The Champions League is one of the most prestigious tournaments in football. While the World Cup takes centre stage every four years, the European Cup is the annual competition featuring the best club sides on the continent. Millions worldwide tune in to watch Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City compete for the main prize.
However, despite the Champions League‘s huge popularity, UEFA decided to freshen things up for the 2024/25 campaign and introduced an entirely new format. This article will reveal how it works so you know exactly what to expect on matchday one.
What was the Competition Format before this Season?
Europe’s premier competition was first established in 1955. It featured six invited teams and was the European Champion Clubs’ Cup. As the tournament grew, 32 teams were included in 1967, called the European Cup. For over two decades, the format featured four two-legged rounds leading to the showpiece final.
Then, in 1992, the same year as the formation of the English Premier League, the Champions League was born. Introducing a group stage, eight groups of four teams would compete home and away, with the top two teams in each standings from A to H reaching the Last 16 knockout stage. A second group stage was brought in at one time, but the original version returned for the 2003/04 season.
Throughout the 21st century, the group phase has been synonymous with the Champions League, leading to the knockout rounds later. It has also produced some incredibly memorable moments over the years.
How Does the New-Look Champions League Work?
The Champions League this season has seen the number of teams increase from 32 to 36, and the group stage has been replaced with a single league table. Clubs will no longer play three teams twice but face eight sides instead. Four of these fixtures will be at home, and the others will be away. To determine the games, teams were split into four seeded pots, facing two sides from each one.
With no groups, you wonder how teams qualify for the knockout stages. Well, the teams who finish in the top eight after the eight matches go straight through to the Last 16. Clubs in ninth down to 24th will be drawn against each other in a two-legged knockout in a play-off to join the top eight. The competition continues as usual, with knockout matches going to the final.
Teams that finish 25th and lower will be eliminated from Europe entirely. Previously, clubs that finished third in the group stage would drop down to the Europa League, but this is no longer true.
Which Teams are Competing in the 2024/25 Tournament?
The usual big hitters are participating in this season’s Champions League, with holders and record winners Real Madrid set to defend their crown against Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Inter, and Benfica.
Some German teams are competing in this year’s competition, with Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart playing alongside Bayern, while Italy also have five clubs appearing.
Aston Villa, Bologna, French club Brest, Girona, and Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia are all making their first appearances since the group stage was introduced over thirty years ago.
Are the Europa League and Conference League following the Same Format?
Yes, the Europa League and Conference League have also seen the group phase replaced with a league system. However, while the Europa League will feature eight fixtures like the Champions League, sides in the Conference League will only play six matches before the play-off round and knockout stages commence.
Who are the Most Successful Clubs in Champions League History?
Real Madrid has won more Champions League titles than any other side, having lifted the trophy 15 times. With a rich and storied history in the competition, Los Blancos have dominated again in recent years, winning the tournament in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and twice under Carlo Ancelotti in 2022 and 2024.
Milan has won the Champions League seven times, Liverpool six, and Bayern Munich six. Barcelona has clinched the European Cup five times, Ajax four, and Man United and Inter have won three titles.
Summing Up
The Champions League is enjoyed by fans worldwide, and the new format is set to refresh the tournament with more games for supporters to enjoy. With the top teams in Europe competing for supremacy, the change to a league system will increase the number of the most successful sides facing each other in the early stages.
As the sport looks for new ways to increase engagement and interaction, UEFA has already created the Conference League, which has seen champions from all over the continent participate in competitive games. Moreover, it’s given teams who may not usually win silverware another opportunity to play and create unforgettable memories on the pitch. It is hoped the change to the Champions League will kickstart a new era of incredible football.