A new Champions League campaign launches into life with a meeting of two former winners as Porto host Manchester City in an intriguing opening-round clash.
For the first time in more than a decade, the visitors embark on a European adventure without Pep Guardiola at the helm, with Enzo Maresca stepping up for his first continental fixture in charge. A strong start to the Premier League season has come after another productive summer in the transfer market, and Manchester City are set to hand a couple of new signings a bigger role as he manages his squad ahead of a hectic period.
Maresca will have another Italian for company on the touchline in Francesco Farioli, the highly-rated young manager who has restored Porto to champions of Portugal. Another storming start in the Primeira Liga will leave confidence high that the club can mix it with the European heavyweights as they return to the top tier for the first time in three years – and this early test will be a good gauge of their Champions League aspirations.
Follow all of the latest from the clash with our live blog below:
Team news – Manchester City
Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Bouaddi; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 18:54
Team news – Porto
Porto XI: Costa; Costa, Perez, Kiwior, Fernandes; Varela, Rosario, Veiga; Gomez, Silva, Pepe.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 18:52
Man City ignored Enzo Fernandez’s red flags – and now they have three issues
Getting the midfield mix right will be key for Enzo Maresca if Manchester City are to go deep in this competition. It seems like Ayyoub Bouaddi is set for a start in Porto but what role might Enzo Fernandez have – both tonight and in the long-term. Richard Jolly profiles a potentially flawed signing.
Man City ignored Enzo Fernandez’s red flags – and now they have three issues
Manchester City have agreed to make Fernandez the joint-most expensive signing in British football history, but the £125m midfielder can appear petulant, selfish and undisciplined, writes Richard Jolly, and presents problems that are tactical and financial Harry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 18:35
Why Manchester City spent big money to revolutionise their squad
Manchester City’s squad has a new look, too – Richard Jolly explains why they felt they had to invest.
Why Manchester City spent big money to revolutionise their squad
After an outlay of £750m across two transfer windows City are in a better place than last year writes Richard Jolly. Now the question is whether their overhauled squad can succeed in the club’s new eraHarry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 18:25
A new era for Manchester City
For Manchester City, this is another step into the unknown under Enzo Maresca as the new manager takes charge of his first Champions League game with the club. Maresca did a solid enough with Chelsea last year as he managed the dual demands of domestic and European football – and has both a Conference League and Club World Cup to fall back on as proof of his tournament credentials.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 18:15
PSG’s big Champions League advantage is also its biggest problem
A new season dawns, then, and perhaps with a new problem – have PSG shown the league phase to be entirely trivial? Miguel Delaney sets the scene.
PSG’s big Champions League advantage is also its biggest problem
The insignificance of the Champions League’s league phase, as illustrated by PSG winning the title after finishing 15th and 11th in the group, reduces the top tier of European football to more ‘wallpaper’ content. By Miguel DelaneyHarry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 18:05
Porto vs Manchester City LIVE
Hit the music; light the lights; fetch that massive trophy – a new Champions League campaign is here. The league phase may remain convoluted, confusing and a trifle contrived but an opening-round clash of former winners whets the appetite for the long and busy European season ahead: it’s Porto and Manchester City in action here for an intriguing little first step on the road to Madrid next May.
Kick off is at 8pm BST.
Harry Latham-Coyle8 September 2026 17:04