Exciting precedent for episode two

The UEFA Champions League season is up and running and on the evidence of Matchday 1, it has been worth the wait. The 16 matches played, taking in venues from Kiev to Copenhagen, produced 42 goals at a rate of 2.63 per game.

Deep impact
Among the teams making early progress in a field of 32 clubs are continental title-holders FC Barcelona, FC Bayern München, FC Steaua Bucuresti and Manchester United FC. Steaua, UEFA Cup semi-finalists last term, will aim to carry on where they left off against FC Dynamo Kyiv. The Romanian champions came away from Ukraine with a resounding 4-1 win and now turn their sights on Olympique Lyonnais. The Bucharest crowd can expect tougher resistance from Gérard Houllier's men, who announced themselves with an impressive 2-0 home victory over Real Madrid CF. Group E also brings together Madrid and Dynamo on 26 September.

Night on the town
Tuesday night has a number of other attractions. SL Benfica and Manchester United add another chapter to their European Champion Clubs' Cup history in Group F, where Celtic FC welcome FC København to Glasgow's East End. The bright lights of London are FC Porto's destination in Group G, as Arsenal FC do the entertaining, while PFC CSKA Moskva will want to be less-than-accommodating hosts to Hamburger SV. AEK Athens FC will be staying in and doing their homework ahead of RSC Anderlecht's visit in Group H: the Greek side are still seeking a first win after 19 group-stage games. LOSC Lille Métropole have AC Milan calling in the same section.

Top of the class
If Barcelona achieved high marks for their 5-0 defeat of PFC Levski Sofia on 12 September, Werder Bremen probably left Chelsea FC feeling they could have done better. They get their chance at home to Barça on Wednesday evening. Levski continue their tough introduction to the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea's Group A trip to Bulgaria. Bayern scored four on Matchday 1, the same tally as Steaua's, and one more and less than Manchester United and Barcelona respectively. FC Internazionale Milano should prove less porous opposition at the Giuseppe Meazza than FC Spartak Moskva did in Bavaria. Spartak have room for improvement against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Group B's other match.

The chase
Group C offered an antidote to the general wrecking of defences with two goalless draws, so the four contenders will be keen to claim more than just a share of the spoils in the second round of fixtures. FC Girondins de Bordeaux and PSV Eindhoven meet in France; Liverpool FC and Galatasaray SK test their mettle on Merseyside. That leaves Group D where the two losing teams from a fortnight ago, FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Olympiacos CFP, attempt to open their accounts, while the victorious Valencia CF and AS Roma hope for a second windfall.