Champions League Kicks Off with New Format and Exciting Matches

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Europe’s premier club soccer tournament is set to begin again as the Champions League kicks off its new season this week. The first round of matches will be played over three days, starting Tuesday.

Last season’s final saw Paris Saint-Germain secure a historic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan, marking a new chapter in the competition. PSG had to navigate a challenging campaign, almost facing elimination in the early stages, illustrating the kind of drama UEFA hoped to create with the league phase format introduced last season.

This revamped format replaces the traditional group stage with a 36-team league phase, allowing teams to play one match against eight different opponents. This change aims to add intensity and unpredictability to the tournament. Teams like Real Madrid will square off against tough opponents such as Liverpool and Manchester City in this opening phase.

The league phase offers lower-ranked teams a greater chance of advancing. They will play against higher-ranked teams in a more balanced manner, increasing the competition’s stakes.

Last season, teams like Brest and Brugge managed to reach the playoffs, while others struggled. This season, the pressure is on clubs such as Liverpool, who have invested heavily to improve their squad.

On Wednesday, Chelsea will make their return to the Champions League, facing Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, a venue of significant memories for the London club. With a challenging start to their domestic season, Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca faces a tough task against a Bayern side that has started the season strongly.

Kickoff for the match is at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET), and fans can catch the action on various broadcasting platforms, including TNT Sports in the U.K. and Paramount+ in the U.S.

As the tournament begins, teams look to make early statements in their pursuit of the prestigious trophy. PSG’s challenge will be to defend their title and fend off clubs eager to dethrone them.