By Razeen Gutta
Football’s biggest club competition is back; and this season, the Champions League is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
For the first time, the iconic competition will be steering away from its traditional group stage format and moving toward a newly conceptualised league phase.
The 36 sides will all be part of a single league table, with teams playing against eight different opponents, four at home and four away.
The top eight teams in the league stage will qualify automatically for the knockouts, while teams finishing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off for a place in the last 16.
The opening round of fixtures features some of Europe’s best sides going head-to-head, with games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
On Tuesday, a repeat of the iconic 2005 final in Istanbul will take place at the San Siro as AC Milan host Liverpool on their return to the competition.
Holders Real Madrid will also be in action against Stuttgart while Aston Villa are welcomed by Young Boys in the earlier game.
On Wednesday, Manchester City take on Inter while last year’s runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, travel to Club Brugge.
Arsenal will be in action on Thursday when they visit Atalanta while Atletico Madrid will take on Leipzig at the same time.
Pictured above: Uefa Champions League logo.
Source: @tntsports
