The top European tournament, the UEFA Champions League (UCL), which will begin play this year under a completely new format. The 2024–25 season has already begun.
The Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, La Liga, and Bundesliga were among the biggest European leagues to start their new seasons over the weekend. Today is the day where we are going to witness the UEFA Champions League with the new format.
Earlier this year, when the league was last staged under the original format with 32 clubs participating in the group stages, Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final to win their 15th UCL championship. What have changed in this year?
Which changes are made to the Champions League format for the 2024–2025 season?
The primary modification in the UEFA Executive Committee's stated revisions is the move away from the group stage structure of the present format, even if the qualification procedure is still the same as in previous editions.
Group Stage to League Phase:
Previously, 32 players were split up into eight groups of four for the Champions League group stage. Starting with the 2024–2025 campaign, 36 clubs will compete in the Champions League league phase (formerly known as the group stage), providing four additional teams with a chance to face the top clubs in Europe.
Should there be no group stage, how will the 36 clubs compete?
Each of the 36 competing clubs will be ranked collectively and compete in a single league tournament. However, the 36 clubs will compete on a draw rather than face off against one another in the league phase. Yes, you are correct—even without a group stage, the draw still exists.
New Phase Draw for UCL League:
Teams will play eight games in the new league phase (previous group stage) under the revised structure. They will now play matches against eight different teams, half of which they will play at home and the other half away, as opposed to their previous schedule of three opponents twice, home and away.
How are matchups for the UCL league phase selected?
The teams will be rated in four seeding pots to determine the matches and eight different opponents. After then, a club will be picked to face two opponents from each of these pots, once at home and once away, in a single matchup.
This increases the likelihood that spectators will witness the best teams facing off more frequently and early in the tournament while also providing clubs with an opportunity to test themselves against a wider range of opponents. Additionally, every team will play in more competitive games as a consequence.
UCL 2024/25 League Phase Schedule
Matchday 1: 17-19 September 2024
Matchday 2: 1-2 October 2024
Matchday 3: 22-23 October 2024
Matchday 4: 5-6 November 2024
Matchday 5: 26-27 November 2024
Matchday 6: 10-11 December 2024
Matchday 7: 21-22 January 2025
Matchday 8: 29 January 2025
How will teams in the UCL 2024–2025 qualify for the knockout stage?
In the new UCL league phase, the outcomes of each game will determine the overall position; three points will be awarded for a victory and one point for a draw. The league's top eight teams will automatically advance to the round of 16.
In the meanwhile, the teams placing ninth through twenty-fourth will engage in a two-leg knockout phase play-off to guarantee their spot in the competition's final sixteen. Teams who place 25th or worse will not even be eligible to play in the UEFA Europa League; they will be eliminated.
Will the format for the UCL knockout phase change in the new format in 2024/25?
The only change is the addition of the new knock out phase play-off round. From the round of 16 onwards, the competition will continue to follow its old format of knockout rounds leading to the final staged at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
UCL 2024/25 Knock Out Phase Schedule Knockout round play-offs:
February 2025 18-19 & February 2025
Round of 16: 4-5 March 2025 & 11-12 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 8-9 April 2025 & 15-16 April 2025
Semi-finals: 29-30 April 2025 & 6-7 May 2025
Final: 31 May 2025
