Thu Sep 19 04:44:49 UTC 2024: ## Champions League Kicks Off with New Format, Familiar Faces Claim Victory

**Manchester, England -** The UEFA Champions League kicked off its new league phase format on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some familiar faces claiming victory on opening night.

The revamped tournament, which features 36 teams competing in a single standings, saw Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Juventus all emerge victorious in their respective matches.

**Familiar faces shine:**

* **Real Madrid:** New arrival Kylian Mbappé scored for the 15-time champions, who needed late goals from Antonio Rudiger and Endrick to defeat Stuttgart 3-1.
* **Liverpool:** The six-time champions overcame an early deficit to defeat seven-time champions AC Milan 3-1, in a rematch of the 2005 and 2007 finals.
* **Bayern Munich:** Harry Kane scored four goals, breaking Wayne Rooney’s record for most Champions League goals by an English player, as Bayern thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2.
* **Juventus:** Kenan Yildiz, a 19-year-old winger, scored a spectacular goal in Juventus’s 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven.

**New format draws mixed reactions:**

The new format, which sees teams playing eight matches against two teams from each of the four seeding groups, has drawn mixed reactions. While some fans are excited about the increased number of matches and the introduction of a playoff phase, others are concerned about the potential for fatigue and the impact on domestic leagues.

**Manchester City and Inter Milan set to clash:**

One of the most anticipated matches of the opening round, the clash between Manchester City and Inter Milan at Etihad Stadium, will take place on Wednesday, September 18 at 3 p.m. EST. The match will be broadcast on UniMás and can be streamed on FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and Paramount+, all of which offer free trials.

**The future of the competition:**

The new format of the Champions League is a significant change, and it will be interesting to see how it develops over the coming seasons. With the top teams from across Europe competing for glory, the competition is sure to be exciting and unpredictable.

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