The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is back with a bang and will run from September 18 to May 31 2025. Real Madrid start as the defending champions.

The League, that brings together the best football clubs in Europe, has expanded from 32 to 36 teams this year. According to the new format, all the clubs will participate in the Champions League league phase (former group stage).

The top eight sides qualify automatically for the round of 16, while the teams finishing in ninth to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-offs.

The Sporting News looks at the key fixture details this week and how to follow the matches.

Champions League fixture schedule this week

All times AEST

Wednesday, September 18

• BSC Young Boys vs. Aston Villa FC (2:45 a.m.)
• Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven (2:45 a.m.)
• AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC (5:00 a.m.)
• FC Bayern München vs. GNK Dinamo (5:00 a.m.)
• Real Madrid C.F. vs. VfB Stuttgart  (5:00 a.m.)
• Sporting Clube de Portugal vs. LOSC Lille (5:00 a.m.)

Thursday, September 19

• AC Sparta Praha vs. FC Salzburg (2:45 a.m.)
• Bologna FC 1909 vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk (2:45 a.m.)
• Celtic FC vs. ŠK Slovan Bratislava (5:00 a.m.)
• Club Brugge KV vs. Borussia Dortmund (5:00 a.m.)
• Manchester City vs. FC Internazionale Milano (5:00 a.m.)
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Girona FC (5:00 a.m.)

Friday, September 20

• Feyenoord vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen (2:45 a.m.)
• FK Crvena Zvezda vs. SL Benfica (2:45 a.m.)
• AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona (5:00 a.m.)
• Atalanta BC vs. Arsenal FC (5:00 a.m.)
• Atlético de Madrid vs. RB Leipzig (5:00 a.m.)
• Stade Brestois 29 vs. SK Sturm Graz (5:00 a.m.)

Champions League live streams in Australia

Nine Entertainment-owned streaming subscription service Stan Sport holds the streaming rights for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League in Australia. 

Stan Sport originally acquired the streaming rights for the UEFA Champions League in 2021, extended the right to broadcast the tournament from 2024 to 2027 last year.

Australian viewers can catch all 189 Champions League matches on Stan Sport this season. Additionally, they can also catch all UEFA Europa League games and UEFA Conference League fixtures on the platform.

Here are the full live stream details to watch this week’s Champions League matches: