Champions League Games Move to Thursday This Week

The Champions League returns with an unusual twist this week as 12 teams begin their 2025/26 campaigns on Thursday, breaking from the traditional Tuesday-Wednesday schedule that has defined European football for years.

Premier League giants Newcastle United and Manchester City are among the clubs taking to Thursday’s stage, facing Barcelona and Napoli respectively in what promises to be an exciting departure from convention.

UEFA’s Strategic Scheduling Decision

The shift to Thursday fixtures isn’t driven by the competition’s expanded format, despite the increase from 125 to 189 total matches due to the new 36-team league phase replacing the previous 32-team group stage structure.

Instead, UEFA has implemented an exclusive matchweek system across their three major competitions. The week of September 16-18 belongs solely to the Champions League, with no Europa League or Conference League fixtures scheduled during this period.

Focus on Lesser Competitions

This strategic scheduling aims to enhance visibility for UEFA’s other tournaments. The Europa League will enjoy its exclusive spotlight on September 24-25, while the Conference League gets dedicated attention on December 18.

The decision reflects UEFA’s commitment to elevating the profile of competitions that traditionally operate in the Champions League’s shadow. By eliminating fixture overlap, each tournament receives undivided attention from fans and media.

This innovative approach to European football scheduling represents UEFA’s evolving strategy to maximize engagement across all their competitions, ensuring that Thursday’s Champions League matches receive the same spotlight typically reserved for midweek encounters.

The experimental scheduling could reshape how European football is consumed, potentially establishing new viewing patterns for the continent’s premier club competitions.