Porto vs Manchester City - Champions League: Enzo Maresca's men start European campaign at the Dragao, while Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid face Inter Milan

Big, big win.

Aston Villa have managed to hold on for not just their first win of the Champions League season, but their first win of this season full stop.

Boy, were they made to work for it, but goals from John McGinn, Emi Buendia, and Nicolas Jackson proved too much for Club Brugge in the end.

They needed that.

I know this part of the world can be rainy, but damn.

It is absolutely hammering it down in Porto; I'm talking biblical rain. Umbrellas everywhere.

It already feels like the ridiculously hot summer that we have just had was yonks ago...

Bring back the sun!

Wayne Rooney, former Man United striker, on Amazon Prime:

If I were a Manchester City fan, I'd be pretty confident.

Why? Well, not only have they had a cracking recent run of results, but their history with Porto is a pretty decent one.

Porto and Manchester City have faced each other on four occasions in Europe, with the Portuguese winless across each of them, losing three of those games.

Their only previous UEFA Champions League meeting at the Estádio Do Dragão ended 0-0, however, coming in the 2020-21 edition.

Can they finally get that win tonight?

Tom Collomosse at Jan Breydel Stadium:

When we say tonight is a tough test, we mean it.

Porto are no pushover; they are a proper team and seem to be in the best shape they have been in for years.

The Portuguese outfit have started off the campaign on absolute smoke, winning all of their first five games.

Now, obviously facing Manchester City is a monstrous step up, but still, they could give Enzo Maresca's side a run for their money.

But let's see, eh?

There is a new man at the helm in Europe for Manchester City.

After 10 years of Pep Guardiola, who was brought in to win Ol' BIg Ears and did just that, Enzo Maresca is now at the helm.

Maresca will be just the fourth different manager to take charge of Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, following Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.

None of the previous three lost their first game (W2 D1), with the last two both winning by at least three goals (3-0 for Pellegrini, 4-0 for Guardiola). Now that's pressure.

Maresca has started well domestically; now how about in Europe?

Tom Collomosse at Jan Breydel Stadium:

It's squaky bum time for Aston Villa.

Nicolò Tresoldi has pulled a goal back for Club Brugge from the penalty spot, and suddenly Villa's lead doesn't seem so healthy.

It feels as though the hosts and their fans can sense the tide turning here, and they are really pushing for that equaliser.

It's getting real tasty.

Manchester City normally starts their Champions League campaign pretty well.

And when I say pretty, I mean incredibly.

Manchester City have won their opening game of a UEFA Champions League campaign in six of the last seven seasons, drawing the other.

They last lost their European opener all the way back in the 2018-19 season against Lyon, when they lost 2-1.

They are looking to keep things that way tonight.

Asmir Begovic, former Chelsea goalkeeper, speaking to Hajper:

I can't tell you how excited I am to see Ayyoub Bouaddi in action.

I was skeptical about Manchester City lobbing the insane amount of money on the 18-year-old that they did, you know, given that he is basically still a kid.

However, I covered his debut against Crystal Palace a couple of weeks back, and boy, he looked the real deal.

Now we get to see Bouaddi for more than just a short stint and I simply can't wait to see how he fares.

The boy is a special talent, and he has his big break.