Arsenal faces Atalanta in Champions League on Thursday

The Champions League for the 2024/25 season has introduced a new format, with Arsenal set to begin their campaign against Atalanta in Bergamo. This season, teams will play eight league-phase fixtures instead of the traditional six, facing only eight opponents out of a total of 36. Each team will compete against their opponents just once, aiming for a top 24 finish to advance further in the tournament. One significant change for Arsenal is the scheduling of their first match on a Thursday, deviating from the usual Tuesday or Wednesday slots. This adjustment is part of UEFA's strategy to enhance the visibility of other European competitions, such as the Europa League and Conference League, which will also adopt a similar league format. By allowing each competition to have a dedicated gameweek, UEFA aims to attract more viewers and create a more engaging midweek experience for fans. The first round of Champions League matches will be spread across three nights, with six games played each night. Arsenal's match against Atalanta is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, while other Premier League teams like Liverpool and Aston Villa will play on Tuesday, September 17, and Manchester City on Wednesday, September 18. This new scheduling approach is designed to avoid overcrowding the midweek football calendar. As the tournament progresses, Arsenal hopes to secure a place in the playoff round and potentially achieve a top-eight finish in the league, which would allow them to qualify directly for the last-16 knockout stage without needing to go through the playoffs.