The UEFA Champions League is in full swing with the thrilling league phase running all the way until Jan. 28 with Matchday 8. The 36-team opening round will see 24 teams advance, with the first eight going directly to the round of 16,

CHELSEA face a staggering 5,000 mile round-trip to face Qarabag on Wednesday. The Blues squad departed from Luton on Tuesday afternoon and will land back again at six o’clock on Thursday

In soccer, the Champions League returns with two of its biggest sides in Liverpool and Real Madrid facing off at Anfield, while the next step of the dramatic conclusion to the Formula One season continues in Brazil at the weekend.

Guardiola gives opinion on jam-packed schedule ahead of Wednesday's clash against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Traditional "Big 6" clubs have work to do, beginning with a clash between Tottenham and Chelsea in north London on Saturday. Tottenham is third on the table despite some shaky play, while the Blues are ninth -- despite being three points behind the Hotspurs. Chelsea is battling with injuries but cannot afford a loss.

On Monday, Paris Saint-Germain released its schedule for the week. It’s a busy one, as the Parisians have two matches: hosting Bayern Munich on Tuesday (Champions League Matchday 4) and traveling to Lyon on Sunday for Matchday 12 of Ligue 1.

The expanded Champions League and exclusive weekends for the FA Cup has led to the Premier League scrapping its traditional feast of Boxing Day football

Bayern Munich's busy match schedule with three matches in seven days will not shift the focus of the German champions ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga match against visiting Bayer Leverkusen, said coach Vincent Kompany on Friday.