2017-18 Champions League: first matchday of the group stage on 12 and 13/09/2017

The first matchday of the 2017-18 Champions League group stage showcases a return to the 2015 final edition, FC Barcelona (LaLiga Santander) - Juventus (Serie A TIM), won by Barça (3-1, on 06/06/2015 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, GER).

The Champions League 2017-18 is the latest edition of the 2015-2018 TV rights cycle. This is also the last version before the entry into force of the reforms, which will give four places directly into the group stage to each of the top four UEFA-ranked member federations (Spain, Germany, England, and Italy at the moment). In total 50% of places (16 out of 32) will come from clubs in these countries.

On the occasion of the start of this group stage of the 2017-18 Champions League, Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, LaLiga Santander), Paul Pogba (Manchester United FC, Premier League), and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF, LaLiga Santander) all appeared in videos aimed at promoting "#EqualGame", the new UEFA campaign for integration, diversity, and accessibility in football.

Please find below all the recent News Tank Football articles about the Champions…