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Champions League: UEFA introduces new format
UEFA has announced a new format for the Champions League, set to take effect from the 2024-2025 season onward.
In the video announcement shared by UEFA (via Fabrizio Romano), key changes to the competition format were outlined.
The current 32-team group stage will be replaced by a unified 36-team league phase across the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
Under this new format, each team will face eight different opponents, with two matchups against each team drawn from four seeding pots. This means teams will play four home games and four away games.
The top eight teams in the league phase will advance directly to the Round of 16.
Teams ranked ninth through 24th will compete in a knockout playoff round to join the top eight teams in the pre-quarterfinals.
However, teams ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated directly from all competitions, a departure from the previous system where third-placed group finishers dropped down to the preliminary playoff round of the lower European leagues.
🚨🏆 New Champions League format from 2024/25, confirmed.pic.twitter.com/XHqye6FQZO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 4, 2024
Recall, Al Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his predictions for the winners of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League. The former Real Madrid star believes that Manchester City, the current titleholders, have a “good chance” of securing the coveted trophy for the second time.
In addition to Manchester City, Ronaldo identified two other football powerhouses, Real Madrid and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, as strong contenders for Champions League glory this season.
The 38-year-old, drawing from his extensive European experience, mentioned, “Manchester City have a good chance to win the Champions League again for sure. Favorites? Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern.”