The Champions League continues tonight with six matches taking place on a Thursday, an unusual day for the competition. Traditionally, Champions League games are played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but this week, UEFA has decided to make the first week of the tournament exclusive to the Champions League, without any matches from the Europa League or Conference League. This move aims to give the Champions League more visibility during the opening phase of the competition. In contrast, the Europa League will have its exclusive week later in September, on September 16 and 17. Following this initial week, the Champions League will return to its regular schedule of games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Europa League, meanwhile, will begin its usual Thursday night fixtures from the second matchday onward. This shift in scheduling highlights UEFA’s efforts to better manage the competition calendar and maximize viewership across its various club competitions. Tonight's matches include several high-profile teams. Manchester United, under manager Michael Carrick, will host Azerbaijani side Sabah at Old Trafford. Bayern Munich will welcome Bodo/Glimt, a team that made a surprise impact last season, to the Allianz Arena. Meanwhile, Italian side Como, making their Champions League debut, will face RB Leipzig. Other matches include Fenerbahce vs Roma, PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk, and Slavia Praha vs Lens, all kicking off at 5:45 PM. UEFA introduced the early 5:45 PM kick-off time for club competitions in 2021 in an effort to increase international viewership. However, this change has not been universally welcomed. Some fans have expressed concerns about the timing, particularly those working full-time jobs, as the early start can make it difficult to watch matches on TV or attend games in person. Commuting during peak hours and limited time to reach stadiums have also been cited as drawbacks of the new schedule.