We're all set for Juventus' return to the Champions League this Tuesday, 17 September at 18:45 CEST, where the Bianconeri host PSV in their competition opener at the Allianz Stadium in this new format of the competition that includes eight League Phase matches against a different opponent.
Ahead of the start of the Bianconeri's campaign, we look back at a handful of memorable Matchday 1s this millenium.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2003/04 | JUVENTUS-GALATASARAY 2-1
A brace by Alessandro Del Piero to start the 2003/04 Champions League campaign: what better way for the Bianconeri to begin their European competition, in a difficult match at the ‘Delle Alpi’ Stadium against a tough opponent like Hakan Sukur's Galatasaray. In the end, however, in a somewhat fortunate way from a cross that was not met by anyone, the Bianconeri scored the second and decisive goal with 20 minutes to go to seal all three points.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15 | JUVENTUS-MALMO 2-0
The group stage draw in Nyon had not been kind to the Bianconeri that year and taking advantage of the home match against Malmo was the best way to kcik off the competition in the best possible way. On that occasion, Juve relied on Carlos Tevez to get the job done against the Swedes, netting a brace to secure the win. The first came with just 15 minutes on the clock, while the second came near the end to seal the deal, round off the spoils and send a clear message to all opponents in the group.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015/16 | MANCHESTER CITY-JUVENTUS 1-2
Speaking of Manchester City - one of Juventus' opponents in the League Phase of the Champions League this term - we have already recalled our previous match-ups against the Cityzens. One of those matches was on Matchday 1 in 2015, when Juventus played a great away game, overturning a match that exploded in the second half: Giorgio Chiellini's unlucky own goal, which came after an hour of play, was then remedied by goals scored by Mario Mandzukic and then Alvaro Morata in another great European evening of a team that has proven its worth many times in the Champions League.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2020/21 | DINAMO KYIV-JUVENTUS 0-2
In freezing weather, the Bianconeri managed to earn the first three points available in 2020's Champions League thanks to Alvaro Morata's brilliance - two goals that put the Bianconeri in firm control against Dinamo Kyiv, in a group stage that Juventus ended in top spot, coached by Andrea Pirlo (who also made his debut on the bench in the Champions League that night). A first as a coach on such an important stage also awaits Thiago Motta, in a return to the pitch in Europe's top competition that Juventus want to kickstart in the best possible way.