The Champions League draw for the 2024/25 season is set to reveal matchups for Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Celtic.
The draw, scheduled for 5 p.m. UK time today, will introduce a revamped format, expanding the competition from 125 to 189 matches.
Major Changes to the Champions League Format
The 2024/25 season marks a significant overhaul in the Champions League structure. The competition now includes 36 teams, replacing the traditional group stage with a single league phase. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of eight matches against different opponents, four at home and four away. The league phase will extend to the end of January, with dedicated weeks solely for Champions League matches.
How the New Format Works
Teams will be drawn into four pots, with no club facing another from the same league during the league phase. The top eight teams will automatically advance to the knockout stages, while those ranked 9th to 24th will enter a two-legged playoff to secure a spot in the last 16. Teams finishing 25th to 36th will be eliminated.
The Draw Process and Safety Measures
The draw will begin with Pot 1, featuring the strongest teams and current Champions League holders, and will proceed through the remaining pots. The draw will involve a combination of manual and automated processes, with software developed by UK IT company AE Live ensuring fairness and security. The entire process, including fixture details, will be completed in around 35 minutes.
Fixture Dates and Knockout Stages
The fixture list will be released on Saturday, August 31. The league-stage matches are scheduled between September 17, 2024, and January 29, 2025. The knockout rounds will commence in February 2025, leading up to the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31, 2025.
Similar Changes in Europa and Conference Leagues
The Europa League and Europa Conference League will also adopt the new format, with 36 teams participating in each competition. The Europa League will mirror the Champions League with eight matches in the league phase, while the Europa Conference League, renamed the UEFA Conference League, will have six matches in its league phase. These competitions will conclude in their knockout stages, similar to the current format.
The explanation of the new format for the draw of the Champions Leagues pic.twitter.com/66QxyKnwbc
— The Story (@Herstory104) August 28, 2024
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