UEFA have announced just one match will be played on the opening Tuesday night of the 2027/28 season.
That match will see the defending European champions open that season’s competition when the league phase begins in a major revamp to the Champions League’s usual format.
Meanwhile, the remaining 17 matchweek one fixtures will be spread across the Wednesday and Thursday nights.
The change will be in place from the 2027/28 season, with next season’s Champions League winners being the first to raise the curtain on the following campaign.
It remains to be seen whether the remaining Champions League game weeks will follow suit or be played across the usual Tuesday and Wednesday night format.
But this latest change could have a considerable impact on the fixture schedules of Premier League clubs.
Under the current format, the 18 opening round matches are spread evenly over three nights, with six on each.
However, there will now be either eight or nine fixtures on a Thursday during the first week of matches.
As a result, more English sides could find themselves with a quick turnaround before returning to domestic action.
A Thursday night match would leave less than 72 hours to prepare if the club is playing in the Premier League on the following Sunday.
Manchester City and Newcastle both played their first league phase contests on a Thursday this season.
Last month’s opening matchday saw the Premier League duo host Napoli and Barcelona, respectively.
Their subsequent league fixtures then took place three days later, with neither side winning.
Champions League TV rights
As well as the changes to the scheduling, UEFA have also made an historic decision surrounding the broadcasting rights for the opening match.
The governing body will sell the rights for the match globally for the first time.
Champions League broadcasting rights are currently sold by country or region.
The change opens the door for a streaming service to buy the rights to show the opening match around the world.
TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video are the current UK rights holders, whilst the BBC also have the rights to show match highlights.
Paris Saint-Germain are the current holders of the Champions League having beaten Inter Milan 5-0 in the final in Munich.
The French giants got through three Premier League sides during the knockout rounds in Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
This is the first time the French giants have ever become kings of Europe.
