As the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League begins today 17th September, 2024, fans all over the world will see a new format with 36 teams in Europe competing for the most sought-after club competition.
Starting from this season UEFA Champions League will feature a revamped format, expanding from 32 to 36 participating teams, which is the first time in the history of the competition. As a result of this new format champions league clubs will play more games than when the old format was in play.
The key changes in the new Champions League format
- Eight Matches: The traditional group stage is replaced by a single league phase, where all 36 teams compete against each other in a unified table. Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, with four home games and four away games, ensuring a diverse range of fixtures.
- New Knockout Phase: The top eight teams in the league table will qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to secure their spot in the knockout phase.
- Increased Matches: The new format increases the total number of matches from 125 to 189, with the ultimate winners playing 17 games across the competition.
- One team can play a maximum of two teams from the same country in the League Phase.
These changes aim to increase competition, unpredictability, and excitement in the competition while providing more opportunities for teams to compete against diverse opponents.