how does new champions league work

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23-10-2024

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How the New Champions League Works: A Guide to the 2024-2025 Format

The UEFA Champions League is getting a makeover, with a new format set to kick off in the 2024-2025 season. This change, designed to increase the excitement and competitiveness of the tournament, brings about significant alterations to the group stage and qualification process. Let's dive into how the new Champions League works:

The New Group Stage: Fewer Games, More Competition

Gone are the days of 8 groups of 4 teams. The new format sees 36 teams divided into two tracks:

• Champions Path: For 2023-2024 season champions from the top 10 ranked leagues (based on UEFA coefficients), plus the champions of the remaining leagues (except Andorra, San Marino, and Kosovo) who survive preliminary rounds.
• League Path: Comprises the top-ranked clubs from the top 10 leagues, based on their previous season's performance. These teams are determined through various qualifying rounds.

Instead of the traditional home-and-away group matches, teams will play eight group stage matches. This means fewer matches overall, but it also means greater competition. Here's how it works:

1. Each team will play ten matches against five different opponents.
2. Five matches will be home games, and five will be away games.
3. Teams will play three teams from their own track and two from the opposite track.

The top eight teams from each track will advance to the Round of 16.

Qualifying for the Champions League: A More Complex Path

The new format also introduces a more complex qualification process. Teams from the lower-ranked leagues will have to navigate a series of preliminary rounds to earn their spot in the Champions League group stage. These preliminary rounds involve traditional home-and-away matches.

Here's a breakdown of how the qualifying rounds work:

1. Champions Path: Champions from lower-ranked leagues compete in a series of preliminary rounds to reach the group stage.
2. League Path: Teams that didn't qualify directly for the group stage participate in a series of qualifying rounds based on their league position.
3. Play-off Rounds: The winners of the qualifying rounds will compete against the top teams from the League Path to determine the final teams in the Champions League group stage.

What Does This Mean for the Future of the Champions League?

The new format aims to address several key issues:

• Increased Competitive Balance: More teams will have the opportunity to compete for the Champions League title, leading to more competitive matches and greater excitement.
• More Opportunities for Smaller Clubs: The new format aims to give clubs from smaller leagues more chances to qualify for the Champions League and compete on the European stage.
• Greater Financial Rewards: The increased number of participating teams will lead to more financial revenue for UEFA, which will be distributed to clubs.

The new Champions League format is sure to be a talking point for years to come. How it will impact the tournament's overall balance and the dominance of the biggest clubs remains to be seen.