UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Draw Live Updates: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich await fate | Football News
The Champions League expands from 32 to 36 teams this season, forcing inevitable structural tweaks. (AP)
36 teams, long first stage, a legal threat, how and why Champions League draw would be different this season
The Champions League expands from 32 to 36 teams this season, forcing inevitable structural tweaks. The group stage ceases to ex, and instead teams tussle in a partial reproduction of the Swiss model often seen in chess tournaments. Understandably, there is excitement as well as cynicism, besides a threat of legal sanctions Chilean sports consultant Leandro Shara for the “unauthorised and unfair use” of the format. The draw ceremony, from Thursday night in Monaco, would set the ball rolling for the season of intrigue, and potentially mouthwatering encounters.
The format has been used in football before, most notably in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifying competition. The 36 teams will be divided into four pots of nine teams with each side playing two teams from each pot, one at home and one away. The top eight clubs qualify directly to the Round of 16. The teams ranked ninth to 24th will have to take part in play-off matches, from where eight teams join the top eight. The clubs that are ranked 17th to 24th after the play-off stages will be eliminated from all European competitions, which means there will be no place for them in the Europa League as well as the Conference League. From there on, it will revert to its familiar format. (READ MORE)
