The UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious club competition, is about to begin a unique edition with significant changes to its format. We will tell you everything you need to know about these changes and the return date of the exciting nights of European football.
Although the 2024/2025 edition of the Champions League has already started with the qualification rounds, the competition will officially start on Tuesday, September 17, with some changes that guarantee that the competition will be even more interesting.
The new form of Champions League
The new format of the Champions League will increase the number of teams involved from 32 to 36, which means the elimination of the traditional Group Stage. This will be replaced by a league type format.
In this new level, all teams will compete in a general classification and will play eight games: four at home and four as visitors. Teams will be divided into four pots, organized according to merit, increasing the chances of seeing interesting fights from the start.
Playoffs and qualification for the knockout stage
After the League stage, the top eight teams will advance directly to the Round of 16. The ninth to 25th placed teams will compete in a Playoff round to advance to the next stage. Teams finishing between 26th and 36th place will be kicked out of the competition without the option to play in the Europa League.
The Playoffs will also be played on a round-robin basis, with a draw ensuring that the highest-ranked teams do not face each other until the final. Starting with the Round of 16, the tournament will follow the traditional format of previous years.
In summary, while previously around 13 games were needed to win the Champions League, between 15 and 17 games will now be needed.
When does the Champions League start?
The 2024-25 Champions League officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 17. However, the draw that will determine the League standings will take place on August 29.
2024-08-19 17:08:27
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