The Champions League is back and here are seven reasons why it’s about to take over your life

That's your Tuesdays and Wednesdays sorted until May.

The Champions League is back this week after its long winter break, and over the next four months we can look forward to watching the best of European footballing talent and condemn those dreary winter months to the past. Here are seven reasons why the Champions League will take over your life, and you should be thankful for it.

1. Five-a-side is rescheduled

Football on a Tuesday or Wednesday night when there is Champions League action? No chance. If you are part of a five-a-side team then it's probable that efforts will be made to move your weekly game of ball to Monday, Thursday or Friday. Cages across the country lie deserted as winter footballers instead practice their keepie-uppies in the kitchen while Eamon Dunphy is mid-rant on why Henry Shefflin and Ruby Walsh are still better sportsmen than Paul Pogba.

2. Social media is your own personal commentator and analyst

Forget about Dunphy and Giles, all you want to know is how much money your friend is about to lose unless Zenit score in the next five minutes. Whatsapp comes into its own as various men and women sit down to watch midweek football and get the chance to discuss a game as it's taking place in front of their very eyes. Make sure to have your phone charged up as you scroll through Twitter to keep tabs on the other games while, of course, midweek football also gives you the chance to troll your friends whose clubs didn't make the Champions League knock-out stages. Gent, seriously?

3. Roy Keane's punditry

So you have flicked between RTE and BT and now you are watching his ‘Royness’ rip Arsenal apart on ITV’s coverage as Lee Dixon looks for the nearest escape. Keane is essential viewing, even with the sound down. It's all in his eyes. So find it online or hunt down a friend who has ITV tuned in, but make sure to feast your eyes on Roy. https://twitter.com/charmianbury/status/674729116285935617 https://twitter.com/DevlinLiam/status/588081336046485505

4. You can now make notes on potential Irish heartbreakers this summer

Improve your knowledge of anyone who may cause us heart failure this summer by taking notes on the many, many Belgians, Italians and Swedes playing in Europe's elite competition. There won’t be any Irish players to look out for so you may as well use your time productively so you can tell all your friends “Stefano Sturaro couldn’t do it on a cold Wednesday night in Munich. He’s no Wes anyway.” Console yourself with the knowledge that while these lads are risking injury to try and propel their side to club football's ultimate prize, Martin O'Neill's boys are sitting at home with their feet up watching on TV just like you.

5. Every single game is worth watching

https://twitter.com/Razz_dude/status/694066693484756992 Writer and journalist Declan Lynch has a great phrase that goes along the lines of “you should never not watch a football game”. Who knows what the hell might happen as Manchester City implode at home to Dynamo Kiev or what refereeing howler could help Roma cause a shock against Real Madrid. When you get to the last 16 then you are talking about some of the best club sides in the world, and anything, and we mean anything, could happen. And it’s not always on the pitch either. https://twitter.com/Alex94_Mufc/status/674308592720302080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

6. Don’t be Billy no-mates

What do you mean you missed last night’s game? Unless you want to be the lad who really does only get up from his desk to get water - and not actually talk about the game last night - then make sure to be on top of things. It’s not like Operation Transformation is going to win you any friends.

7. The MSN v Per Mersetacker

If you haven’t seen any good comedy in recent weeks, then prepare for the best three forwards in the world to run riot against Arsenal. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez rule this world, we’re just lucky to be allowed live in it. The best thing is that poor Per and his colleagues won’t just get to face them once, but twice, so you’ll have 180 minutes of hilarious action to look forward to. To celebrate teaming up with the UEFA Champions League, Walkers are on hand to get you #GAMEREADY with prizes from official UEFA T-shirts and footballs, to tickets to the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final in Milan. To be in with a chance of winning visit www.game-ready.com.