Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter in Bilbao

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This is where Arsenal will be playing Athletic Bilbao this evening.

The San Mames stadium holds 53,000 people and it's set to be an excellent atmosphere inside the ground.

It's the first time since the 2014/15 season that Athletic Club have been in the Champions League.

The club has a policy of only using players from the Basque region of the country too, which limits the players they can bring in.

They invest heavily in the club's academy to develop top talents for their first team.

Tonight they will be without star player Nico Williams, who is injured.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

As Phil mentioned, Chelsea won the Fifa Club World Cup in the summer.

One of the key discussions during that controversial new tournament, with it's extended format, was the toll it would take on the players.

Chelsea and Paris St-Germain reached the final of that competition, which was played out in punishing, hot temperatures in the United States.

Could it have an impact on how deep they will be able to go in the Champions League this season?

And guess what, another Fifa competition, the 2026 World Cup, gets underway just 12 days after this season's Champions League final.

Too much?:

• 30 May - Champions League final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest
• 11 June - First game of the 2026 Fifa World Cup at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Neil: How much confidence will Chelsea take from their masterclass on how to beat PSG in a cup final?

Afternoon, Neil. Simple answer – a lot.

If you can beat PSG, as Chelsea did so comfortably in the Club World Cup final, then you know you can beat anyone, irrespective of the tournament. This sort of win bolsters confidence and self-belief.

Champions League

Sticking with the Newcastle theme, the Magpies' second Champions League game will be at Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise - one of four sides that have reached this stage of the competition for the first time...

Bodo/Glimt

Having made history last year in becoming the first Norwegian side to reach the Europa League semi-finals, Bodo/Glimt beat Sturm Graz in the Champions League play-off to reach the league phase.

They're the first Norwegian side to play in the competition since Rosenborg in 2007-08.

Kairat Almaty

The Kazakhstan champions are only the second side from the country to play in the Champions League, after Astana in 2015-16.

They beat Celtic on penalties to reach this stage and host Real Madrid on matchday two.

Pafos

A narrow 3-2 aggregate win over Crvena Zvezda in the play-off booked Pafos' place in the league stage.

They are the first team from Cyprus to play in the tournament proper since 2017-18 and can look forward to matches against Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Juventus among others.

Union Saint-Gilloise

The Belgians enjoyed a superb 24-25 campaign, winning a league and cup double with the former securing their place in the league phase.

Sebastien Pocognoli's side start their campaign away to PSV before hosting Newcastle and Inter Milan in their next two games.

Newcastle's extra games may yet again take their toll, as Phil alluded to, but it's difficult to assess the comparative strengths between the Magpies squad in their previous Champions League campaign and their current one - only time will tell.

All the same, fans and players enjoyed a memorable night at St James' Park in 2023-24, when they stunned a star-laden Paris St-Germain side, running out 4-1 winners.

Incidentally, Newcastle will once against face PSG, this time away from home in their final game of the league phase.

Eddie Howe will be hoping for a stronger finish to this season's campaign after Newcastle faded last time around. Home losses to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan saw them fail to make it out of their group.

However, they did recover towards the tail end of the season and recorded their second-highest finish (7th) in the Premier League at the time, since being promoted in 2017.

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Champions League

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Just because it's the obvious answer doesn't mean it's wrong...

John Murray: The player I'm looking forward to watching is Yamal as I am yet to commentate on him in a Barcelona shirt.

While disappointingly it looks like he might not be fit for Thursday at St James' Park, I suspect there will be other opportunities as this Champions League progresses.

Sami Mokbel: At 18, Yamal is still a kid - but already one of the premier attacking talents in European football. Destined to be one of, if not the, best footballers in the world.

Steph Houghton: Yamal is a global superstar. I'm excited to see how he performs against teams that are more than likely going to double up against him.

Nicky Bandini: We're all itching to see more of Yamal, aren't we? The two legs of Barcelona's semi-final against Inter last season will stay with me for a very long time. Maybe it's unfair to ask an 18-year-old what he can do for an encore, but you can't help but be excited at the prospect.

There are plenty of others I'm excited to watch too though! Of course we're all curious about Max Dowman after he made his debut for Arsenal at 15, and it'll be fun to see Scott McTominay in the Champions League with Napoli after he fired them to a domestic title last season and was named Serie A's Most Valuable Player.

I wonder if this might be a breakout year for Kenan Yildiz too, still only 20 and with a full season of starting for Juventus now under his belt.

Phil McNulty: It's not a shock choice but I can't wait to see Yamal play for Barcelona, hopefully starting against Newcastle on Thursday, although the 18-year-old is struggling with a back injury picked up on international duty with Spain.

PSG's Doue is another brilliant young talent currently struggling with an injury, but he is another who will light up the tournament when fit, as he did so wonderfully last season.

Matt Upson: Yamal is the player I want to see. He is a ridiculous talent and I love watching him play.

Barcelona at home must be a mouthwatering prospect for all Newcastle fans - it's the game that immediately stands out from their fixtures.

Lamine Yamal is an injury doubt, but with or without their star man, last season's beaten semi-finalists are sure to provide a stern test.

