The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season heads into Matchday 4 with nine games on the first day. The spotlight match features Real Madrid at home against AC Milan, while Liverpool hosts Bayer Leverkusen, and Manchester City faces a notable away challenge against Sporting CP.

Real Madrid vs AC Milan In the rankings of Champions League titles, Real Madrid holds the record with 15 titles, while AC Milan is second with seven. However, despite their historic prominence, it’s been 14 years since the two teams met in an official match—the last time was a 2-2 draw at the San Siro on November 3, 2010. In six total Champions League encounters, both teams are evenly matched with two wins, two draws, and two losses each. Including other competitions, they’ve also won six games apiece and drawn three times.

In their respective leagues, both teams are one match behind but have fallen more than two games behind the top spot. Both sides are therefore looking for a morale boost in the Champions League. This match also marks Vinícius Jr.'s first appearance after the Ballon d'Or saga, so it will be interesting to see if he can refocus and make an impact. Additionally, this will be a homecoming of sorts for Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as he faces his former team, AC Milan.

Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield as Leverkusen’s manager, and this clash is expected to be the highest-level contest of the day. These teams met in the Champions League knockout stages in the 2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons, each eliminating the other once, though Liverpool has a slight advantage with a record of three wins and one loss in individual games. Liverpool currently leads the Premier League with an impressive 8-1-1 record and remains unbeaten in the Champions League, with three wins that place them second due to goal difference. Despite some injuries, Liverpool’s key players are fit and in excellent form, and the team will be aiming to become the first club this season to secure four consecutive Champions League wins.

Leverkusen is fourth in the Bundesliga, seven points behind leaders Bayern. In the Champions League, they have two wins and one draw, placing them sixth overall. As Alonso noted in an interview, “Liverpool is one of Europe’s top teams, and they clearly have an edge. For us, this will be an immense challenge, and it’s going to be a very tough game.”

Sporting CP vs Manchester City
The main intrigue in this match may be off the pitch, as Sporting’s director Hugo Viana is set to take over as City’s director next season, and Sporting’s coach Rúben Amorim is due to join City’s rival, Manchester United, later this month. In a way, this match could be seen as a “preview” for the Manchester rivalry.

On the pitch, City is plagued by injuries. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is out for the season, and Grealish, Stones, and Rúben Dias are also unavailable. De Bruyne, Doku, Savinho, Walker, Gvardiol, and Akanji are in the squad but carrying injuries. Pep Guardiola has confirmed that backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start over Ederson. Sporting, meanwhile, bounced back from a Portuguese Super Cup loss to Porto with a 10-game winning streak in the league, scoring 35 goals and conceding just three. In the Champions League, they also have two wins and one draw, matching City’s record. The uncertainty around Amorim’s departure may, however, affect the players’ morale.

Lille vs Juventus Lille has shown strong momentum with back-to-back wins over both Madrid clubs in the Champions League. Juventus, on the other hand, recently ended a three-game winless streak with a victory in the league. These two teams, ranked 14th and 15th, respectively, in the group stage standings, are expected to deliver a fiercely competitive match.