The teams may change but UEFA's schedule has been tried and tested for a number of years.
European football's governing body have a good thing going and their group stage calendar, which now includes three tournaments after the introduction of the Europa Conference League.
Even back in the day when there were two group stages in the Champions League, the Nyon blueprint never wavered when it came to the format of the six matchdays.
Teams would always play their opening opponent on matchday one then again on the fifth match night, the sides that face on matchday two would then duel on the final night of the group stage, with a traditional double header in the middle on matchdays three and four.
It's such a finely tuned tradition that supporters from teams across Europe almost take the fixture list for granted.
But Rangers are among a host of teams across the three tournaments who have had a schedule revamp that means their traditional matchday five and six have been flipped.
Now Rangers and Celtic had their own Europa League fixture changes due to COP26 - with the great rivals playing at home together on matchday three and away on matchday four.
Ange Postecoglou's side were forced into a Tuesday afternoon slot against Ferencvaros before Ibrox played host to Brondby two days later.
Rangers and Celtic would always have had to get back on 'schedule' as Rangers will now face Sparta Prague at home and Celtic travel to Bayer Leverkusen.
It would be easy to look at this as a scheduling afterthought and put it down to Cop26 but a host of teams across Europe are seeing their traditional programme being shaken up.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester City and Tottenham are among the sides who are also in the same position,
It would be easy to dismiss a small change in the norm from the decision makers in Nyon, but the mix-up is of great benefit of Rangers.
In each of their previous group stages, matchday five would have been against Lyon before facing Sparta Prague on matchday six.
Some Ibrox diehards may argue now is the perfect time to face the French side because they have already been confirmed as winners of Group A.
Peter Bosz's side has so much talent, there's probably no such thing as a weaker team he could field against their opponents.
And Rangers are now in the equivalent of a shootout with the Czech side that could make matchday six a non-event.
Steven Gerrard's side know a win by two goals against Sparta will guarantee them a place in the knockout playoff round of the Europa League.
However, defeat to the side who got the better of them matchday two will close the door on a third consecutive season mixing it in European football's second tournament after Christmas.
But a route to the European Conference League knockouts would be very much on as they hold the head-to-head advantage over Brondby.
It's all to play for and a break from tradition offers Rangers a chance to continue their Euro exploits under Gerrard.
