We're just over halfway through the new league phase of the Champions League and it has already produced its fair share of intrigue. Who would have thought in September that Sporting CP, Monaco and first-timers Brest would be among the pacesetters and that only Liverpool would boast a perfect record? We welcome all these surprises and more in this new issue – beginning with our first cover star Ollie Watkins, following his trajectory from non-league to the Champions League where he intends to make his mark. Perhaps a more familiar sight is seeing our other cover star, Zlatan Ibrahimović, back at AC Milan. The prolific Swede's desire to succeed still endures as he returns to Italy –  this time as a senior advisor for the Rossoneri – as he tells us all about how he plans to face this new frontier.

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Dropping in on another legend getting to grips with a fresh role, Vincent Kompany shares insights on his leadership philosophy having taken charge as coach at Bayern München. All this plus a tribute to Shakhtar Donetsk’s strength in adversity, a look at the jewellery players are coveting, a fashion and football festival celebrating creativity, a whistle-stop tour of Zagreb and a walk around Paris Saint-Germain’s new campus with teenage sensation Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Our first cover is Arsenal defender William Saliba, who tells us about his journey to the being the club’s latest beloved Frenchman, having adored Thierry Henry as a kid. Our other cover colourfully celebrates all things goals with our pick of 60 absolute stunners from the modern Champions League era. Elsewhere, we hear from Raphinha about the mental side of his game, chat to Harry Kane about how he developed into one of football’s most feared strikers, and revisit Peter Withe’s winner for Aston Villa in the 1982 final.

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Also in this issue, we go round the grounds as the action unfolded the final matchday of the new league phase, with a goal at one end of the continent impacting teams at the other. Away from the pitch, we grab a bike and head to the hills in Girona, make ourselves at home with Inter Milan’s most fanatic memorabilia collector and talk tunes with Gaizka Mendieta.

Our first cover star for issue 23 is Barcelona’s Pedri, who opens up about the impact of Hansi Flick, learning from Barça’s past masters and putting the pain of injury behind him to take his game to another level. Our second cover features Khvicha Kvaratskhelia discussing how he’s relishing the here and now at Paris Saint-Germain, while our third cover star, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, tells us about his journey from a small town in Norway to the big time in north London.

Elsewhere, we spend time with new Feyenoord coach Robin Van Persie, chat to Arsenal Women’s Lotte Wubben-Moy about her creative side, and hear from Inter’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu about his new role. Off the pitch, we get to know multi-award-winning, Arsenal-loving band Ezra Collective, meet the Inter fans taking over a London pub, and take a trip to sample the culinary delights of Lille.  

A new Champions League season is just beginning, and we’re bringing you all the need-to-know news, interviews and cultural highlights for the start of another European campaign. We welcome four newcomers to the Champions League, including taking a trip to Belgium to visit Union Saint-Gilloise at home and meet their passionate fans. We also dive into the wild world of the Champions League qualifying rounds, making a long-haul journey to Yerevan to see FC Noah’s tense Champions League debut.

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At the other end of the scale, in this issue we talk to Champions League winners Ousmane Dembélé and his coach Luis Enrique, who will feel tension of a different kind as they plot a path back to the final. Graham Hunter also sits down with the brilliant Lamine Yamal to see how the 18-year-old is coping with stardom under the bright lights of Barcelona. All that plus a chat with musician AJ Tracey, a peek into the world of top sports photographers, and a celebration of Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League win. You won’t want to miss this.