New Champions League Format Makes Its Debut With Same Old Winners: Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern, Juve

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid on Sept. 17, 2024. Manu Fernandez/AP Photo

ROME—New format. Same old winners.

The revamped Champions League made its debut Tuesday with some familiar clubs claiming victories on opening night.