London, Sep 08 (V7N)- The battle for European club football's biggest prize begins tonight as the new UEFA Champions League season gets underway, with an expanded format promising more high-profile clashes.
A total of 36 teams will compete in the league phase, all chasing one ultimate goal—to be crowned the best club in Europe.
Aston Villa and Club Brugge will meet in the opening match at 10:45 pm Bangladesh time. Several heavyweight encounters will also take place on the opening night, with Inter Milan hosting Real Madrid, Manchester City facing Porto and Villarreal taking on Borussia Dortmund.
The action continues on the second day, with Feyenoord facing Barcelona, Liverpool meeting Atletico Madrid, Arsenal taking on Napoli, and Paris Saint-Germain facing Bratislava.
The league phase also features several highly anticipated clashes. Defending champions PSG will face both Barcelona and Manchester City, while last season's runners-up Arsenal will have to overcome Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli.
The league phase is scheduled to conclude on January 27, 2027, after which the knockout rounds will begin.
The Champions League semi-final first legs are scheduled for April 27 and 28, with the return legs on May 4 and 5.
The European club football champion for the new season will finally be decided on June 5, 2027, when the continent's best teams battle for the coveted crown.
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