The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 is set to kick off on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, with two exciting matches: Juventus vs PSV and Young Boys vs Aston Villa, both starting at 10:15 PM. This season brings a major change to the tournament, as UEFA has introduced a new format that will see 36 teams competing instead of the usual 32. This format was approved back in 2022 and is now being implemented for the first time.
One of the biggest changes is the removal of the traditional group stage. Instead, all 36 teams will play in a single league phase, providing four additional teams the opportunity to compete against Europeâs elite. In this new setup, all 36 clubs are ranked together in one large league.
During the league phase, each team will play eight matches. Unlike the previous format, where teams played against three opponents twice (home and away), teams will now face eight different opponents. Four of those matches will be at home, and the other four will be away.
The opponents were chosen using a seeding system, where teams were divided into four pots based on their rankings. Each team will play two opponents from each pot, ensuring they face a variety of competitors both at home and away.
Points will be awarded in the usual manner: three points for a win and one point for a draw. At the end of this phase, the top eight teams in the league will qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th place will enter a two-legged play-off to fight for a spot in the round of 16. Unfortunately, teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from the competition without a chance to enter the Europa League.
From the round of 16 onwards, the Champions League will return to its familiar knockout format, with teams battling through two-legged ties to reach the final, which will be held at a neutral venue.
This new format promises to bring more excitement and opportunities for clubs across Europe.
The 36 teams in this yearâs Champions League are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atalanta, Atletico de Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Bayern Munchen, Benfica, Bologna, Brest, Celtic FC, Club Brugge, Crvena Zvezda, Feyenoord, Girona, GNK Dinamo, Inter Milan, Juventus, Leipzig Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Liverpool, Manchester City, Milan, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, SK Slovan Bratislava, Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sparta Praha, Sporting CP, Sturm Graz, Stuttgart, Young Boys.
Where to watch UEFA Champions League 2024-25
The live streaming of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 will be on SonyLiv App and website. The UEFA Champions League will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network.
