Champions League 2019-20, Matchday 1: 4 Thrilling encounters to look out for

The Champions League is returning this Tuesday. The moment football fans were waiting for is here. Finally, Tuesday and Wednesday nights wouldn't be so boring. Europe would be abuzz with dazzling football.

The 2019–20 UEFA Champions League is the 65th season of Europe's premier club football tournament organised by UEFA. The draws for the group stage of Champions League were conducted on 29 August, with several clubs facing their opponents for the first time and some had competed against each other last season.

We are going to see talented youngsters compete against each other and age-old rivalries being reignited. Also, the video assistant referee (VAR) will be used from the play-off round. The final of this season's Champions League would be played at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.

Now without further ado, here are four exhilarating matches that you simply cannot afford to miss:

#4 Napoli vs Liverpool

Napoli would be hosting Liverpool at San Paolo stadium

Napoli have had a mix start this season in the league, winning two matches and losing one. While their opponents, Liverpool have had a perfect start to their Premier League campaign this season. They have won all their matches and are currently sitting on top of the table with and five points above defending champions Manchester City

Jurgen Klopp and his men would be going into this game with a lot of confidence being the defending European champions and having a perfect start to the campaign. For Liverpool to start their season perfectly in the Champions League as well, the forwards would have to convert their chances efficiently as they will be facing a stubborn Napoli defence.

For Carlo Ancelotti and his team to win, the Napoli midfielders cannot afford to give the Liverpool forwards any space to run. Also, the likes of Lorenzo Insigne and Hirving Lozano would have to be at the top of their game to get past UEFA's player of the year, Virgil Van Dijk.

Fact: Napoli and Liverpool faced each other last season in the group stage, with both of them winning at home but losing away.

Possible outcome: Napoli secures a home win.

#3 Borussia Dortmund VS FC Barcelona

One of Europe's finest stadium would be hosting one of Europe's finest team!!!

Borussia Dortmund, home to Europe's finest young talents would be facing some of the best players in the world in this clash. It would be a battle between Jadon Sancho and Frenkie De Jong for the title of Europe's most exciting young player.

There was a doubt regarding Lionel Messi's participation for this fixture. However, Barca has confirmed that the Argentine Superstar is fit for the clash. He could be on the bench and would come on later in the match.

Valverde must have already chosen two of his three forwards for the game as Luis Suarez He would have to choose between Ansu Fati and Carles Perez for the third forward and judging by the game against Valencia, he is going to opt for the teenage sensation.

The Barcelona coach has also found his perfect midfield trio in Arthur, Busquets and De Jong with all of them playing exceptionally against Valencia at home.

But it would be fascinating to see whether Valverde goes for experienced players like Rakitic and Vidal instead of young talents like Arthur and De jong.

Former Barcelona man, Paco Alcacer after joining Borussia Dortmund has risen like a phoenix from ashes and has become one of Europe's best strikers.

The Spanish striker has scored in every game he has played this season and has a total of seven goals for club and three for Spain. He would be very eager to score against his former club and prove some people wrong at Barcelona.

BVB is going to (possibly) play against a Messi-less Barcelona and they could even win against them if Lucian Favre gets his tactics right. He could take inspiration from Liverpool on how to exploit Barcelona when they're playing away from their turf. Needless to say, the fans would have to be at the back of their team always.

Possible outcome: Barcelona win but Dortmund don't go down easily.

#2 Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid

This player right here is going to be the most influential player on the pitch!!!

PSG have never won against Real Madrid in the Champions League in their last four clashes. But all those times were different because Real Madrid had the man himself, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now after his departure Los Blancos had a bad season. This time around, they look hopeful with the return of Zidane and their summer signings including Eden Hazard.

PSG would be going into this game without two of their most important forwards, i.e. Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani. However, they have Neymar Jr and Mauro Icardi as backup. The Spotlight will be on Neymar as he would looking to distance himself from the transfer saga and look to prove that he is one of the best players in the world.

Mauro Icardi, who is yet to score a goal for PSG, would be looking to break his duck against the record Champions League winners.

So far Real Madrid haven't lost a single game this season. If Real Madrid wants the world to forget their last season then they would have to win the Champions League this time around. A win against PSG will surely help their cause.

Zidane is facing an injury crisis as he has a lot of first-team players in the medical room ahead of the fixture. His main left-back Marcelo has been diagnosed with a post-traumatic cervicodorsal injury.

While this doesn't seem to be a big injury, it's still one which will keep Marcelo out of the team when Los Blancos visit PSG this Wednesday.

If there is one thing Thomas Tuchel should worry, then it is about how he could contain Real's pacy, skillful wingers.

This win could be a major boost in confidence for Zidane's men as they have are going to be facing Sevilla, Osasuna and Atletico Madrid in seven days in the Spanish League.

Possible outcome: The match is going to end up in a draw.

#1 Atletico Madrid vs Juventus

Easily the most exciting match of matchday 1 in the UEFA Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo loves scoring against Los Rojiblancos. He had scored 22 goals against them while he played for Real Madrid and last season he scored a wonderful hat-trick against them to eliminate them from the competition, taking his total tally against them to 25.

If there is one player that Diego Simeone absolutely hates facing more than anyone then it is the No. 7 of Juventus.

Atletico Madrid had gone all out this summer to bring the Portuguese wonderkid, Joao Felix from Benfica for €126 Million and he has proven his worth already.

Also, Diego Simeone could finally play attacking football with the amount of forwards he has and the quality they possess.

If there is one thing Simeone should learn from last season's disastrous away match then it is that the team has to start on the front foot. It would be very interesting to see the team Simeone would use in this match.

Cristiano Ronaldo was bought by Juventus last season to make them win the Champions League but he failed to win do so. However, with the arrival of many new players and Maurizio Sarri being appointed the manager, Ronaldo has promised the fans that he is going to win the Champions League with Juventus.

The Old Lady could very well start this edition by securing an important win against Simeone's men. Needless to say, Juventus are going to play all out attack from the beginning considering this tactic worked wonderfully against them last season.

Possible outcome: Juventus are going to win again.

Edited by Alan John