We take a closer look at five of the most intriguing fixtures before bringing you the complete schedule.
Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United: Two teams in contrasting form
Tuesday, 13 October, 21:00 CEST
Atlético Madrid welcome Manchester United with the two sides heading into the encounter in markedly different form. The Spaniards have won their last four competitive matches, while United are without a victory in four.
Diego Simeone’s side secured a 2-1 win away to Deportivo Alavés at the weekend, with Cristian Romero heading home the winner in the 87th minute. Atlético sit second in La Liga with 19 points, five behind Barcelona, who have maintained a perfect record.
Their Champions League campaign, however, began with a 2-1 defeat away to Liverpool FC.
Manchester United made a comfortable start in Europe with a 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah, but their Premier League struggles continue. After six matches, United have collected just six points. On Saturday, Michael Carrick’s team squandered a 1-0 lead against a ten-man Tottenham side and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
United’s most recent Champions League memories of Atlético are equally unpleasant. In the 2022 round of 16, Simeone’s side followed a 1-1 draw in Madrid with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford to eliminate the English club.
Manchester City vs PSG: European giants in formidable form
Wednesday, 14 October, 21:00 CEST
Arguably the biggest fixture of the second matchday takes place in Manchester, where City host reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. The English champions approach the encounter in outstanding domestic form.
Manchester City have won all six of their Premier League matches this season. On Sunday, Enzo Maresca’s side claimed a 3-0 victory at Anfield after Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch received a controversial second yellow card. Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki were the goalscorers.
Maresca was particularly pleased with his team’s response amid the uncertainty surrounding the verdict on the club’s financial rule breaches. City also opened their Champions League campaign successfully with a 2-0 victory away to Porto.
PSG made an even more emphatic European start, sweeping aside Slovan Bratislava 6-1. Things have been less straightforward in Ligue 1, however. The Parisians sit just fifth after six rounds, having collected eleven points. Their latest outing brought a routine 3-1 victory over Le Mans.
The most recent Champions League meeting between the clubs produced a remarkable spectacle in 2025, when PSG overturned a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2. Another fascinating tactical battle between Maresca and Luis Enrique promises football of the highest quality.
Galatasaray vs Barcelona: Istanbul’s cauldron awaits a perfect Barcelona
Tuesday, 13 October, 21:00 CEST
Barcelona travel to Istanbul boasting an extraordinary record. Eight matches, eight victories and 24 points represent a flawless start to their La Liga campaign. On Saturday, they defeated Getafe 3-0.
Anthony Gordon, Gabriel Jesus and Jules Koundé scored for Hansi Flick’s side. The commanding victory was all the more impressive because it came without injured leading scorer Raphinha. The Brazilian is also expected to miss the Galatasaray encounter.
Barcelona began their Champions League campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Feyenoord.
Galatasaray, by contrast, are already under pressure. The Turkish champions lost their opening match 3-1 away to Sporting Lisbon and must now face one of the leading contenders for the title.
İlkay Gündoğan will attract particular attention. The former Barcelona midfielder is now under contract at Galatasaray, although he has played only a limited role under Okan Buruk so far. Ahead of the reunion, he described Barcelona as one of Europe’s best teams but believes Galatasaray’s individual quality and formidable home atmosphere give them a genuine chance.
The clubs’ most recent meetings came in the 2022 Europa League. After a goalless draw in Barcelona, the Catalans secured a 2-1 victory in Istanbul.
Roma vs Real Madrid: Mourinho returns to the Eternal City
Wednesday, 14 October, 21:00 CEST
Another heavyweight European encounter awaits at the Stadio Olimpico. A particularly compelling storyline is José Mourinho’s return to the Eternal City, where the Portuguese coach previously managed AS Roma.
Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan. Domestically, however, things have not gone according to plan. After eight rounds, Madrid already trail Barcelona by six points.
Saturday brought a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Villarreal. Vinícius Júnior made additional headlines after being shown a red card for violent conduct. His potential suspension, however, applies to domestic competitions and will not prevent him from featuring in the Champions League.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A and occupy third place with 14 points. On Sunday, the Giallorossi battled to a goalless draw away to Como despite Donyell Malen being sent off.
Injuries to goalkeeper Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante are among Roma’s personnel concerns.
History strongly favours Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have won their last four Champions League meetings with Roma, keeping a clean sheet in every one.
Bodø/Glimt vs Borussia Dortmund: A dangerous outsider in the far north
Wednesday, 14 October, 21:00 CEST
Borussia Dortmund travel to Norway as favourites, but Bodø/Glimt’s impressive performances in recent seasons mean the German side will certainly not take their opponents lightly.
The hosts suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat away to Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. At their own Aspmyra Stadium, however, the Norwegian champions are traditionally far more difficult to beat, with the artificial pitch adding another challenge for visiting teams.
Dortmund won their opening Champions League fixture 3-2 against Villarreal. In the Bundesliga, though, Niko Kovač’s side suffered a frustrating setback on Friday. The Black and Yellows led Werder Bremen 2-0 until the 88th minute, only for Ludovit Reis and former Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug to score late goals and rescue a 2-2 draw.
The only previous Champions League meeting between Dortmund and Bodø/Glimt also produced a surprise. In December 2025, the Norwegian side earned an impressive 2-2 draw in Dortmund.
Kovač will therefore place particular emphasis on defensive discipline and ensuring his team are better protected against the Norwegians’ rapid counterattacks.
All Champions League fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
- 18:45 – Lens vs Sporting Lisbon
- 18:45 – Sabah vs Slavia Prague
- 21:00 – Arsenal vs Lille
- 21:00 – Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United
- 21:00 – Inter Milan vs Club Brugge
- 21:00 – Galatasaray vs Barcelona
- 21:00 – RB Leipzig vs PSV Eindhoven
- 21:00 – Viking FK vs Bayern Munich
- 21:00 – Villarreal vs Napoli
Wednesday, 14 October 2026
- 18:45 – Feyenoord vs Como
- 18:45 – LASK vs Liverpool FC
- 21:00 – Roma vs Real Madrid
- 21:00 – Aston Villa vs Fenerbahçe
- 21:00 – Shakhtar Donetsk vs AEK Athens
- 21:00 – Bodø/Glimt vs Borussia Dortmund
- 21:00 – Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain
- 21:00 – Real Betis vs Porto
- 21:00 – Slovan Bratislava vs VfB Stuttgart
All kick-off times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).
