Why Champions League Matches Are Played on Thursdays During Opening Week
Champions League Thursday Fixtures: What’s Behind the Change?
The sight of Champions League matches happening on a Thursday might surprise football fans used to seeing Europa League and Conference League games on that night. Traditionally, Thursdays were reserved for those secondary tournaments, often sparking jokes among fans. But starting from the 2024-25 season and continuing now, top-tier European clubs have taken over the Thursday slot for one week only each season.
This scheduling move is tied to the new structure UEFA introduced, which required some adjustments in how fixtures are arranged during the league phase of the competition.
The Shift from 32 to 36 Teams and Its Impact
UEFA expanded the Champions League from 32 teams to 36, changing the entire group format. Instead of groups, all teams compete in one league table where each club plays eight matches—four at home and four away—against eight different opponents.
After these eight rounds, the top eight teams move straight to the round of 16. Those ranked ninth through 24th face off in play-offs to claim their spots, while the rest drop out.
This bigger pool means more matches happen simultaneously. Without the old system of staggered groups, UEFA had to find a way to fit all opening round matches into the calendar. The solution was to spread matchday one across three nights instead of two, introducing Thursday as an additional Champions League night just for this stage.
Exclusive Matchweeks Across UEFA Competitions
Each UEFA club competition gets a week without overlapping fixtures from the others. For the Champions League, this exclusive window happens during its first matchday. In that week, Champions League games are played on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, allowing better spacing between matches and giving broadcasters room to manage coverage.
After this unique opening week, the Champions League returns to its regular schedule of Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Thursdays go back to hosting Europa League and Conference League matches.
The Europa League has a similar exclusive week for its opening matches, typically running Wednesday to Thursday. Once settled, it mainly occupies Thursdays. The Conference League sticks entirely to Thursdays throughout its league phase, with its final league fixtures getting special Thursday spotlight slots.
Opening Fixtures for the 2026-27 Season
This season's Champions League begins on Tuesday, September 8, kicking off the exclusive week with games stretching through Thursday, September 10. The opening includes high-profile clashes such as Real Madrid vs Inter Milan on Tuesday, Barcelona vs Feyenoord on Wednesday, and Manchester United vs Sabah on Thursday.
- Fenerbahce vs Roma: 5:45 pm
- PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk: 5:45 pm
- Como vs RB Leipzig: 8:00 pm
- Bayern Munich vs Bodo/Glimt: 8:00 pm
- Manchester United vs Sabah: 8:00 pm
- Slavia Praha vs Lens: 8:00 pm
From matchday two onward, starting October 13-14, the schedule goes back to normal with Champions League games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursdays will then be fully dedicated to Europa League fixtures until the cycle repeats next season.
