Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Europe’s biggest club football spectacle, the UEFA Champions League, returns with the 2024-25 season this week, to 12 nations and countless screens worldwide.
Real Madrid begins another title defense, while Liverpool faces off against AC Milan in a marquee clash.
This season, however, there’s a twist – the traditional group stage is gone. Instead, fans are greeted by a new “league phase” format that will likely leave many scratching their heads.
ALSO READ:
- Confused about the UEFA Champions League new format? – Here’s a comprehensive breakdown
- Manchester City’s financial breach hearing: What to expect as the 115 charges unfold
- Victor Osimhen impresses on Galatasaray debut, grabs assist
- “No words needed” – Hudson-Odoi reacts to match-winning goal as Nottingham Forest shock Liverpool at Anfield
- Gundogan’s beloved legacy at Manchester City fuels fans’ desire for heroic return
The best advice? Don’t stress too much about the format just yet. Simply enjoy the matches, because every result will carry weight.
The result from the Atalanta-Arsenal game on Thursday could seriously affect the chances of advancing. In terms of upsets, Girona beating PSG in Paris on Wednesday could shake up the standings in unexpected ways. Same goes for a Monaco win against the currently high-flying Barcelona. Every game will matter.
But with this unpredictable structure, the true impact of each result might not be clear until January.
The new format promises excitement in the long run, potentially adding more drama to the competition. For now, though, it’s simply a puzzle waiting to be solved.
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEW FORMAT
The Champions League used to be straightforward: eight groups of four, each team playing six matches. Each group’s top two teams would advance, making it a simple yet thrilling system.
But UEFA wanted more: more games, more teams, more big-name clashes, and, of course, more money. So, they expanded the competition to 36 teams and adopted a “Swiss format,” often used in chess.
Now, instead of groups, there’s a massive 36-team league, and each team plays eight matches. Gone are the traditional pods or head-to-head group rivalries fans were used to.
At the end of this “league phase,” teams’ standings decide their next step in the competition. The top eight teams go directly to the Round of 16.
Teams ranked 9th to 16th face a play-in round against those ranked 17th to 24th. Meanwhile, teams in 25th to 36th are eliminated from the tournament entirely.
It’s a whole new ballgame, and understanding it may take some getting used to. But this format promises more drama and excitement for both fans and clubs alike.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES FOR TUESDAY, 17TH SEPT. (ALL TIME IN GMT+1/WAT)
- 17:45 Juventus vs PSV
- 17:45 Young Boys vs Aston Villa
- 20:00 AC Milan vs Liverpool
- 20:00 Bayern Munich vs Dinamo Zagreb
- 20:00 Real Madrid vs Stuttgart
- 20:00 Sporting CP vs Lille
Tags: #UCL, #ChampionsLeague, #UEFA, #Football, #NewFormat, #LeaguePhase, #RealMadrid, #Liverpool, #ACMilan, #FootballFixtures, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcsports, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcnews.
Discover more from News Round The Clock
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
