Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Champions League, Football, UEFA
Ryan Smart
Fans are just learning about a new change to the Champions League fixture schedule that will come into effect for this season.
The new-look Champions League format will debut this season, with 36 teams contesting eight games each as part of a singular league phase.
One of the main concerns about the new format among fans would be the increased fixture congestion, given that teams played six group games in past seasons before heading into the knockout stages.
The FA have implemented one method to try and ease that congestion by ensuring that sides competing in the Champions League and Europa League could not face other in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
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But in order to fit in all the fixtures, UEFA have had to take an unprecedented decision to schedule Champions League matches on Thursday nights.
This will only apply to the first matchweek of the league phase, with all the other matchweeks seeing games played on a Tuesday and Wednesday.
Each of the four English teams have been handed mixed draws for the opening phase, with Liverpool perhaps being handed the toughest set of assignments.
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Arne Slot's side will host Real Madrid at Anfield, as well as taking on Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen.
There is also a repeat of the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals as they travel to the San Siro to take on AC Milan.
RB Leipzig, Juventus and Bayern Munich represent tough tests for Aston Villa, but they have otherwise been given a fixture list that could see them qualify for the last 16.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will take on Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan in their toughest fixtures, while they also have an away trip to Sporting Lisbon to mark on their calendar.
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And Manchester City will take on PSG, Juventus and Inter as they look to kickstart their planned route to regaining the Champions League trophy next year.