All you need to know about high-profile Champions League clashes like Bayern Munich vs Manchester United and Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven slated for Thursday
The group stage of the elite European tournament, UEFA Champions League, kicked off on Tuesday. Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona began their 2023-24 campaigns with wins, while Newcastle United marked their return to the competition with a goalless draw away to AC Milan. (More Football News)
Here’s all you need to know about the encounters slated for Wednesday/Thursday:
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United (Group A)
Manchester United will be without injured defenders Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as they face the daunting trip to Munich. The season has not started as planned for Erik ten Hag's team after opening the Premier League with three losses in their first five games.
Bayern, who have won the last 11 Bundesliga titles in a row, will measure their success this season on how far they progress in the Champions League. The Bavarian powerhouse are as yet unbeaten this season, though they did drop their first points in a 2-2 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Match timing: 12:30am IST (Thursday)
Telecast details (in India): Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD
Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website.
Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven (Group B)
After qualifying for the Champions League for 19 straights years under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have had to wait six years to get back into the competition. And it's clear the team have been looking forward to this moment.
Striker Gabriel Jesus could make his first start of the season following a knee injury, while manager Mikel Arteta will have to decide how many other players to rotate ahead of a crucial north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.
PSV have won all four of their league games so far and cannot be taken lightly, having scored 13 goals while conceding just one in that stretch.
Match timing: 12:30am (Thursday)
Telecast details (in India): Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD
Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website.
Real Madrid vs Union Berlin (Group C)
Real Madrid will be without right back Dani Carvajal against newcomers Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Carvajal was injured in training on Tuesday. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said Lucas Vazquez will be Carvajal's replacement.
Forward Vinicius Junior had already been ruled out because of an injury. Madrid started the season with five straight wins in the Spanish league.
Match timing: 10:15pm IST (Wednesday)
Telecast details (in India): Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD
Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website.
Braga vs Napoli (Group C)
Napoli won their first two matches under new coach Rudi Garcia before losing to Lazio and having to fight back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw at Genoa last weekend.
Braga lost at the weekend but had opened the Portuguese season with a draw and a win. Their last Champions League appearance was in 2012 when they won just one of their group-stage matches.
Match timing: 12:30am IST (Thursday)
Telecast details (in India): Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD
Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website.
Real Sociedad vs Inter Milan (Group D)
Last season's runners-up Inter Milan head into their Champions League opener at Real Sociedad coming off a 5-1 win over city rivals AC Milan in the derby on Saturday to maintain their perfect start to the season – the only team in Serie A to have won all their four matches.
Inter will be without one of their key players, however, as midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has been ruled out of the trip to Spain with a thigh strain.
Sociedad lost at Real Madrid at the weekend. They drew their first three matches before beating Granada in the previous round.
Match timing: 12:30am (Thursday)
Telecast details (in India): Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD
Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website.
Benfica vs Salzburg (Group D)
The Portuguese champions host the Austrian champions in a meeting between two teams with an eye on getting out of the group at Sociedad or Inter's expense. Benfica were a Champions League quarterfinalist in each of the last two seasons and Salzburg reached the last 16 in 2021-22.
Match timing: 12:30am IST (Thursday)
Telecast details (in India): Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD
Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website.