The Champions League group stages get underway on Tuesday night with Manchester United and Chelsea among those in action while Barcelona take on Bayern Munich in the pick of the games.
With the 2020/21 season signalling the end of the last three-year TV deal, new rights holders will come on to the scene in Ireland on Tuesday night. Virgin Media previously held the contract to show every match live on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but earlier this year the broadcaster announced that they would not be renewing that deal due to increasing prices.
Since that announcement the website and app LiveScore has stepped in to take the contract for all 137 matches per-season for the next three seasons while RTÉ will show one live match every Tuesday and Virgin Media one live match every Wednesday. In the UK, BT Sport still hold the rights to show every match live and they can also be viewed in Ireland.
The move to LiveScore marks a new departure for Champions League football in this part of the world as a streaming company holds the primary rights package for the first time and will show every match for free.
So, where do I start if I want to stream the Champions League?
First you need to download the LiveScore app via the App Store on iPhone or iPad or the Play Store on Android devices.
Will I need to sign up to anything?
Yes. LiveScore requires all users to register an email address and password on the app before streaming. LiveScore is part of a company called Anzo Group which also consists of LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet. Across the app and website, advertisements from gambling companies such as Betway, William Hill, Bet365 and others are plentiful. However, LiveScore clarified in a statement that users in Ireland will not be required to open a betting account to watch Champions League matches “at any point throughout the three-year term rights deal.”
So, once I’ve registered an email address and password what do I do?
LiveScore is a very simple app to navigate and all you need to do is scroll through the Champions League fixtures and click on whichever match you want to watch. That will then bring up the stream on your phone.
Can I get it on my TV?
Yes, there is an option on the app to cast to your television which will allow viewers watch via Chromecast, smart TVs and other devices.
So what matches are being shown where on matchday one?
As mentioned, all matches below will be shown on LiveScore and BT Sport. On Tuesday RTÉ will show live coverage of Young Boys Bern v Manchester United (5.45pm) while on Wednesday Liverpool v AC Milan (8pm) will be shown live on Virgin Media.
Champions League matchday one Tuesday fixtures
All matches live on LiveScore and BT Sport, kick-off 8pm unless stated
Group E
Barcelona v Bayern Munich
Dynamo Kiev v Benfica
Group F
Young Boys v Manchester United (5.45pm, live on RTÉ 2)
Villareal v Atalanta
Group G
Sevilla v FC Salzburg (5.45pm)
Lille v Wolfsburg
Group H
Chelsea v Zenit St Petersburg
Malmo v Juventus
Champions League matchday one Wednesday fixtures
All matches live on LiveScore and BT Sport, kick-off 8pm unless stated
Group A
Club Brugge v Paris Saint-Germain
Manchester City v RB Leipzig
Group B
Atlético Madrid v FC Porto
Liverpool v AC Milan (Live on Virgin Media Two)
Group C
Besiktas v Borussia Dortmund (5.45pm)
Sporting CP v Ajax
Group D
FC Sheriff v Shakhtar Donetsk (5.45pm)
Internazionale v Real Madrid
