Champions League Excitement Begins as Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray Enter the Big Stage

The new Champions League season begins with 18 matches in its opening week, bringing Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe onto European football's biggest club stage.

Galatasaray will travel to Portugal to face Sporting on September 9, while Fenerbahçe will host Italy's Roma on September 10. The league phase features 36 teams. After eight matches, the top eight will advance directly to the round of 16. Teams placed ninth through 24th will compete in two-legged playoffs for the remaining places, while those outside the top 24 will be eliminated.

UEFA will also use the opening matches to honor people affected by the floods in Nepal on August 26. A moment of silence will be observed, and stadiums will display a banner reading, "You are not alone, Nepal."

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said, "The entire European football family will stand together before this week's matches to offer our deepest condolences and support to the people of Nepal. We wish them strength and resilience during this tragedy and its aftermath."

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The entire European football family will stand together before this week's matches to offer our deepest condolences and support to the people of Nepal. We wish them strength and resilience during this tragedy and its aftermath.