The UEFA Champions League has undergone a significant overhaul for the upcoming season, featuring a groundbreaking ‘league’ format. For the first time in its history, the competition will expand to 36 teams, divided into four pots of nine each.
New Champions League format!
The new format, similar to the CONCACAF Nations League qualifying system, will see each team play two matches against opponents from each pot, one at home and one away. This means a total of eight league matches for each team, compared to the previous six. The increased number of fixtures will provide fans with more opportunities to see their favorite clubs in action and create a more dynamic competition.
Defending champions Real Madrid, who have a record 15 European titles will enter the season as favorites. Moreso after snapping up Kylian Mbappe from PSG in this transfer window. However, the expanded field introduces new challenges and opportunities for other top European clubs like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Arsenal.
Marquee UCL fixtures
Some of the most anticipated matchups in the league stage include Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid vs. Liverpool, and PSG vs. Manchester City. Moreover, the likes of PSG and RB Leipzig have two of the toughest draws.
Pot 1 draws ft. Real Madrid, Man City
The top eight teams in the league standings will automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in two-legged playoffs to secure their place in the knockout stage. A seeding system will be implemented in the Round of 16 to ensure that the top two teams in the league do not meet until the final.
Pot 2 draws ft. Arsenal, Juventus
Pot 3 draw ft. PSV, Celtic
Pot 4 draws ft. Aston Villa, Monaco
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