Champions League Build-Up & the New Format

This new format, beginning Tuesday after years of planning and controversy, offers more games, more teams, and more revenue for the clubs involved. The changes were driven by storied clubs seeking more lucrative opportunities in European soccer. The new Champions League format will feature a 36-team league, replacing the previous group stage. Teams will compete in eight matches against different opponents, with half played at home and half away.

The new Champions League format will feature a 36-team league, replacing the previous group stage. Teams will compete in eight matches against different opponents, with half played at home and half away.

In January, all 36 teams will be ranked within a single league standings system, replacing the traditional four-team groups that ended in December. UEFA has reshuffled its midweek schedule to accommodate the relaunch of the club event with six games per night over three consecutive nights.

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Champions League Results

During the league phase, each team will play eight games (four at home, four away), earning three points for a win and one for a draw. The draw last month determined the eight different opponents using a software program based on UEFA rankings from the past five years of European competitions.

Top-seeded teams in the European competition include recent champions Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. Debutants Girona and Brest are in the low-ranked pot four, along with long-absent teams like Aston Villa, Bologna, and Stuttgart.

Moving to the knockout phase requires teams to secure eight points from eight games, according to UEFA. The top eight teams in the standings by January 29 will advance directly to the round of 16 seeded as numbers 1-8. Teams ranked from ninth to 24th will enter a playoff round in February, with teams seeded 9-16 facing opponents ranked 17-24. The eight playoff winners will advance to the unseeded round of 16, replacing the previous separate draws for quarterfinals and semifinals.

 

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