Following the draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League in Monaco, the competition will adopt a new format with several key changes:
Expanded Competition
The Champions League will now feature 36 clubs, an increase from the previous 32. The additional four places are allocated as follows:
- One slot for the fifth-best European league (Ligue 1, France).
- Two slots for leagues with the highest coefficient ranking from last season’s UEFA competition (Germany and Italy).
- One slot for a national champion emerging from the qualifying rounds.
New League Format (Swiss System)
The traditional group stage format with eight groups of four teams has been replaced by a single league of all 36 clubs. This Swiss system, typically seen in chess, means:
- Each team will play eight matches, against eight different opponents, instead of the previous six games against three group-stage rivals.
- Teams will face two clubs from each of four seeded pots—one at home and one away.
More Matches, More Excitement
The total number of matches in this phase will increase from 96 to 144, with the last two matchdays scheduled in January. Clubs will play more matches, raising the potential for marquee matchups between top teams early in the competition.
Knockout Round Changes
- The top eight teams in the league will automatically advance to the last 16.
- Teams ranked 9th to 24th will enter a two-legged play-off round to determine the remaining eight spots in the last 16.
- The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated without access to the Europa League, unlike the previous format.
This new format is part of UEFA’s response to growing competition pressures and aims to provide more high-stakes matches throughout the tournament.
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