1. Manchester United will miss out on Champions League football for the first time since 1995 and have also missed out on European competition altogether for the first time since 1990.
2. After 5 years, Liverpool return to the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, for the first time since exiting in the group stages with a 2-1 defeat at home to Fiorentina in December 2009.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking 17-goal tally in last season’s Champions League might not be repeated this season. In fact, his tally might not even reach 10 goals since Angel di María is now at Old Trafford.
4. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be chasing Raul's Champions League record of 71 goals. Messi has 67 Champions League goals, 4 shy of 71 while Cristiano has 68 Champions League goals, 3 shy of 71.
5. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be the leading goal scorer by the end of the season.
6. NK Maribor are back in the group stage for the first time in 15 years and will make their second appearance in the Champions League in Group G where they will face clubs like Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon and Schalke.
7. Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal will meet for the third time in four seasons, with Dortmund hoping to reverse the home defeat they suffered to Arsenal last season.
8. Real Madrid began the La Liga season on a bad note and head to the Champions League in tatters. Without the likes of di María and Xabi Alonso how will Madrid retain their title, if it's even possible?
9. The Champions League is a completely different ball game. Which club will maintain a good league record as well as a good Champions League record. Some clubs excel in both while others, one suffers. It might have been one match, but Liverpool were obviously feeling the pressures of the Champions League when they lost to Aston Villa over the weekend.
10. Bayern Munich will be stacked with German World Cup winners.
11. Players to watch this season - Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, Cristiano Ronaldo, Stefan Kiessling, Enzo Perez, Aaron Ramsey, Marco Reus, Fernando Muslera, Daniele De Rossi, Arjen Robben, Fernando, Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cesc Fabregas, Benedikt Howedes and many others. Some will spark long after the season has begun.
Main Thing: Who will win the UEFA Champions League this season?
