Champions League: Kick-off times changed - all you need to know

Cristiano Ronaldo with the Champions League trophy after Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Liverpool in May

After a summer of World Cup thrills and big money transfers, a significant change to the group stages of the Champions League may have slipped under your radar.

Two games per day will kick-off at 17:55 UK time, and there's also been a change to the later matches with all the others starting at 20:00.

Previously, most group stage fixtures started at 19:45, with some staged in eastern Europe or Russia starting two or three hours earlier.

Tottenham fans will be among the first to have to make an adjustment when their team take on Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday, while the other Group B fixture sees Barcelona host PSV Eindhoven at the same time.

None of the four English sides involved - Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs - are due to play any of their three home games at 17:55. Of the quartet, only United are scheduled to play all six ties at 20:00.

All the knockout ties will kick-off at 20:00 BST/GMT.

Europa League matches from the group stage until the last 16 will kick off at 17:55 and 20:00. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all kick-off at 20:00.

• Is this the most open Champions League in years?

Why make the change?

TV and online viewers will be able to see more games, without missing out on the other matches that would have been on at the same time, in theory increasing viewing figures and revenue.

Winners

The revised times mean that the audience in Asia won't have to wait quite as long into the middle of the night to see their favourite European sides in action.

Managers, players and travelling fans may also appreciate the earlier start on away trips, which could mean an earlier flight home before the weekend's domestic fixtures.

Losers

Any fans assuming they would be back at home and in front of the TV in time for kick-off following the commute back from work may now struggle to make it in time.

Alternatively, there could be a few people making their excuses and leaving the workplace a bit earlier than normal on the odd Tuesday and Wednesday over the next three months.

Which games are affected?

Two of Spurs' away trips - Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven - are at the new time, while City's visit to Hoffenheim and Liverpool's match at Red Star Belgrade will also start at 17:55 UK time. All of United's Champions League group stage matches will begin at 20:00.

Games starting at 17:55 BST or GMT

Matchday one

Tuesday, 18 September

Group B: Barcelona v PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan v Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday, 19 September

Group E: Ajax v AEK Athens

Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk v Hoffenheim

Matchday two

Tuesday, 2 October

Group F: Hoffenheim v Manchester City

Group H: Juventus v Young Boys

Wednesday, 3 October

Group C: Paris St-Germain v Red Star Belgrade

Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow v Schalke

Matchday three

Tuesday, 23 October

Group E: AEK Athens v Bayern Munich

Group H: Young Boys v Valencia

Wednesday, 24 October

Group A: Club Brugge v Monaco

Group B: PSV Eindhoven v Tottenham Hotspur

Matchday four

Tuesday, 6 November

Group A: Monaco v Club Brugge

Group C: Red Star Belgrade v Liverpool

Wednesday, 7 November

Group G: CSKA Moscow v Roma

Group H: Valencia v Young Boys

Matchday five

Tuesday, 27 November

Group E: AEK Athens v Ajax

Group G: CSKA Moscow v Viktoria Plzen

Wednesday, 28 November

Group A: Atletico Madrid v Monaco

Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow v Galatasaray

Matchday six

Tuesday, 11 December

Group D: Galatasaray v Porto, Schalke v Lokomotiv Moscow

Wednesday, 12 December

Group G: Real Madrid v CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen v Roma