Champions League First Round Begins Tonight: Arsenal Visit Napoli, Liverpool Face Atletico Madrid

On the second day of the 2026-27 Champions League, five major clubs including Barcelona, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Paris will all appear. iQIYI Sports will provide exclusive full-media coverage of several key matchups.

Barcelona vs Feyenoord September 10 (Thursday) 00:45

At 00:45 Beijing time on September 10, Barcelona will host Feyenoord at Camp Nou in the first round of the Champions League league phase.

Barcelona have made a perfect start to the new La Liga season with four wins from four matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. Raphinha is in excellent form, while the midfield control provided by Rodri, Pedri and Olmo is outstanding. Yamal and Gordon provide explosive threat from the wings.

Feyenoord, meanwhile, have experienced turbulence before the match. The transfer saga involving key player Anis-Moussa has just ended. Although the player has returned to training and traveled with the team to Camp Nou, his mentality remains a concern, while several defensive starters are injured. Their chances of winning appear slim. Barcelona's intense wing pressure will continue to force opposing full-backs inward, and any gaps in the defensive channels could be exploited to take control of the match.

Barcelona have the advantage in historical meetings with one win and one draw. Both teams enter the match on winning runs. Barcelona recently defeated Valencia 5-0 away from home, while Feyenoord beat NEC Nijmegen 3-1 away in their previous Eredivisie match. A Feyenoord victory would create history.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid September 10 (Thursday) 03:00

At 3:00 Beijing time on September 10, the second Champions League matchday brings a blockbuster clash: Liverpool host Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Liverpool have a slight historical advantage with five wins, three draws and three defeats against Atletico Madrid. Liverpool have also beaten Atletico several times at home in the Champions League, giving them a psychological advantage.

Liverpool benefit from the Anfield home advantage, focusing on high pressing and wing attacks while using the width of the pitch to stretch opponents. However, their recent form has fluctuated, with Bradley, Joe Gomez and Leoni unavailable through injury. The center-back partnership of Van Dijk and Araujo will face a test, while the absences of Ekitike and Chiesa reduce attacking rotation options. Atletico are known for their disciplined defense, often allowing opponents possession, defending deep and waiting for mistakes before launching quick counterattacks. If Liverpool fail to break through after sustained pressure, Atletico could seize transition opportunities.

For Atletico's squad, Sorloth is unavailable due to a muscle injury and Ortiz is suspended, limiting attacking options. Alvarez's performance could become the X-factor that decides the direction of the match. After the summer transfer turmoil has ended, whether Spider can overcome outside distractions, regain his form and fully focus on this Champions League battle remains a major unknown. Returning to the familiar Anfield is also an opportunity for him to prove himself. Last season, he scored 10 goals in a single Champions League campaign; if he returns to peak form and helps Atletico secure three points, it would not only remove negative pressure but also be an important step toward rebuilding trust with the club's supporters.

When high pressing meets determined defending, a battle without a standard answer is about to unfold.

Napoli vs Arsenal September 10 (Thursday) 03:00

At 3:00 Beijing time on September 10, Arsenal will travel to face Napoli in the first round of the Champions League league phase.

This match will be exclusively broadcast across all media platforms by iQIYI Sports.

Arsenal have made a strong start to the new season with three consecutive league wins. Odegaard's midfield distribution and Saka's wing threat are key weapons. New signing Tzolis has fully activated the left flank, making the champions' tactical structure more complete. Arsenal also hold the historical advantage against Napoli with three wins and one defeat. However, they face away-game injury problems, with key defenders Saliba and Timber unavailable, limiting defensive rotation.

Napoli will have the passionate home atmosphere of the Maradona Stadium and are skilled at defending and counterattacking. However, the team have been in poor recent form, suffering consecutive defeats in Serie A. Their injury list is long, with McTominay sidelined after heart surgery and several key midfield and defensive players unavailable. They can only hope their home atmosphere can compensate for the gap in squad strength.

There is a significant difference in the two teams' perceived strength, and Arsenal are expected to take the initiative away from home and leave Italy with three points.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava September 10 (Thursday) 03:00

At 3:00 Beijing time on September 10, Paris Saint-Germain will host Slovakian club Slovan Bratislava in the first round of the Champions League league phase.

As defending Champions League champions, PSG have far greater squad strength and depth than Slovan Bratislava. Dembele, Doue and KK form the attacking group, while Vitinha and Joao Neves control the midfield. The team possess varied attacking methods, with strong threats from wing breakthroughs and set pieces. They have retained the core squad from their two-title period and possess rich European competition experience.

Slovan Bratislava have limited strength and a clear away-game approach: defend collectively, maintain a compact shape, wait patiently for PSG mistakes and seek chances for an away goal. The key question is not whether PSG can win, but whether they can show enough focus to secure a winning start on their path toward a third consecutive Champions League title.