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Champions League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live This video can not be played Champions League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live Follow live coverage of six games on opening night of Champions League Arsenal visit Athletic Club at 17: 45 BST before Tottenham host Villarreal at 20: 00 BST Watch BBC Radio 5 Live Champions League Final Score at top of page, including commentary of both matches Real Madrid v Marseille & Juventus & Dortmund also on Tuesday Press 'get involved' at top of page to join conversation Neil Johnston & Adam Millington Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Athletic Club are a Basque institution and a huge part of everyday life for people in the area. Maternity wards in the city are decked in the club's famous red and white. In 2023, Athletic sent a bib commemorating the club's 125th anniversary to every baby in the region. Athletic Club also have a strict rule about who can play for the team. Comment at the top of this page, Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Inevitably Arteta is under pressure. But cut him some slack. Since becoming Arsenal manager he has been up against the best ever Liverpool and Man City teams. Colin, Edinburgh Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde on why Arsenal are one of the favourites to win the Champions League: "They are one of the favourites to win the Champions League because of their skill, tactics, and the winning spirit their coach Mikel Arteta has given them. "It's the start of the Champions League and we're playing against a high-level opponent, the kind that Bilbao likes, but we have to be very careful and take advantage of opportunities. Arsenal won't be forgiving. " Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Thomas Hitzlsperger Former Germany midfielder on MOTD: Uefa Champions League Athletic Club are a team I've been watching a lot and a unique club that I really admire. They are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2015 and their manager Ernesto Valverde has done a phenomenal job. They are a solid side, who have made a very good start to the new season. Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say Jaffa: Arsenal are near but always seem to choke. If it’s a wildcard selection then it would be brilliant for the game if Newcastle won it. Although I have a sneaky suspicion Chelsea might be going about business quietly & might just spring a few surprises. Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Mikel Arteta knows this part of the world very well. The Arsenal boss was born in the Basque Country in San Sebastian. "We landed in Bilbao, that’s normally where I land when I go back home to San Sebastian, it’s an hour's drive from there, " said Arteta at his pre-match news conference on Monday. "All my family is from there, and you just sense the passion, the rivalry, the football atmosphere. It’s great to be here - I’ve never been in this stadium before, so it’s a good experience. " Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Athletic Club's San Mames stadium, opened in 2013, is a stone's throw from the club's iconic old home. Former coach Luis Fernandez once said: "Bilbao without San Mames would be like Paris without the Eiffel Tower. " Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) I'm looking at aerial footage above Athletic Club's San Mames ground and there are what looks like tens of thousands of tiny red ants queuing in the sunshine to get into the iconic ground. Comment at the top of this page, Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Arsenal made the quarter finals in 2024, and the semi finals in 2025. Only logical progression would be making the final in 2026. A lot for Arteta to be held to, hope he pulls it off. Martin Arsenal have addressed their centre forward and defensive midfield weaknesses and also strengthened every area of their team, without losing a single first XI player. Whereas Liverpool had to replace 4 first teamers and have serious lack of depth at central defence and defensive midfield. Arsenal look like the team to beat if Arteta can be brave this year. Rob Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Arsenal If Arsenal win this, they will become the first side in European Cup/Champions League history to win six consecutive matches against Spanish sides. 16 April 2025: Real Madrid (away) 2-1 8 April 2025: Real Madrid (home) 3-0 29 January 2025: Girona (away) 2-1 8 November 2023: Sevilla (home) 2-0 24 October 2023: Sevilla (away) 2-1 Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Matt Upson Former Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live I think Arsenal will do the best of the English teams in the Champions League. The core of their team is still together, they have strengthened their squad and they are also another big European campaign further along. They can use a run like the one they had last season in order to be even more successful. BBC Radio 5 Live Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson is at San Mames alongside Alistair Bruce-Ball for 5 Live commentary. Build-up to the 17: 45 BST kick-off starts at 17: 30. Then it's straight over to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Spurs against Villarreal at 20: 00 with Conor Mc Namara and former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say 007: Arsenal, never won Europe's elite competition and only been in the final once, in their whole history. Always the bridesmaid in the Premier League, so it’s safe to say you can count them out again. Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Rory Smith Football Correspondent for The Observer The fact the younger Williams brother, Nico, is still at Athletic Club is down, more than anything, to Barcelona's ongoing financial malaise, but it is the sort of thing that should be celebrated. He signed a 10-year deal this summer, and he will want to prove he can cut it on the biggest club stage. Read: Who will win Champions League? BBC Sport experts make predictions. Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) By the way, no Nico Williams for Athletic Club tonight. Which is probably a really good thing. He's one of Europe's hottest talents. Williams misses this one with a groin injury. Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Shay Given Former Manchester City goalkeeper on Monday Night Club I think Mikel Arteta has got pressure this season. He's spent a lot of money, let's be honest. It's great having all these players and they're fantastic players but they have to produce something at the end of the season. Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Arsenal £250m + spent in the summer transfer window; one FA Cup and two Community Shields as he approaches his sixth anniversary in charge. How much pressure is Mikel Arteta to deliver a trophy this season? Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say Meryl High-Ground: Arsenal reached the semis without a proper No 9 last season, they're doing well in the Prem. They'll do well, and that's me talking as a Newcastle fan. There are TWO Champions League highlights shows on the BBC this week. Arsenal at Athletic Club and Tottenham against Villarreal will feature in Wednesday's highlights show on BBC One from 22: 40 BST. Mark Chapman will also present highlights of Wednesday's games, including Bayern Munich-Chelsea and Liverpool-Atletico Madrid. Gabby Logan will present Thursday's highlights show on BBC Two from 23: 00, including Newcastle-Barcelona and Manchester City-Napoli. The biggest names. The biggest games. All the goals and unmissable moments from Europe's greatest football club competition. Remember, both shows will be available to watch on the BBC i Player and the BBC Sport website and app. Athletic Club v Arsenal (17: 45 BST) Arsenal Max Dowman is on the Arsenal bench tonight. Let that sink in. A 15-year-old who could come on and feature in a Champions League game at Athletic Club. Headmaster: "Dowman, where's your homework? " Dowman: "Sorry sir, I was playing for Arsenal at the San Mames. " Last Updated 31st August 2025 at 02: 20 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Ernesto Valverde Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Ernesto Valverde Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 To watch and listen, you need to enable Java Script in your browser. Champions League build-up. BBC Radio 5 Live. Audio Champions League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live Listen live Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal. BBC Radio 5 Live. Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal BBC Radio 5 Live Listen here at 17: 45 Champions League build-up. BBC Radio 5 Live. Champions League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live Listen here at 19: 45 Tottenham v Villarreal. BBC Radio 5 Live. Tottenham v Villarreal BBC Radio 5 Live Listen here at 20: 00 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the first competitive meeting between Athletic Club and Arsenal, and just the third time the Lions have faced an English opponent in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (eliminated by Manchester United in 1956-57 quarter-final and Liverpool in 1983-84 last 16). If Arsenal win this game, they will become the first side in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history to win six consecutive matches against Spanish sides. Indeed, they have won all five of their matches against Spanish opposition across the last two campaigns (two v Real Madrid, two v Sevilla and one v Girona). Athletic Club have only lost two of their previous 10 home games against English sides in major European competition (W5 D3), although one of those did come in the most recent one, losing 3-0 against Manchester United in last season’s UEFA Europa League (semi-final first leg). This will be Athletic Club’s first outing in the UEFA Champions League since the 2014-15 season, which was also under Ernesto Valverde, in the second of his three spells as club manager. Athletic have won six of their seven European matches played at San Mamés since Valverde returned in 2022 (L1). Across the last two editions of the UEFA Champions League, only Real Madrid (33) have accumulated more points in the group/league phase than Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal (32 – P14 W10 D2 L2). Arsenal only lost three of their 14 games in the UEFA Champions League last season (W9 D2), with all three defeats coming against 2024-25 finalists Paris SG (L2) and Internazionale (L1). Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde has only lost nine of his 42 games as a manager in the UEFA Champions League (W23 D10). Among Spanish managers with 10+ matches in the competition, only Pep Guardiola has a lower loss rate (17. 1%) than Valverde (21. 4%). Arsenal have conceded just 18 goals in 24 UEFA Champions League matches under Mikel Arteta. Among teams with 20+ games under a manager, only four sides in the competition have a better goals conceded per game average (0. 75): Fabio Capello’s Milan (0. 38), Louis van Gaal’s Ajax (0. 63), Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona (0. 68) and Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona (0. 71). Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres was directly involved in seven goals in eight appearances in the UEFA Champions League last season (six goals, one assist for Sporting CP), averaging a goal or assist every 87 minutes played. Only one Arsenal player had a minutes per goal involvement ratio under 100 (Bukayo Saka, 95). No non-Spanish player has ever appeared for Athletic Club in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, while two could do so in this game: Ghanaian Iñaki Williams and Moroccan Maroan Sannadi. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.