Champions League 2020-21 season to start in October

Emil Forsberg (C) of RB Leipzig celebrates scoring a goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg match against Tottenham Hotspur in Leipzig, Germany, March 10, 2020. /VCG

The UEFA Champions League 2020-21 season will kick off on October 20, according to officials on Wednesday.

According to the schedule, group stage will run from October 20 to December 9, the elimination stage will begin on February 16 next year, and the finals is set to be played on May 29 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Borussia Dortmund team players are seen training behind official match balls before the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg match against Paris Saint-Germain in Paris, France, March 10, 2020. /VCG

The roster will only give about two weeks before UEFA's flagship national team competition EURO 2020 to kicks off on June 11, which was due to take place this summer but had to be pushed back 12 months due to the pandemic.

Fixtures of this season's Champions League have been rearranged, as Portugal will host all the remaining games in August.

(With input from Xinhua)