The start of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League features four La Liga teams in action in the league phase.
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Real Madrid will be looking to defend their European crown with Girona qualifying for the first time in their history.
But, how will La Liga’s quartet fare in their opening European fixture of the new season, as the big kick off gets underway on September 17.
Real Madrid
Los Blancos get their European campaign underway at home to VfB Stuttgart and they will be confident of a routine win based on an unbeaten start to the La Liga season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team won all six of their group games last season with home victories against Napoli, Sporting Braga and Union Berlin.
Despite the likely absence of Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni the hosts should ease to a win.
Barcelona
Hansi Flick has won his first four games in charge of Barcelona in La Liga action but the Champions League presents a different challenge to the former Bayern Munich head coach.
They head to AS Monaco in their first game in the competition and the French side have enjoyed a solid start to their domestic campaign.
Despite the gap between the two teams being tighter than the one separating Real Madrid and Stuttgart, they should secure a win on the road, with bigger tests to come.
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone has spent a large chunk of money looking to bolster his squad this summer and Atletico Madrid have started the season with four league games unbeaten.
Los Rojiblancos were unbeaten in the group stages of the 2023/24 Champions League with four wins and two draws. including three home victories.
They host Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig in their first game, and it could be Simeone’s first big test of 2024/25, and they may have to settle for a draw in the Spanish capital.
Girona
Girona’s place in the Champions League is not just a first in the top tier of European football competition but also a first-ever appearance in any European tournament for the Catalan team.
After being placed in Pot 4 ahead of the league phase draw they have been paired with Ligue 1 superpower Paris Saint-Germain in their opening game.
Despite causing some shocks last season, Girona are unlikely to get anything other than a defeat in Paris, but a home game against Feyenoord on October 2 marks a historical milestone.
