With European football fully back after a spread-out return to action, we have matches from all three Premier European competitions in an exciting and packed schedule over the next three nights. Below we have picked our five must-see games from the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
Tuesday, September 30th
Chelsea vs Benfica - 21:00 CET
The narrative around this game needs little introduction. Legendary two-time former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge in his first European match as the new Benfica head coach. It is the definition of box-office, and I am glad that an unlikely set of events has transpired to create this special occasion.
Whether you think Mourinho is finished at this level or not, his record in Europe was strong for Manchester United and AS Roma, and both of those jobs came during the less successful years of his career since winning his last league title at Chelsea in the 2014/15 season.
There is no room for sentiment for the hosts, however, after Chelsea's mini-slump in form under their current manager Enzo Maresca. The Blues have lost their last two Premier League games, and despite far from embarrassing themselves in Munich, they did ultimately lose their opening game in the Champions League.
Mourinho, though, is a man who thrives on the big occasion and after securing his first win as Benfica boss last weekend, the Portuguese will do everything in his power to upset fans who once adored him.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool - 21:00 CET
The Turkish champions host the champions of England in a match that promises at least one thing: the atmosphere inside Rams Park will be deafening. That poses an immediate challenge to a Liverpool side yet to really click this season, at least not consistently.
When you then factor in the fact that experienced and quality players such as Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane and Viktor Oshimen spearhead a new look Galatasaray side that is flying in the Turkish Super Lig, and suddenly you have a big test for Arne Slot's men.
What will give the Liverpool boss encouragement is the fact that Galatasaray lost badly away to Eintracht Frankfurt in matchday one in a nightmare return to the Champions League. Also, despite Liverpool not quite convincing this season, they beat Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener and remain top of the Premier League.
Read a more in-depth preview of the match here.
Wednesday, 1st October
The 2024/25 Champions League final that never materialised. If Inter hadn't pulled off their remarkable late comeback against Barcelona in the semi-final, football would have been treated to one of the games of modern times as two genius coaches went toe to toe.
Instead, these two European giants had to wait until the league phase of this campaign to meet and whilst the stakes aren't as high as they would have been in May, a win for either side would be a statement one.
Whoever can come on top in this colossal clash will have the belief that they can go all the way.
The pressure feels more on Barcelona considering the injury woes facing Luis Enrique's side, and a bit like Arsenal in the Premier League, Hansi Flick knows the next step for his thrilling Barcelona team is to win the Champions League. Beating the holders would certainly go some way to doing just that.
Lamine Yamal's return is timely for the hosts and expect the teenage superstar to play a pivotal role if Barcelona are to win and continue their red-hot start to the season.
Thursday, 2nd October
This is a clash between two of the better sides on paper in the Europa League this season. Their respective starts to the season support this argument, too. Roma have looked rejuvenated under their brilliant new manager Gian Piero Gasperini. They have won four and lost once in their first five Serie A games, which sees them in third position and level on points with league leaders AC Milan. Roma also won against another strong French outfit in their Europa League opener last week, claiming an impressive victory away to Nice.
Lille will be no walkovers after making a steady start to their Ligue 1 campaign and also winning their Europa League opener at home to Brann. However, with home advantage and Gasperini's impressive record in this competition, Roma will fancy their chances of continuing their fine run and making it two wins from two in Europe.
Dynamo Kyiv vs Crystal Palace - 18:45 CET
Crystal Palace's European debut deserved to be in the Europa League. Sadly, for non-footballing reasons, it comes in the Conference League instead. That won't take anything away from how special this occasion will be for the travelling Palace fans who will watch their club play in Europe for the first time at the start of what promises to be an exciting European adventure.
Oliver Glasner's side couldn't be going into their European debut in better form having just beaten the Premier League holders Liverpool to continue an incredible 18-game unbeaten run.
In that time, Palace have won the FA Cup to book their place in Europe and the Community Shield at the start of this season. In what is a great time to be a Seaguls supporter, who's to say they can't go on a deep run in the Conference League?
One thing is for sure: a win at last season's Ukrainian champions would be the dream way to begin their exciting European journey.