Why are Champions League games being played on Thursday?

The UEFA Champions League is typically known for its Tuesday and Wednesday night fixtures, but the 2026/27 season is breaking the mold by including Thursday matches as well. This change is due to UEFA's decision to extend the opening week of the tournament, which will now span three days - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

UEFA has designated one exclusive week per season for matches to be played across these three days. This typically happens during the opening week, as other European competitions like the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League have not yet started. With 36 teams and a larger number of fixtures in the league phase, UEFA has adjusted the schedule to accommodate all the games while providing clubs and broadcasters with greater flexibility.

On Thursday nights, fans can look forward to six high-profile matches. Fenerbahce will host Roma in an early kick-off, while PSV Eindhoven takes on Shakhtar Donetsk at 8:45 PM. The later games include Bayern Munich versus Bodo/Glimt, Manchester United against Sabah Masazir, Cesc Fabregas' Como against RB Leipzig, and Slavia Prague facing Lens.

For Manchester United, the home game against Azerbaijan club Sabah Masazir is particularly significant as it marks the English side's return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season. Bayern Munich will also be eager to start their European campaign strongly against Bodo/Glimt. Meanwhile, Roma faces a challenging match against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

This unusual three-day opening schedule, which has been a common practice for the past two seasons, means that supporters can enjoy Champions League football across Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. UAE fans can catch every match live and exclusively on beIN SPORTS, which holds the broadcasting rights for UEFA's club competitions across the MENA region.