Barcelona, Atlético and Villarreal start second Champions League round

The Champions League returns tonight with three Spanish teams in action, in the first ties after the international break. Barcelona, Atlético and Villarreal play Matchday 2 this Tuesday, all at 21:00, marking the start of the second round of the competition.

Barcelona aim to repeat the rout in Istanbul

Hansi Flick's Barcelona visit the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul after having thrashed Feyenoord 5-1 in the opening matchday. Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong are missing due to injury, but Pau Cubarsí and Pedri return. Cubarsí warned about the danger of Victor Osimhen, whom he had already faced, while Flick asked his squad for ‘zero distractions’.

More than 900 Barcelona supporters have traveled to Turkey to back the team. The opponent, Galatasaray, is trying to bounce back after losing 3-1 to Sporting CP and faces the hostile atmosphere of the Rams Park.

Atlético and Villarreal face decisive ties

Diego Simeone's Atlético de Madrid arrives buoyed by its good form in LaLiga and seeks its first major continental win against Michael Carrick's Manchester United, which visits the Riyadh Air Metropolitan after having thumped Sabah 4-0. That stadium hosted 63,273 spectators against an English opponent in 2022.

Fernando and Hoy warn Villarreal's urgency in Champions League vs Napoli

Simeone praised the opponent's threat: “They handle a lot of money and press very well. They are a giant and we will have to play at 100 %.” He also avoided the pressure of playing the big final in his own stadium, stating that his strength is “match by match.”

Iñigo Pérez's Villarreal face Massimiliano Allegri's Napoli in the Cerámica, after losing 3-2 to Dortmund in the opening matchday. Napoli, which fell 0-1 to Arsenal, has Kevin De Bruyne in midfield.

Pérez highlighted the need for a different maturity: “In the Champions you attack and you get attacked.” He also warned that Napoli can change its defensive systems. Alberto Moleiro, of Villarreal, wants to give the fans “the victory that we could not achieve last year.”