Champions League Opener
Real Madrid hosts Inter Milan to open the new Champions League main phase.
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Real Madrid will kick off the new Champions League main phase on September 8 by hosting Inter Milan, marking the record 15-time European champion's opening match Yahoo Sports. The revamped tournament format sends the top eight teams directly to the round of 16 in March, while teams ranked ninth through 24th compete in knockout playoffs in February for the remaining spots.
Real Madrid Kicks Off Against Inter Milan
Real Madrid takes the field first on September 8 against Inter Milan in what figures to be a marquee opening matchup Winnipeg Free Press. The Spanish giants, who have won the European Cup a record 15 times, host the Italian club in a crucial early test. Two other matches start early that same day: Club Brugge will face AS Athens in separate fixtures on the opening weekend.
PSG Defends Crown Against Strong Early Opposition
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain will host Slovan Bratislava in their opening match News4Jax. PSG faces a busy October schedule that includes matchups against Manchester City and Barcelona, two of Europe's elite clubs. These early tests will signal whether PSG can repeat as champions in the new league phase format.
New Format Reshapes Knockout Stage Qualification
The Champions League has overhauled its structure this season. Instead of traditional group play, all teams compete in a single league phase. The top eight finishers advance directly to the round of 16 in March Yahoo Sports. Teams finishing ninth through 24th must compete in knockout playoffs in February to claim the remaining eight spots, adding extra drama to the middle of the standings.
Liverpool and Barcelona Chase Early Momentum
Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid as part of the opening weekend slate WSBTV. Barcelona gets underway with a home match against Como. These high-profile clubs will look to build confidence early as they compete for positioning in the new league phase structure.
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