Image source, Getty Images

Having knocked out Real Madrid in the last 16 of last season's competition, Manchester City were strong favourites to reach the final but failed to get past French side Lyon in a 'final eight' knockout tournament played in Lisbon amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"It was a tough moment," says Pep Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice as Barcelona manager.

"I felt so responsible for this: how the club and players fought to achieve it and I was not able to drive them.

"The reality is we have not performed to the level we have to to get through in this competition.

"It is the best way to improve and go through and accept a new challenge this season. Start from zero again and try it again, knowing we have to improve."

Hello!

Less than two months since last season's Champions League final took the place the competition has swung back into action this week as Europe's hopefuls begin their road to the 2020-21 final.

Last night, Chelsea and Manchester United got their group-stage campaigns under way and tonight it is the turn of Premier League champions Liverpool and Manchester City to take centre stage.

As if that wasn't enticing enough, the reigning European champions Bayern Munich are also in action, with Real Madrid kicking things off in our coverage. Excited, much?

Here's some of tonight's highlights:

Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk (17:55 BST)

Ajax v Liverpool (20:00 BST)

Bayern Munich v Atletico Madrid (20:00 BST)

Man City v Porto (20:00 BST)

Image source, Getty Images

The Champions League has proved a frustrating competition for Pep Guardiola in recent years.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach was brought in by Manchester City with the hope he could help them lift the Champions League trophy but three successive quarter-finals exits are the best he has been able to achieve.

His desire to succeed in Europe will undoubtedly be burning stronger than ever, so could this finally be their year?