The question is, can the Magpies beat the Spanish champions? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Roy: Hi Phil Toon fan here, do you think being in Champions League will have an effect on our league form this season?

Hi, Roy. Time will tell because there are a lot of extra games and Newcastle United could certainly do with more numbers in their squad, especially with that intense, full-on style they employ.

I think it might take a toll, but I’m pretty sure they would settle for that extra toll being games like Thursday night’s Champions League opener against Barcelona at St James’ Park.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Second-time lucky, we plan to host a stream of a Champions League preview show in this page later today, from about 15:15 BST, that will include Liverpool manager Arne Slot's pre-match news conference.

Please stick with us for that.

In the meantime, we have the company of BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty, who is on hand to answer your questions.

Just send Phil a question using the Get Involved icon at the top of this page.

Liverpool

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Back to the Liverpool players, who split off into groups to do some rondos - that's essentially piggy in the middle for those wondering.

Some nice touches from Ryan Gravenberch - who impressed at Burnley on Sunday - and young striker Jayden Danns in one group.

No Curtis Jones out there for Liverpool, he missed the game at the weekend and looks like he'll be missing again tomorrow.

And that's where the cameras cut out. Time for some tactical work, perhaps, away from prying eyes.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Well James, Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season but find themselves in the Champions League, so you have got to say there's ALWAYS a chance [sorry, couldn't resist].

In all seriousness, though, you managed a 2-2 draw against last season's winners Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup and only lost on penalties.

So never say never.

Liverpool

Medicine balls are out now as part of this warm-up.

The players are paired up, hands above their heads passing them between each other.

Paired with Wataru Endo, Alexander Isak is having to bend down a little to make it work but he seems happy enough.

Time to use some actual footballs and Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are showing off their skills as they do keepy-uppies back and forth.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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James: Phil, do you not think that Liverpool's tactics, rather than the signings, are the issue? They're not creating much, relying on set-pieces or individual brilliance, and they look defensively vulnerable.

Hi James. I do think Liverpool have not been at their best this season and Mohamed Salah has made a quiet start, but I honestly think it is down to a period of adjustment having made so many signings. I am sure Salah will be having his usual impact very soon. World-class players are never quiet for too long.

Florian Wirtz, who I thought played well at Burnley, is settling into that drifting number “10” role and perhaps that has made them a little more vulnerable when teams go through the middle. I'm sure Arne Slot will fix that, especially with Ryan Gravenberch back and looking so good after being suspended for the opening league game at home to Bournemouth.

Also the two full-backs Slot has brought in, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerzez, are both very attack-minded so again, this adds to maybe making Liverpool slightly easier to get at.

Let’s not forget they have won four league matches and have not conceded in their last two – all without being at their best and with a £125m striker still to come into the side in Alexander Isak. I wouldn’t worry too much, although my personal preference is still for Andrew Robertson ahead of Kerkez at left-back. Kerkez needs to settle down and show more discipline.

Liverpool

Liverpool's players are out for training and, after manager Arne Slot got them into a huddle for a brief chat, they are going through their warm-ups.

Alexander Isak is among them as he gets himself ready for a potential Liverpool debut.

Alexis Mac Allister is also there, a good sign for the Reds after he went off at half-time against Burnley following a hefty tackle and could have done some real damage to his ankle.

OK, Tom, zero chance, got it.

But just imagine that... Almaty lifting the trophy in Budapest in May.

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Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City (8.7%) and Chelsea (7.2%) rank fourth and fifth respectively, just ahead of 15-time winners Real Madrid. That is despite Real having won six of the previous 12 finals.

It may also be a slight surprise to see Newcastle, who have never contested a knockout tie in Europe’s elite competition, sitting above last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan.

Tottenham, runners-up in 2019, are given a 1.5% chance, placing them 13th. However, this season’s true Champions League underdogs are debutants Kairat.

Based in the Kazakh city of Almaty, which is further east than Tehran, Kabul or Mumbai, they will become the easternmost team to play in the Champions League. Opta’s calculations show they have zero possibility of lifting the trophy and just a 3.6% chance of progressing beyond the league phase.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Champions League history will be made this week with England becoming the first country to field six clubs in the league or group phase of the competition. But how will the Premier League contingent, who make up a sixth of the 36 participants, fare?

Opta’s prediction model, which is based on 10,000 data-led simulations, rates English teams as the sides to beat. It ranks five of them amongst the nine most likely winners, a reflection of the Premier League’s financial advantage over all but a handful of European super clubs.

Six-time European champions Liverpool are Opta’s top pick, with a one in five chance. Arsenal rank second on 15.3%, with the supercomputer backing them to go one better after reaching the quarter-finals in 2024 and semi-finals last term.

The third favourites are reigning champions Paris St-Germain, who are unlikely to fear Premier League opposition, having eliminated three English sides on the way to winning their first Champions League crown in May.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Sadly Matt, you will see more ball-in-play time in Liverpool v Atletico Madrid that you will during the Reds training session on this page today as the technical gremlins have struck.

Unfortunately, that live stream is no longer happening.

We told you these things were fluid.

But we will bring you news from the training session as and when we get it...