First was the change that ended the classic schedule from 8:45 p.m. Champions League and now, Thursdays also serve as competition days in the most reputable tournament in international club football. A new edition of the Champions League appears with him new format and a novelty, that of the three days of competition, which, however, will not be established and is a sporadic measure to give importance to each competition of the UEFA. Why are six games being played today? Thursday in the 2024-25 Champions League?
After a very busy summer in football, with the celebration of the Euro Cupthe Olympic Games and, to a lesser extent, the European Super Cupthe season is already underway with the national leagues and now the same is done with the European competitions. It is known to all that the Champions League has changed its modus operandi, that there is no Group Phase and yes a global classification with several accesses, also deleted after it. But what has surprised is that in addition to the Tuesday and Wednesday daysthere is also one with parties Thursday September 19.
The first thing to understand and specify is that it is not something that will respond as a constant over time, at least for the moment. The Champions League It is the limited territory of Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays will only complete the equation of the first day of competition of the League Phase, although for the Spanish soccer fan they do it in a big way, and after the debuts of Real Madrid –Tuesday– and Girona –Wednesday–, the fourth day of the week marks the premiere of Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona.
Why the Champions League is played on Thursday
The UEFAin charge of promoting and organizing each day of the Champions Leagueit has been proposed in this edition to take an extra step on the first day of this competition and also of the second most important in European football, the Europa League. For this reason, instead of mixing tournaments, he has left this week, September 17, 18 and 19in exclusive for the Champions League, placing matches both on Tuesday and Wednesday, as usual, and also on Thursday.
Next week, the Europa League will have total exclusivity in a movement similar to that carried out with the Champions League and from then on the usual calendarwith Tuesday and Wednesday for Champions League and on Thursday for the two lower-tier competitions, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
Today’s matches, Thursday, September 19, in the Champions League
In addition to the premiere of Atlético de Madridwhich receives RB Leipzig at home, and Barcelonawhich visits the Monaco field, always a dangerous team, four other games decorate and complete the matchday 1 of the Champions League 2024-25regarding its League Phase. They are the following.
- Red Star – Benfica: 6:45 p.m.
- Feyenoord – Bayer Leverkusen: 6:45 p.m.
- Atalanta – Arsenal: 9:00 p.m.
- Atlético de Madrid – RB Leipzig: 9:00 p.m.
- Brest – Sturm Graz: 9:00 p.m.
- Monaco – Barcelona: 9:00 p.m.
