Strike up the band, because the UEFA Champions League is prepped for another season of thrills featuring the continent’s biggest clubs, biggest players and biggest showdowns.

From the group phase to the final, which takes place in Saint Petersburg on Saturday 28 May 2022, you can follow every screamer, upset and last-minute winner live and exclusive on BT Sport. For the benefit of the number-crunchers, that’s a whopping 125 matches to get stuck into.

And if you can’t get near the telly when the action is on, there’s no need to pout like a flashy striker being denied a penalty after going down a bit too easily in the box. Why? Because you can also watch all the drama as it happens on the Virgin TV Go app at no extra cost!

This season’s tournament feels thrillingly fresh, with a summer of headline-grabbing transfers (we’re looking at you, Messi and Ronaldo) giving the footballing landscape a fascinating new look.

It’s all set to be one of the most unmissable competitions in recent memory, but before it all kicks off we’ve sized up how we think the English teams involved are likely to get on during the group stage…

Chelsea

Who’s in their group? Juventus, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Malmö

For the reigning champions, their draw can be summed up in a single word: favourable. But allow us to elaborate. Zenit Saint Petersburg and Malmö should provide little resistance to Thomas Tuchel’s side, while Juventus’ potency is almost certain to be diminshed post-Ronaldo. The Italians are likely to pose the biggest threat to the Blues, but it won’t be enough cause last year’s winners any loss of sleep.

Chelsea to go through? You can be sure of that. Whether they can bag a second consecutive UEFA Champions League title is another matter…

Liverpool

Who’s in their group? Atlético Madrid, Porto, AC Milan

Eeesh. Talk about a tough group for the Reds. Jürgen Klopp’s men have been pitted against La Liga champions Atlético Madrid, Portuguese powerhouses Porto and a resurgent AC Milan. Liverpool remain one of Europe’s best teams and have every chance of going through, but this is a draw littered with banana skins for the six-time champions. Still, with Milan among their opponents, it’s as good a reason as any to dust off those Istanbul DVDs.

Liverpool to go through? Yes, but don’t be surprised if they leave it late and finish second.

Manchester City

Who’s in their group? Paris Saint-Germain, Red Bull Leipzig, Club Brugge

Have a glimpse of City’s opponents in Group A and the eye is instantly drawn to Paris Saint-Germain, who the Premier League champions beat in last season’s semis. A battle between the two richest clubs in the world (and a reunion between Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi) is always going to be a truly mouth-watering one. But Red Bull Leipzig, who finished second in the Bundesliga, and Belgian champs Club Brugge have the potential to make life difficult for the big boys.

City to go through? If they don’t, we’ll buy buy the biggest hat we can find and eat it.

Manchester United

Who’s in their group? Villarreal, Atalanta, Young Boys

Revenge. That’s what Manchester United will be thinking when they come up against Villarreal, following their defeat to the Spaniards in last season’s UEFA Europa League final. But Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team (who are sure to be boosted by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, a man who lives for the big stage) shouldn’t take their eye off the ball. Italians Atalanta, who beat Liverpool at Anfield last term, are dangerous, while Swiss champions Young Boys shouldn’t be scoffed at.

United to go through? It would be a huge shock if they didn’t. As this is United we’re talking about, however, expect them to make life difficult for themselves.

This week’s live UEFA Champions League games on BT Sport

Sevilla v RB Salzburg
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 5.45pm, BT Sport 1 HD (CH 527)

Young Boys v Manchester United
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 5.45pm, BT Sport 2 HD (CH 528)

Barcelona v Bayern Munich
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport 3 HD (CH 529)

Chelsea v Zenit Saint Petersburg
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport 2 HD (CH 528)

Dynamo Kiev v Benfica
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport

Lille v Wolfsburg
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport

Malmö v Juventus
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport ESPN HD (CH 530)

Villarreal v Atalanta
Tuesday 14 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport

Besiktas v Borussia Dortmund
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 5.45pm, BT Sport 1 HD (CH 527)

Sheriff Tiraspol v Shakhtar Donetsk
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 5.45pm, BT Sport ESPN HD (CH 530)

Atlético Madrid v Porto
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport

Club Brugge v Paris Saint-Germain
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport ESPN HD (CH 530)

Inter Milan v Real Madrid
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport

Liverpool v AC Milan
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport 2 HD (CH 528)

Manchester City v RB Leipzig
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport 3 HD (CH 529)

Sporting Lisbon v Ajax
Wednesday 15 September, kick-off 8pm, BT Sport

Don’t have BT Sport?

You can upgrade to our Virgin TV Maxit package online via your My Virgin Media account here and get all 4 BT Sport channels in HD. If you’ve not registered for My Virgin Media or have forgotten your sign in details just head over to myvirginmedia.com.

Not heard about Virgin TV Go?

Don’t let anything get in between you and your essential viewing with Virgin TV Go. With loads of sport and Box Sets to try out, you’ll always be entertained wherever you are!

The app is available to all Virgin TV customers at no extra cost and is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. Get downloading (from the links below) and you’ll be one step closer to watching what you want, when you want. 

Download the Virgin TV Go app from the Apple app store

Download the Virgin TV Go app from Google Play

Download the Virgin TV Go app for Windows 10