SOCCER
When does European club soccer start in 2024/25? Premier League, LaLiga, Champions League…
Following the conclusions of Euro 2024 and the Copa América 2024, focus turns back to club soccer ahead of the new season.
Euro 2024 and the Copa América 2024 finished on Sunday, with Spain and Argentina crowned respective champions after victories over England and Colombia. No sooner had the international tournaments ended, than attention quickly began to revert back to club soccer, with elite clubs having already begun their preseason preparations for 2024/25.
When does LaLiga start? Real Madrid and Barcelona first fixtures of 2024/25
Real Madrid officially began their preseason on Monday, July 15 and wasted little time in stealing the headlines, unveiling Kylian Mbappé at the Santiago Bernabéu the following day. After returning from a tour of the United States, Los Blancos will play their first official game of the new season against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, August 14, which should be Mbappé's debut.
LaLiga starts with two games on Thursday, August 15. Madrid are first in action away to Mallorca on Sunday, August 18, with Barcelona starting their campaign the previous day (Saturday, August 17) at Valencia.
When does the 2024/25 Premier League start?
The Premier League starts that same weekend, with Manchester United hosting Fulham in the opening fixture on Friday, August 16.
Liverpool visit newly-promoted Ipswich and Arsenal host Wolves on Saturday, August 17, although the game of the round is Chelsea’s clash at home to champions Manchester City on Sunday, August 18.
When does the 2024/25 Champions League begin?
Technically, it’s already started. The first legs of the first qualifying round (there are four, including the playoffs) took place on Tuesday July 9 and Wednesday July 10. But we will have to wait until Wednesday, August 28 to know which 36 teams will be taking part in the new-look league phase.
The league phase is due to start on Tuesday 17 September. For the first time, the opening round of the tournament proper will extend into the new year, with matchday eight of the league phase to be completed on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
The league phase of the Europa League, which has been revamped in a similar way, will start on Wednesday 25 September. The Conference League, which hasn’t, begins on Thursday 3 October.
When do other European Leagues start?
As for the other ‘big” European leagues, Italy’s Serie A gets underway on Saturday, August 17. Ligue 1 in France will also kick off that weekend, although no dates and times have as yet been scheduled. Germany’s Bundesliga starts the following week on Friday, August 23.