Champions League matchday three: what to get excited about!

The sides who play each other on matchday three come together again on matchday four, ensuring plenty of intense drama over the next few weeks.

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Matchday two fixtures (21.00CET unless stated)

Tuesday 23 October
Group E: AEK Athens v Bayern München (18:55CET), Ajax v Benfica
Group F: Hoffenheim v Lyon, Shakhtar v Manchester City
Group G: Roma v CSKA Moskva, Real Madrid v Viktoria Plzeň
Group H: Young Boys v Valencia (18:55CET), Manchester United v Juventus

Wednesday 24 October
Group A: Club Brugge v Monaco (18:55CET), Dortmund v Atlético
Group B: PSV Eindhoven v Tottenham (18:55CET), Barcelona v Inter
Group C: Paris v Napoli, Liverpool v Crvena zvezda
Group D: Lokomotiv Moskva v Porto, Galatasaray v Schalke

Three things to look out for this week

Paul Pogba in his old Juventus kit©AFP/Getty Images

1) Regular UEFA Champions League adversaries in the 1990s, Manchester United and Juventus resume their rivalry on Tuesday. Paul Pogba faces his old side for the first time since joining United two years ago, with the Italian champions arriving at Old Trafford – where they lost the 2003 UEFA Champions League final – fresh from ten straight wins in all competitions prior to the international break.

2) Paris coach from 2011–13, Carlo Ancelotti is returning to face his old side with Napoli. Now coached by Thomas Tuchel, Paris feature former Napoli frontman Edinson Cavani among their fearsome battery of goalscorers. After beating Liverpool last time out, Napoli top Group C with four points; another win for the Partenopei could be a significant step towards qualifying from one of the group stage’s toughest sections.

See Messi’s hat-trick against PSV

3) Inter are the next club in Lionel Messi’s sights as Group B’s top two collide. With five goals in the first two matchdays, the Barcelona captain leads the UEFA Champions League scoring charts – and hit the post twice in the 4-2 win against Tottenham at Wembley last time out. One of only six opponents Messi has never scored against in the UEFA Champions League, the Nerazzurri knocked Barcelona out in the 2010 semi-finals en route to European glory.

How can I follow on UEFA.com?

UEFA.com has reporters at every UEFA Champions League game this season, providing regular updates on social media – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – and in our MatchCentres. There is live text and photo coverage of every fixture, with reaction and highlights to follow.

How can I get involved?

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What’s new for 2018/19?

This is the first season of staggered kick-off times during the UEFA Champions League group stage, with at least two games per night getting under way at 18:55CET. That’s not to mention a fancy new brand identity, based on a concept called ‘Highlighting moments that make the ultimate stage’.

What’s not new?

Thirty-two teams vying to lift the most prestigious trophy in European club football. The top two in all eight groups progress to the knockout stage, with two-legged round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final ties whittling it down to just two finalists. Talking of which …