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With new kick-off times, Barcelona open Champions League
(From left) Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, MunirEl Haddadi, Arturo Vidal and Samuel Umtiti take part in a trainingsession at the Joan Gamper Sports Centre in Sant Joan Despi nearBarcelona yesterday, on the eve of the UEFA Champions' Leaguefootball match against PSV Eindhoven. (Photos: AFP)
Football, Oversea's Football Leagues, Sports
September 17, 2018

With new kick-off times, Barcelona open Champions League

LONDON, ENGLAND (AP) — Barcelona will help to usher in a new look to the Champions League today as fans adjust to new, staggered kick-off times.

Most matches in the group stage will now begin simultaneously at 2100 Central European Time, 15 minutes later than in previous seasons. This 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 today it won’t be such a late finish at Camp Nou for Barcelona’s game against PSV Eindhoven, or at San Siro where Inter Milan play 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 play-off.

What has not changed is four groups are in action today, and the other four tomorrow. Here is a look at the groups playing today:

Goup A (Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge)

None of the quartet reached the knockout phase last season.

It was considered a debacle for Atletico who had made at least the quarter-finals for four successive seasons, including two finals. Diego Simeone’s team still made the best of a bad situation, though, dropping into the Europa League and winning the second-tier competition.

But Atletico have laboured at the start of their domestic campaign, winning only one of four La Liga matches. There is a greater incentive for Atletico to reach the final because they are hosting the game in June.

The journey begins with a trip to Monaco, who are also struggling in the domestic league with just one win from five in France.

Like Monaco, Borussia Dortmund only collected two points in the group stage last season. But Lucien Favre’s team is unbeaten so far in the Bundesliga, with two wins from three as they prepare to travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge.

Back in the Champions League group stage after a 13-year absence, Brugge have had the best preparation at home by winning six and drawing once so far in the league.

Group B (Barcelona, Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan)

Lionel Messi’s Barcelona have had to endure seeing arch-rival Real Madrid win three Champions League finals in a row. Beating Madrid to the La Liga title did little to banish the humiliation of Barcelona’s quarter-final exit in Europe last year. There is unfinished business for the five-time European champions after throwing away a 4-1 lead over Roma by losing 3-0 in the second leg.

Barcelona must return to Italy to play Inter Milan, who are back in the continent’s premier competition after a seven-season absence. The three-time European champions have experienced a fall from grace since winning the treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010, including the Champions League title.

PSV Eindhoven coach Mark van Bommel has an early return to Barcelona where he won the Champions League as a player in 2006. PSV are in the group stage for the 16th time but the Dutch club’s only success in the continental competition came before the inception of the Champions League when they lifted the European Cup in 1988.

Tottenham are the only team in the group yet to collect the trophy but have been the most consistent side over three seasons in the Premier League, without actually winning the title, ensuring a hat trick of Champions League, appearances for the first time.

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

After helping Paris Saint-Germain re-establish domestic dominance last year, Neymar has little to prove with the club apart from achieving the big mission: delivering a European title to the Qatari ownership. With Kylian Mbappe coming off the back of a starring role for winners France at the World Cup, new coach Thomas Tuchel has a wealth of attacking options.

PSG will meet one of the few teams in the competition which can rival their talent—Liverpool, who lost to Madrid in last season’s final. Flush with more than US$200 million in off-season signings, Liverpool have an early test of their credentials when they host PSG at Anfield.

Serbian champion Red Star Belgrade are making their first appearance in the Champions League proper, after last contesting the European Cup group stage in 1991 as holders.

Napoli, who won the 1989 UEFA Cup for their only European title, have a Champions League winner in the dugout. The Serie A club is still adapting to the command of Carlo Ancelotti, who replaced Maurizio Sarri and has introduced a 4-4-2 formation.

Group D (Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray)

Porto, the last team to win the Champions League from outside Europe’s top four leagues, are the favourite to progress from arguably the weakest of the eight groups.

Porto’s opponents are returning to the Champions League group stage after some time away: Galatasaray are back after three seasons, four for Schalke and 15 for Lokomotiv Moscow.

Winning the Russian title meant the Railwaymen were seeded first for the group, but they should not be considered favourites to top the group. Despite starting their domestic season poorly, the Russians have players with big-game experience — particularly recent World Cup finalist Vedran Corluka of Croatia.

Liverpool’s English striker Daniel Sturridge (left) and Braziliangoalkeeper Alisson Becker attend a team training session at theirMelwood training complex in Liverpool, north-west England,yesterday, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group Cfootball match against Paris Saint-Germain.

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