The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is poised to begin with a major change in its format, following the draw held on Thursday in Monaco.
Instead of the traditional group stage, all 36 clubs will compete in a single league phase. Each team will play against eight different opponents, with half of the matches hosted at their home ground and the other half away.
The teams will be categorized into four pots based on their club coefficients, ensuring a balance of strength.
Each club will be drawn to compete against two teams from these pots, playing one match at home and one away against each.
The top eight teams after the league phase will advance to the knockout rounds, while those ranked 9th to 24th will enter two-legged playoffs for a chance to reach the round of 16.
The teams finishing 9th to 16th will be seeded in the knockout phase draw, facing teams ranked 17th to 24th, with the return leg typically played at home.
The eight successful teams will then meet one of the top eight finishers. Teams that end up 25th or lower will be eliminated from the competition, with no opportunity to enter the UEFA Europa League.
From the round of 16 onward, the tournament will maintain its established knockout format, culminating in a final held at a neutral venue chosen by UEFA.
Similar format changes will also be implemented in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, which will be rebranded as the UEFA Conference League starting in the 2024/25 season.
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