The Champions League begins this week with six British sides involved in the action.
Celtic host holders Real Madrid in an eye-catching clash on Tuesday, when Manchester City and Chelsea also start their challenges. Liverpool and Rangers – together in the same group – play on Wednesday, as do Tottenham.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the form of the sides facing the British teams.
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo vs Chelsea ⚡️ Rasprodane tribine zapad dolje i zapad gore! ??? U prodaji još samo ulaznice za sjever dolje i sjever gore ⚽️#dinamozagreb #UCL pic.twitter.com/UKxETLamvS
— GNK Dinamo (@gnkdinamo) September 4, 2022
Chelsea face a tricky opener in Group E as they travel to the Croatian capital to face a Dinamo side that are unbeaten in 19 matches at the Maksimir Stadium. They have also made a strong start to their Croatian league defence having won seven of their opening eight games, while they bounced back from defeat in the first leg of their play-off against Bodo/Glimt to reach the group stage with a 4-2 aggregate success.
Real Madrid
? Glasgow, we’re HERE! ???????#UCL pic.twitter.com/Oshdb7Qfgl
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) September 5, 2022
The visit of the holders and record 14-time European champions is undoubtedly a glamour tie for for Celtic in Group F, yet it is also a formidable challenge. Real, a juggernaut fuelled by a huge weight of history, defied expectations to overcome stronger-fancied sides such as Paris St Germain, Manchester City and Liverpool to triumph last season, while also claiming the LaLiga crown. They have begun the new campaign in similar fashion, with four wins from four.
Sevilla
Ajax
Home again, 3 points again ?
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) September 4, 2022
The Dutch giants, who host Rangers’ Champions League return in Group A, have needed little time to find their feet after a summer of upheaval. Ajax lost coach Erik Ten Hag, defender Lisandro Martinez and forward Antony to Manchester United, while Sebastian Haller also departed, but they have started the new Eredivisie season strongly with five wins from five under new boss Alfred Schreuder.
Napoli
Marseille
? on our return in the @ChampionsLeague
?? ? ????????? ??:?? ??? pic.twitter.com/v8NzNxqMYW
— Olympique de Marseille ?? ?? (@OM_English) September 4, 2022
Marseille head to Tottenham in Group D buoyant after winning five of their opening six games in an unbeaten Ligue 1 start that sees them sitting level with champions PSG. The French outfit are looking to kick on this season under new manager Igor Tudor after finishing second and reaching the Europa Conference League semi-finals last term. They are facing Spurs competitively for the first time.
