Brest will debut in European competition for the first time, making them the 12th different French team to play in the UEFA Champions League. In a new format, the competition has expanded to 36 teams, featuring a league phase instead of the traditional group stage. Sporting Lisbon secured a 2-0 win against Lille, who were reduced to 10 men after Angel Gomes received a second yellow card. Atlético Madrid, despite a strong home win record, have struggled against German teams in recent seasons. RB Leipzig has seen high-scoring matches in their previous Champions League appearances, and Sporting CP's Viktor Gyökeres played a pivotal role in their current campaign, contributing significantly in European matches.