other and he [is] enjoying playing with me as well," said the Brazil international.

"We have a very good connection with each other. I think we have one of the best midfields in the Premier League to be honest and now we have to prove it in the Champions League as well.

"I always look to make history with this club, it's nice to be in the Champions League two times in the last three [years].

"It's unbelievable for us so we have to keep going. A lot of the job to do here yet. We can't wait to play this game tomorrow and I'm very happy to be part of this club."

Hang on, Bayer Leverkusen have just scored another.

Substitute Claudio Echeverri dances down the left before unleashing an effort which deflects off defender Pantelis Chatzidiakos wickedly and drops in. Two minutes of stoppage time remain in this early kick-off.

A reminder that you can watch highlights of Newcastle United-Barcelona and Manchester City-Napoli - as well as the rest of tonight's games - on BBC Two from 23:00 BST.

If you cannot wait until then the BBC Sport website will have highlights from 22:00.