A new dawn has emerged in European football as the greatest club tournament undergoes a new format in the upcoming 2024/25 season, which kicks off on September 17.
The new league phase draw was held in Monaco on August 29 and featured dignitaries such as Italian and Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon—who received the UEFA President’s Award—and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was honored as the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League.
A new dawn
Instead of the previous 32 teams, 36 clubs will now take part in the Champions League league phase, providing four additional teams the chance to compete with Europe’s top clubs.
All 36 of these clubs will compete in a single league, where they will be ranked together.
In the new format, teams will play eight matches during the league phase, replacing the old group stage. Instead of playing three opponents twice—both home and away—each team will now face eight different teams, with four matches at home and four away.
Clubs were then placed into four seeding pots, and each team was drawn to play two opponents from each pot, with one match against a team from each pot at home and the other away.
This change was made to allow clubs to challenge themselves against a broader range of opponents and to give fans more chances to see top teams face off more frequently and earlier in the competition. It will also lead to more competitive matches for all clubs involved.
Will the Path to the Champions League Knockout Stage Change?
The path to the knockout stage changes, with the top eight teams in the league advancing directly to the round of 16, while teams that finish 9th to 24th will enter a two-legged knockout play-off to earn their spot in the last 16. Clubs that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated from the competition, with no chance to move into the UEFA Europa League.
In the knockout phase, teams that finish 9th to 16th will be seeded in the knockout phase play-off draw and will face teams placed 17th to 24th, with the second leg typically played at home. The eight winners of these play-offs will advance to the round of 16, where they will each compete against one of the top eight finishers, who will be seeded for this round.
Starting from the round of 16, the competition will maintain its previous format, with knockout rounds leading up to the final.
However, the new Champions league format aims to ensure that every game counts and that each result can significantly impact a team’s position, even on the final matchday. Winning or losing the last game of the league phase could determine whether a team qualifies directly for the last 16, enters the play-offs, or is eliminated from the competition entirely.
Below is the draw for the new League phase format.
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Story by: Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
