Champions League: Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona lead Tuesday’s Matchday 2 action

The UEFA Champions League returns on Tuesday with nine fixtures as all 36 clubs continue their campaigns in the expanded league phase.

Manchester United travel to Atletico Madrid, Arsenal host LOSC Lille and FC Barcelona face Galatasaray in Istanbul in three of the evening’s main games.

Atletico Madrid v Manchester United

Riyadh Air Metropolitano | Kick-off: 21:00

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United follow their 4-0 victory over Sabah FK with a demanding trip to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

United are 13th in the Premier League after drawing 1-1 with Tottenham, while their squad depth has been tested by injuries. Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo were left out of the travelling squad after suffering knocks at the weekend.

“We definitely need to start strong,” Carrick said.

“I think that’s pretty obvious. We’re coming to a place like this, against a very good team, with a lot of experience in this competition, and we know what we’re expecting tomorrow night. We’ll be ready for it.”

He added: “The boys are ready for it. I think the way we responded in the second half, in particular, and I think you could see that, so that gives me a lot of faith that I had already in the boys that they’re hungry and they’re eager to put things right.”

Diego Simeone’s Atletico offer a significantly tougher test than United’s opening opponents. They are looking to recover from their Matchday 1 defeat at Anfield and will rely on a home ground known for intense European occasions.

Arsenal v LOSC Lille

Emirates Stadium | Kick-off: 21:00

Arsenal’s strong home record in the early stages of European competition is on the line against Lille.

The Gunners have gone 13 home matches, spanning almost two years, without dropping points at this phase. That run continued last month with a disciplined 1-0 win over Napoli.

The match also brings Olivier Giroud back to the Emirates Stadium. The 40-year-old scored 105 goals during six seasons in North London and now leads the attack for a Lille side third in Ligue 1.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his players must remain emotionally controlled throughout the match.

“It’s owning the moment, leading that moment and making sure that we are in the emotional state that the game requires and not something else,” he said.

“If the game requires a reaction, energy and spirit, a boldness, a courage to deliver something else or change it, that’s the way we have to act. If the game demands everybody to bring the temperature down, we have to be able to do that, but in order to do that, we need to really understand what is happening.”

Galatasaray v FC Barcelona

Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park | Kick-off: 21:00 SAST

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona arrive in Istanbul after opening the league phase with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord. They have won all nine matches at the start of the campaign, their best beginning to a season since 1935.

Galatasaray lost 3-1 to Sporting CP on Matchday 1 but possess a formidable European home record, having beaten Juventus and Liverpool at home last season.

Barcelona have not kept a Champions League clean sheet since early last season and will be tested by Victor Osimhen in a hostile atmosphere.

Other fixtures:

RC Lens v Sporting CP; Sabah FK v SK Slavia Prague; Villarreal CF v SSC Napoli; Inter Milan v Club Brugge; RB Leipzig v PSV Eindhoven; Viking FK v FC Bayern Munich.