The UEFA Champions League is set to kick off its 2024-25 season with a new format and expanded participation. For the first time, 36 teams will compete in the tournament, aimed at providing more opportunities for top clubs to face each other.
Previously, the Champions League featured 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, where the top two in each group advanced to the knockout stage. Now, the competition will consist of a “league phase,” where each team will play eight matches against different opponents in a home-and-away format. The eight top-placed teams will move directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will enter a playoff round to secure the remaining spots.
As a result, the total number of matches will escalate from 125 to 189. UEFA believes that this revamped format allows clubs to face a wider variety of opponents and increases the likelihood of fans witnessing more intense matchups earlier in the tournament.
The draw for the league stage was conducted on August 29, leading to several high-stakes matches, including a clash between holders Real Madrid and Liverpool, as well as a rematch of the previous season’s final with Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
Manchester City, which won the tournament in 2023, will face notable opponents such as Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. Aston Villa is also making its Champions League debut, drawing matches against iconic teams like Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Among the newcomers are French club Brest, participating in any European competition for the very first time, facing daunting fixtures against Madrid and Barcelona. Girona will also compete for the first time, challenging Liverpool and Arsenal.
The league-phase matches will occur from September to January, extending the schedule into the holiday season for the first time. Key matches to watch include Arsenal’s clash with PSG on October 1 and Liverpool’s encounter with Bayer Leverkusen on November 5.
Knockout stages will begin in February, with the quarterfinals set for April and the final scheduled for May 31, 2025, at the Munich Football Arena.
Real Madrid is viewed as a leading contender for the title, bolstered by a talented squad including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. Other strong competitors include Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.
This season, the financial stakes are also higher, with total prize money increasing by about 25% to nearly 2.5 billion euros, granting winners over 86 million euros in rewards. Fans can stay updated with the latest news and live commentary throughout the Champions League season.