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With the revamped version of the competition expected to feature 36 teams and an increased number of matches from 125 to 189 matches, you could describe it as a new wine in an old bottle.
As explained in our well-detailed blog article, each team will play against eight different opponents in the opening round, four at home and the other four away from home, in a total of 8 games.
While the top eight sides will automatically qualify for the next round, the teams finishing in 9th place to 24th will go head-to-head in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last 16.
The Serie A and Bundesliga were rewarded with an extra spot in next season’s Champions League based on their performances in Europe.
Unless otherwise stated, the top five teams from both leagues will be rewarded with an automatic spot in the UEFA Champions League going forward.
Bologna, who finished in fifth place in Serie A, benefited from the new directive, while UCL finalists Dortmund picked up the final spot in Germany’s top flight.
While Bologna can be considered inexperienced on European soil, last season’s finalists, Dortmund, are no strangers to the competition. Together, both sides will compete with 34 others for European club bragging rights.
Defending champions Real Madrid walked away with a record 15th UCL title last season and will be looking to do the unthinkable again by picking up a 16th title.
Will the new format unsettle the Whites and prevent them from retaining the UEFA Champions League title? Or will the Mbappe-included side pick up another UCL title and retain the crown as the Kings of Europe?
While you are eagerly awaiting the draws, join us as we try to answer the most nagging questions about the tournament in our UEFA Champions League preview.
Which teams have qualified for league phase?
While a host of others are yet to seal qualification, a handful of teams have already qualified for the UCL league phase. Among them are UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta, Premier League winners Manchester City, and runners-up Arsenal.
Liverpool and an Unai Emery-led Aston Villa are also among the many.
UCL Champions Real Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, and Atletico Madrid from Spain are in, while Bundesliga champions Leverkusen are on the list along with Stuttgart, Bayern, Leipzig, and Dortmund.
Inter Milan, AC Milan, Bologna, and Juventus also qualified for the UCL.
In Ligue 1, whose API we also provide, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, and Brest emerged as participants for the upcoming competition.
PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord will be competing in the tournament, along with Sporting CP. Club Brugge from Belgium, Celtic from Scotland, and Austria’s Sturm Graz also form the lot.
Shakhtar Donetsk are in as a result of Champions League winner rebalancing, while Benfica qualified as a result of Europa League winner rebalancing.
What will the pots look like?
Pot One: Man City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Barcelona.
Pot Two: Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atlanta, Juventus, Benfica, Arsenal, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, and AC Milan.
Pot Three: Feyenoord, Sporting CP, PSV, Lille*, PAOK*, Young Boys*, Celtic, Galatasaray*, and Union SG*
Pot Four: Midtylland*, AS Monaco, Sparta Prague*, Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, Stuttgart, Sturm Graz, and Stade Brestois.
Marked with *, these are clubs yet to advance through the qualifying rounds.
Who are the favourites to win the UEFA Champions League?
Despite the new format, Real Madrid will always be prime contenders for the UEFA Champions League title.
The Whites picked up the Decimoquinta last season after a 2-0 win in the UCL final against Dortmund, having gone past Leipzig, Manchester City, and Bayern.
Real Madrid secured the signatures of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, having played with a false nine for the majority of last season, thanks to Carlo Ancelotti’s ingenuity.
Madrid, however, won’t be the only ones relishing the possibility of taking hold of the Big Ears once again.
Domestic rivals Barcelona will certainly be a force to be reckoned with, especially with new boss Hansi Flick at the helm.
Having taken over from Xavi following a failed U-turn to remain at the club, the former Bayern Munich coach will be keen to repeat his success with the Bavarians following a treble in 2019/20.
Meanwhile, City’s quarter-final clash with Madrid last season could have easily been the final. The explosive encounter had left both sides in a 4-4 draw before Madrid emerged as winners via penalty.
If any club in the Premier League is capable of snatching the UCL title, it is surely Manchester City.
But don’t write off Arsenal! An unfortunate meeting with Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals ended their European campaign last time out. However, with year-on-year improvements, Arsenal could be the surprise package of the new Champions League format.
Or could it be Liverpool? New boss Arne Slot will be under immense pressure to steer Liverpool to a respectable domestic finish in his debut season with the club. But bringing European success so soon back to the club is a big ask.
Now without Kylian Mbappe, PSG is not expected to pose any formidable threat on European soil. However, having seen odd errors lead to goals last season, Les Parisiens forked out €20 million for 25-year-old Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
Bayer Leverkusen and Dortmund will, of course, be contenders after an impressive campaign last season on the domestic and European front respectively.
Despite a change of manager, with Nuri Şahin at the helm, the Black & Yellows will be keen to go as far as the final once again. Edin Terzic had walked out of the club after asking for his contract to be terminated.
Elsewhere, surprise appointment Vincent Kompany will be hoping to prove doubters wrong when he leads Bayern Munich out on their European campaign. Continuity will surely be the Achilles’ heel for both Bayern and Dortmund.
Did we leave anyone out? Surely, predicting the winner of the UEFA Champions League is a fool’s errand, especially as we enter the uncharted territory of the UCL’s new format.
When are the league-stage matches?
Matchday 1: September 17–19, 2024
Matchday 2: October 1/2, 2024
Matchday 3: October 22/23, 2024
>Matchday 4: November 5/6, 2024
atchday 5: November 26/27, 2024
Matchday 6: December 10/11, 2024
Matchday 7: January 21/22, 2025
Matchday 8: January 29, 2025
When will the knockout stages begin?
The dates for the Knockout Round play-offs are: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025.
Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025.
Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025.
Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025.
Final: May 31, 2025.
When will the final be played?
The final will be played on May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
What will the UCL winners Qualify for?
Apart from becoming winners of the maiden edition of the new UCL format, the winners of the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League will automatically qualify for the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League group league phase, the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, which will also be in a new format.
They will also earn the right to play against the winners of the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League in the 2025 UEFA Super Cup.
What do you make of our predictions?
While we enjoyed giving you the juicy bits and pieces of what is to come in the UEFA Champions League, we would also like to know what you made of our predictions.
Follow us on LinkedIn to give feedback and read interesting know-hows. Also, watch out for our feature-packed newsletters.
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