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:
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.
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.
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.
