Major European Soccer Competition: Champion's League - Bayern Munich initiates its home match schedule.
Bayer Munich leads the way among Bundesliga's top five teams initiating at home in the revamped Champions League. The German dominance champions will entertain Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena on September 17 (9:00 PM EDT), as per the UEFA schedule released two days following the draw.
The remaining four German forces in the Champions League embark on road trips. VfB Stuttgart faces their initial challenge against an anticipated difficult opponent: they'll square off against the runner-ups of Germany, who will be face to face with the unbeaten La Liga titans Real Madrid, boasting Kylian Mbappé, on the identical day as Bayern.
Three additional road matches
Borussia Dortmund will go head to head against Club Brugge in Belgium on September 18 (9:00 PM EDT). The first matchday will wrap up on September 19 with German victors Bayer Leverkusen traveling to Feyenoord Rotterdam (6:45 PM EDT), and RB Leipzig heading to Atletico Madrid (9:00 PM EDT).
UEFA has significantly revamped the Champions League. Instead of group stage matches, all 36 participants will participate in a sole league. Each team will encounter eight rivals. The top eight teams after the league phase will directly advance to the knockout round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th will engage in a new knockout round to progress. The Champions League final will be held on May 31, 2025, in Munich.
In the Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen, one of the four German teams, will travel to Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Netherlands on September 19, as part of the revamped competition taking place in Bavaria's home city, Munich, where Bayern Munich will host Dinamo Zagreb. Despite Bavaria being known for Bayern Munich, all 36 teams will participate in a single league, with Bayer Munich aiming to maintain their dominance among the top eight teams that will directly advance to the knockout round of 16.
