How the brand new format works

UEFA are making large modifications to the Champions League subsequent season. It sees the top of the group stage as we all know it, in addition to the introduction of 4 additional groups to the league section that replaces it.

It’s the greatest shake-up to the format of the competitors because the discontinuation of the second group stage, which was final utilized in 2002/03. Due to this fact, it could be overdue a change – not that there was something essentially mistaken with the outgoing format.

So right here is Soccer FanCast’s rundown of the way it’ll work and what you may anticipate to alter when the brand new format comes into impact.

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How the 2024/25 Champions League will work

The largest change is that UEFA is dropping the group stage. As a substitute of eight teams of 4 groups, there can be a single league of 36 groups, with every workforce enjoying eight occasions in opposition to totally different opponents – 4 at house, 4 away.

The eight groups who end with probably the most factors will qualify for the spherical of 16. These positioned from Ninth-Twenty fourth will enter a two-legged play-off spherical to find out the opposite eight groups. In fact, the 12 backside golf equipment will all be eradicated – with no extra dropping down within the Europa League.

By the way, each the Europa League and Convention League will endure comparable modifications, with golf equipment now not in a position to play in several competitions throughout the identical marketing campaign.

As soon as the spherical of 16 begins, the format reverts to regular – two-legged ties till the ultimate, with no use of away targets all through.

Trying on the schedule within the desk under, the important thing variations are the 2 league section matchdays within the new yr, with the 36 certified groups assured to be enjoying European soccer till late January – the final of those is a single date quite than break up over Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

That is presumably to make sure most carnage as groups scrap for the eight computerized knockout-round slots, with comparable probably as sides look to keep away from prompt elimination.

2024/25 Champions League key dates

qualify for the Champions League

With the league section involving 36 groups, there are 4 extra locations up for grabs for the ultimate event.

The qualification course of is basically untouched, with the reigning champions and Europa League winners nonetheless getting locations in the event that they have not already certified, however 4 additional paths wanted to be created.

One additional place now goes to the fifth-ranked nation in UEFA’s coefficient standings, which is France, that means 4 Ligue 1 golf equipment can enter the competitors by way of the league. There’s additionally an additional place up for grabs within the ‘Champions Path’ qualifying rounds for nations ranked eleventh by way of fifty fifth.

The opposite two locations are awarded to the nations that collectively obtain the very best leads to the earlier season’s competitors, which is decided by including up coefficient factors and dividing them by the variety of taking part groups from that nation.

This yr, Italy and Germany grabbed these locations – referred to as European Efficiency Spots – with Bologna and this yr’s finalists, Borussia Dortmund, the lucky recipients.

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2024/25 Champions League certified groups

29 golf equipment certified for the league section upon the completion of the 2023/24 league season. Two golf equipment – Shakhtar Donetsk and Benfica – certified as a result of winners of the Champions League and Europa League (Actual Madrid and Atalanta respectively) already qualifying by way of their league place. This leaves seven extra slots to be crammed through the play-off rounds.

2024/25 Champions League draw process & projected pots

With extra groups and a brand-new league section, modifications should be made to the draw process as properly. Supporters who put themselves by way of the tenuous group stage draw ceremony yearly could also be delighted by the information that the fixtures can be decided by a pc, eradicating the necessity for a prolonged match-making course of.

UEFA has confirmed that as a result of complexities of the brand new format, it might take too lengthy to attract the fixtures manually. This implies we’ll see much less balls being unscrewed and extra fixtures being allotted on the push of some buttons. However how will the draw truly work, and who can play who?

Groups can be allotted into 4 pots as common – with 9 slots now obtainable in each. Groups can be drawn randomly from Pot 1, at which level the pc will decide their opponents. Each workforce will face two opponents from every pot, no matter which one they’re in. The pc may even decide which video games are performed house and away.

As in earlier years, there may be nationwide safety in the course of the league section, although groups from the identical affiliation will be capable of face one another from the final 16 onwards – a spherical sooner than common.

One other alteration to the draw schedule sees a draw from the last-16 stage figuring out the remaining groups’ path to the ultimate, that means there is no such thing as a want for an additional draw come the quarter-finals.

Champions League draw dates

These are the dates to your diary in the event you do not wish to miss a factor. As talked about, there are solely two attracts following the completion of the league section; one for the knockout play-off spherical, and one other for the remainder of the knockout phases. Positions within the league are set to find out a workforce’s path to the ultimate, which can be mapped out in full on the last-16 stage as a substitute of the quarter-finals as in earlier years.

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