An unprecedented Champions League

Now united in a single league of 36, the clubs of the European elite will battle to grab one of the first eight places directly qualifying, or failing that a ticket for the play-offs by placing from 9^e at 24^e place.

The table of the knockout rounds, starting from the 8^e final, comes from the final positions of this “league phase”, so suspense is guaranteed at all levels, until the last day. But each club has its personalized program of eight matches against eight different opponents: two in each pot, one away, one at home. A sporting logic that does not have unanimous support among observers, as will probably not be the reorchestration of the popular anthem of the competition.

Just for this first day, exceptionally scheduled over three evenings to popularize the new formula, the matches are mouth-watering: AC Milan-Liverpool on Tuesday, Manchester City-Inter Milan on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid-Leipzig and Monaco-FC Barcelona on Thursday (9:00 p.m. for all 4).

But the gourmet will also be able to choose to follow Kylian Mbappé's Real Madrid against Stuttgart (Tuesday 9:00 p.m.), Juventus of former Parisian Thiago Motta, now coach, against PSV Eindhoven (Tuesday 6:45 p.m.), or even the impressive Bayer Leverkusen of Xabi Alonso away to Feyenoord Rotterdam (Thursday 6:45 p.m.).

Four Ligue 1 clubs will be taking part in the star-studded track, with very different destinies no doubt. PSG is aiming for the top 8 but has inherited one of the most difficult draws. On Wednesday at the Parc des Princes (9:00 p.m.), it will be able to gauge itself against a novice team at this level, Girona, which took on water against Barcelona (4-1) on Sunday.

The Catalan giant will challenge Monaco on Thursday (9:00 p.m.) at Louis-II, a tough first match for the principality. Brest, surprising 3^e Ligue 1 last season, begins with perhaps the most affordable of all its matches, the reception of Sturm Graz on Thursday (9:00 p.m.).

Lille, who qualified in extremis after having passed two rounds of promotion to the C1, immediately have a difficult trip to Lisbon (Tuesday 9:00 p.m.) against Sporting Portugal, who have just won five of their first five league matches.