The Champions League is back, but not as we know it. Gone is the familiar group stage, where each team is put into a group of four, with the top two qualifying. In its place is a new, expanded ‘league phase’ which sees each side play eight games against eight different opponents (four at home, four away).
A total of 16 teams will qualify from the league phase to the knockout round, which then follows the familiar format of two-legged ties, up to the final.
While the draw has been completed, we do not yet have any idea when the matches will take place, with travelling fans having to wait until Saturday until they can start thinking about flights and hotels. FourFourTwo looks at the reasons why...
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When are the Champions League fixtures being played?
The League Phase has eight scheduled matchdays which are as follows:
Matchday One: Sept. 17-19, 2024
Matchday Two: Oct. 1-2, 2024
Matchday Three: Oct. 22-23, 2024
Matchday Four: Nov. 5-6, 2024
Matchday Five: Nov. 26-27, 2024
Matchday Six: Dec. 10-11, 2024
Matchday Seven: Jan. 21-22, 2025
Matchday Eight: Jan. 29, 2025
Why are the Champions League fixtures being announced on Saturday?
Fans are used to a short delay before the fixture list is finalised, but a day-and-a-half wait is far longer than usual.
The reason for this is that UEFA has to liaise with each member country's individual domestic leagues in order to organise the fixtures and avoid clashes such as the scheduling of multiple games in the same city on the same day.
The draws for the Europa League and Conference League will take place on Friday, with their fixtures also being announced on Saturday at a time that is yet to be confirmed.
What are the games to look out for?
This new format is likely to take a bit of getting used to for fans, but has thrown up some appetising fixtures.
Liverpool will face defending champions Real Madrid, plus Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen and also AC Milan, who they played twice in the final during the 2000s.
Manchester City will take on Inter in a repeat of the 2023 final and also have clashes against Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
Arsenal also face PSG and Inter, plus Monaco, while Aston Villa will take on Juventus, Celtic and Club Bruges.
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