The Champions League returns this week as the cream of Europe battles it for the domestic game's biggest prize.
Europe's premier club competition has undergone a new format for the 2024-25 season, with the group stage being replaced with a new 36-team league table for the opening exchanges in the tournament.
How will the new Champions League format work?
Thirty-six teams have formed a first-round league stage for the new season. Each side will play eight games, four at home and four away—but not against the same opposition. These games will run until the end of January 2025.
Who qualifies from the League phase?
At the end of the League Phase, the top eight sides in the table will qualify automatically to the knockout stage. Teams ranked from 9th to 24th will contest a knockout play-off round, with the teams ranked from 9th to 16th the seeded team. The winners of those games will progress to the last 16.
Sides finishing 25th to 36th will be eliminated from the European competition altogether.
Champions League Matchday 1 fixtures
Tuesday 17 September
- Young Boys vs Aston Villa
- Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven
- AC Milan vs Liverpool
- Bayern München vs GNK Dinamo
- Real Madrid vs Stuttgart
- Sporting CP vs LOSC Lille
Wednesday 18 September
- Sparta Praha vs Salzburg
- Bologna vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava
- Club Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City vs Inter
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona
Thursday 19 September
- Feyenoord vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica
- Monaco vs Barcelona
- Atalanta vs Arsenal
- Atletico Madrid vs Leipzig
- Brest vs Sturm Graz
Champions League League phase: TV channel, live stream
For broadcast details in your country, consult UEFA.com.