5.55pm – why the new Champions League kick-off time will have fans rushing to the sofa or the pub… and Tottenham are up first.
The Champions League will have a new feel to it this season with the traditional 7.45pm kick-off time a thing of the past.
Instead, UEFA will this week begin a three-season trial of having two separate kick-off times for each matchday, as in the Europa League.
Two games will kick-off at the new, earlier time of 5.55pm, while the other six matches will kick-off at the slightly later time of 8pm.
5.55pm kick-offs involving Premier League clubs:
September 18: Inter Milan v Tottenham
October 2: Hoffenheim v Man City
October 24: PSV v Tottenham
November 6: Red Star v Liverpool
Tottenham fans will be the first to experience this as they make a mad dash to the pub for Tuesday's early kick-off against Inter Milan.
And if that irks Spurs fans, then they won't be happy to hear that they are the only English club to have two early kick-offs in the group stage.
Their trip to PSV Eindhoven next month is another to have been allocated the new 5.55pm slot.
Manchester United fans who would struggle to get away from work early will be pleased to know that all six of their group-stage matches kick off at 8pm, while Liverpool and Manchester City have just one early kick-off each.
City's trip to Hoffenheim on October 2 will be shown at 5.55pm, as will Liverpool's away fixture at Red Star Belgrade on November 6.
Officially the reason given for the change in kick-off times is to allow fans to 'watch more games than ever before', though this of course will increase revenue streams.
However, some fans are not impressed by the new time with one saying: 'Why would you do that.'
Another said: 'Surely I've read that wrong.'
Inter milan vs Spurs 5:55pm ko
Why would you do that— Mo (@MIG311200) September 17, 2018
I see some of the Champions League matches kick off at 5.55pm this week (Barca v PSV, Inter v Spurs).
Is there anything else can be done to piss off fans? 😡— Mr Fixit's Tips (
Why are Spurs kicking off at 5:55pm against Inter? Surely Ive read that wrong— Christian Wainwright (@Christian_Wain) September 16, 2018
The early kick-off time also makes it easier for fans in Asia and Australia to watch the Champions League, with staying up until 3am slightly more appealing than 5am.
On the final matchdays on December 11 and 12, matches in the same group will kick off simultaneously, with Group D and Group G assigned the 5.55pm slots. Neither group contains a Premier League team.
The games in the knockout stages will all kick off at 8pm.
