The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League has started and it’s a smashing comeback! This prestigious tournament, showcasing Europe’s elite football clubs, has adopted an exciting new format that fans can’t wait to explore.
Reigning champions Real Madrid return with a dazzling squad, including the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, promising thrills for their supporters.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Liverpool have made dazzling starts to their campaigns, each going three straight wins to top the table, closely followed by Manchester City, who sit in third place with seven points.
Manchester United fans could keep an eye out for City’s upcoming clash against Sporting CP, currently managed by future United manager Rúben Amorim, adding an intriguing layer to the rivalry.
As the teams prepare to start matchday four, Arsenal find themselves in ninth place, while Celtic are currently positioned in 20th place out of 36 clubs. The standings could change drastically as the league stage unfolds, with many clubs currently battling for position purely on the basis of goal difference.
As well as the format shake-up, football lovers in the UK will have to navigate a new TV rights setup to catch all the action live. With TV and streaming rights shared between two broadcasters until the end of the 2026/27 season, fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates on where to follow their favorite teams at action.
TNT Sports continues to lead the coverage, broadcasting the majority of matches as well as exclusive rights to the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup, presented via both linear television and the discovery+ app. Fans can enjoy games during the week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, creating an exciting new schedule for viewers.
For its part, Amazon’s Prime Video will present 17 exclusive matches this season, focusing on the Tuesday evening matches which lead to the semi-finals. Key clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City will feature prominently in these selected matches.
Please note, on the fourth day, Prime Video will exclusively host Liverpool’s clash against German club Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield, on Tuesday November 5 from 6:30 p.m., presented by Gabby Logan.
With features familiar to its sports audience like X-Ray stats and commentary-free audio, Prime Video aims to elevate the viewing experience. During last week’s match between Liverpool and AC Milan, the presenters interacted with the players before the match, sharing information that really brought fans closer to the action.
Additionally, Prime Video has launched a ‘quick recap’ feature, perfect for latecomers wanting to catch up before joining the live coverage again, a feature tested during the Liverpool v AC Milan match, which highlighted the key goals throughout the match.
For those looking for more content, Prime Video offers a variety of sports coverage, including selected Premier League clashes and extended sports documentaries such as ‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’ and ’99’, a retrospective on the season iconic Manchester United hat-trick.
New members, including students, can take advantage of free trials and discounted subscription prices, making it a great time to dive into the Champions League action.
TNT Sports will continue to broadcast matches throughout the league stage, starting on Tuesday November 5 with Manchester City’s visit to Sporting CP broadcast on TNT Sports 1 at 7 p.m., while Celtic take on RB Leipzig on TNT Sports 2 .
Aston Villa fans won’t want to miss their early start on Wednesday, November 6, when they take on Club Brugge at 5 p.m. on TNT Sports 2, followed by Arsenal’s match against Serie A champions Internazionale, at 7 p.m. on TNT Sports 1.
This is just a preview of the Champions League action available, with programming spread across all four TNT Sports channels on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and select Thursdays. For fans wanting a recap, a nightly wrap-up show called UEFA Champions League Goals Show Xtra will air at 7:30 p.m. on TNT Sports 3.
TNT Sports membership is priced at £30.99 per month, including access to selected Premier League matches, Serie A fixtures, and a variety of sports including Moto GP and NBA basketball.
The competition format for this Champions League season is radically different, featuring a table of 36 clubs — almost double the size of traditional European leagues. The clubs enter a league stage where each will play eight matches against opponents from different pots while avoiding teams from their own domestic leagues.
After the league stage which ends in January 2025, the top eight clubs will qualify directly for the round of 16, while those ranked 9th to 24th will enter the playoffs, hotly pursuing their place in the knockout rounds. .
Keep an eye on the official UEFA website for the latest rankings, as the excitement unfolds over the coming months! Here’s a quick look at the upcoming matches:
- Day 4 (November 5-6): Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP vs Manchester City, Celtic vs RB Leipzig, Club Brugge vs Aston Villa, Internazionale vs Arsenal
- Day 5 (November 26-27): Manchester City vs Feyenoord, Sporting CP vs Arsenal, Liverpool vs Real Madrid, Celtic vs Club Brugge, Aston Villa vs Juventus
- Day 6 (December 10-11): GNK Dinamo vs Celtic, Girona vs Liverpool, RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa, Juventus vs Manchester City, Arsenal vs Monaco
- Day 7 (January 21-22): Monaco vs Aston Villa, Liverpool vs LOSC Lille, Paris Saint Germain vs Manchester City, Arsenal vs GNK Dinamo, Celtic vs Young Boys
- Day 8 (January 29): PSV Eindhoven vs Liverpool, Manchester City vs Club Brugge, Aston Villa vs Celtic, Girona vs Arsenal
