CHAMPIONS START WITH UNIQUE TIE

PRIZE GUYS PSG beat Inter and lifted last season's Champions League trophy

- BY JOHN CROSS:

THE Champions League winners will start the defence of their trophy with a standalone glamour tie.

It is part of a shakeup of European football's biggest competition from the 2027/28 season.

The reigning champions will play the first game of the campaign at home on the Tuesday night in the first week of the league phase. The rest of that week's action will then be played on the Wednesday and Thursday.