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With new kick-off times, Champions League group stage begins today

September 18, 2018 00:00:00


LONDON, Sept 17 (AP): Barcelona helps to usher in a new-look to the Champions League on Tuesday as fans adjust to new staggered kickoff times.

Most matches in the group stage will now begin simultaneously at 2100 GMT, 15 minutes later than in previous seasons.

That is to accommodate a couple of games being played in a new earlier slot of 1855 CET to maximise television audiences.

So when the group stage begins on Tuesday it won't be such a late finish at the Camp Nou for Barcelona's game against PSV Eindhoven or at the San Siro where Inter Milan plays Tottenham.

Inter benefited from the fourth-place teams in England, Germany, Spain and Italy now securing a direct route into the group stage, rather than having to contest a playoff.

What has not changed is four groups are in action on Tuesday, and the other four on Wednesday. Here is a look the groups playing on Tuesday:

Group A: Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge

Group B: Barcelona, Tottenham, Psv Eindhoven, Inter Milan

Group C: Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade

Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray


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