The new-look Champions League draw took place on Thursday, with holders Real Madrid set to face Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in the league stage. The new format sees all 36 clubs pooled together into one league, rather than split into groups, with each team playing eight games against eight different opponents.
Real Madrid, who have signed France superstar Kylian Mbappe, will also face AC Milan and Atalanta. Liverpool, back in the Champions League after a one-season absence, will play Milan, Girona, and Bayer Leverkusen, coached by former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. Manchester City, winners of the competition in 2023, will face Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, among others.
The number of clubs in the Champions League has increased from 32 to 36, with the participants split into four seeded pots of nine for the draw. Each team will face two teams from each of the four pots, one at home and one away. The first matches are set to be played in September, with two extra match days in January determining the top eight clubs who will advance directly to the last 16.
The remaining clubs ranked between ninth and 24th will go through to a play-off round, with the top eight sides from this emerging to join the last 16. The bottom 12 clubs will be eliminated from the competition, with no clubs dropping down into the Europa League as in the past. This new format aims to provide more competitive matchups and streamlined progression in the tournament.
Some standout head-to-head matchups in the league stage include Bayern Munich against PSG and Barcelona, as well as Arsenal facing Inter and Paris. The draw has set the stage for an exciting and competitive Champions League season, with top clubs vying for a spot in the knockout stages. With the changes in format and increased number of clubs, fans can expect more thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes.
As the league phase kicks off in September, football fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the battles between Europe’s elite clubs. The new format of the Champions League promises to bring a fresh and exciting dynamic to the tournament, with an emphasis on competitive matchups and a streamlined progression to the knockout stages. Stay tuned for all the action as the top clubs in Europe go head-to-head in the quest for Champions League glory.
