Saracens aim for a fourth Heineken Cup victory in five years this season, which would be an extraordinary achievement for the English juggernauts. 

The road to the final in Marseille begins this weekend, with all twenty teams in action for Round 1 of pool play. 

Here's the rundown:

Gloucester vs Toulouse (Pool 5)

11/15 - 2:45 pm (ET)

Reigning French Top14 champions Toulouse get their campaign under way on Friday against English Premiership semi-finalists Gloucester. 

Toulouse are young and loaded with talent, and should be a major contender this season. Gloucester were close to a quarterfinal berth last season, and they hope magician flyhalf Danny Cipriani can steer them further this time. 

Glasgow vs Sale (Pool 2)

11/16 - 8:00 am (ET)

Glasgow went fairly well in last year's competition, losing out in the quarterfinals to eventual winners Saracens. They also reached the PRO14 final, so expectations will be high for this year.

Sale found success last year in the Premiership, narrowly missing the semi-finals. They are led by a strong core of Englishmen and a host of foreigners, including World Cup winner Faf de Klerk and USA Eagles flyhalf AJ MacGinty. 

Bath vs Ulster (Pool 3)

11/16 - 8:00 am (ET)

Ulster had a very positive Heineken Cup campaign last year, reaching the last eight before just barely falling to Leinster. They aim to go at least one better this year, and they've always got the goods to do it. 

Bath had a tough go of it in Europe last season. They were pitted in a tough group to begin with, and got off to a terrible start after Freddie Burns' howler cost them the opening game against Toulouse. 

Hopefully they can get off to a better start this time around. 

La Rochelle vs Exeter Chiefs (Pool 2)

11/16 - 10:15 am (ET)

La Rochelle are back in the Heineken Cup after a year-long hiatus, and the Top14 semi-finalists are ready to make another run to the knockout rounds. 

Exeter have been sublime over the last five years in the Premiership, but have simply not been able to translate that into European success. They desperately want to change that this season. 

Leinster vs Benetton (Pool 1) 

11/16 - 10:15 am (ET)

Leinster finished second place to Saracens a year ago, but the 2018 Heineken Cup winners are off to a flying start this year, having won all six of their PRO14 matches to date. 

Benetton had a nice run last season in the PRO14, but they have yet to experience the same success in the European competitions. A matchup in Dublin with Leinster won't be an easy way to start. 

Clermont Auvergne vs Harlequins (Pool 3)

11/16 - 12:30 pm (ET)

Both the Quins and Clermont competed in the Challenge cup a year ago, the two sides meeting in the semi-finals of the comp. Clermont won 32-27 and went on to become the champions after. 

This year both teams figure to be contending for a place in the knockout round and reestablish themselves as some of the top teams in Europe. 

Ospreys vs Munster (Pool 4)

11/16 - 12:30 pm (ET)

Ospreys weren't particularly impressive last year, and they've gotten off to a poor start this season as well. However, there needed to be at least one Welsh team in the Heineken Cup, and so the Ospreys it is. 

They'll have their hands full against a Munster side who consistently progress deep into the tournament. 

Saturday night's matchup will set the tone for the course of pool play, and with bonus points always a huge factor in this tournament, Munster will be wanting to put in on the Welsh region. 

Northampton Saints vs Lyon (Pool 1)

11/17 - 8:00 am (ET)

The Saints enjoyed a nice run to the Premiership semi-finals last season, and with a young core of strong players they're hoping for a big year coming up. 

Lyon are off to a rocking start in the Top14, winning eight of their first nine games on the season. They went poorly a year ago in the Heineken Cup, but this year they shouldn't be so overwhelmed. 

Connacht vs Montpellier (Pool 5)

11/17 - 8:00 am (ET)

Connacht bowed out in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last season, but a good showing in the PRO14 has elevated them back up to the Champions Cup. They hope they taste European success this year, something that's eluded them till now. 

Montpellier were okay last year in the Champions Cup, finishing with three wins and three losses but missing out on the quarterfinals. They've got tons of talent in the roster, so they're always going to be dangerous.

Racing 92 vs Saracens (Pool 4)

11/17 - 10:15 am (ET)

Probably the marquee matchup of the first round, perennial contenders Racing 92 and Saracens will both have huge aspirations of lifting the cup in 2020. 

Racing are still yet to go and win it all, falling in the 2016 final to Saracens and again in the 2018 final to Leinster. Sarries, meanwhile, are after their second repeat in five years. They have lifted the bar of northern hemisphere rugby, and it's up to everyone else to knock them off.