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Everything to know about new UEFA champions league format

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2 months ago

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UEFA has announced the new Champions League format, which will come into effect starting from the 2024-25 season.

The football governing body in Europe highlighted that the revised format prioritises selection based on playing “merit,” leading to top teams facing each other more often.

According to a statement released on UEFA’s website on Monday, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, said, “I am really pleased that it was a unanimous decision of the UEFA Executive Committee, with the European Club Association, European Leagues and national associations all agreeing with the proposal made. Another proof that European football is more united than ever.”

Below are the highlights of the new format, according to UEFA:

  • The current Champions League group stage features 32 teams split into eight groups of four. Starting from the 2024/25 season, 36 clubs are set to take part in the Champions League league phase (formerly known as the group stage), providing four additional teams with the chance to challenge Europe’s top clubs.
  • These 36 clubs will take part in a unified league competition where all 36 clubs are ranked together.
  • Teams will now compete in eight matches during the league phase, which was previously known as the group stage.
  • They are changing their schedule to play against eight different teams, with half of the matches at home and the other half away, instead of playing three opponents twice.
  • In order to identify the eight different opponents, the teams will first be ranked into four seeding pots. Every team will be drawn to compete against two opponents from each of these pots, facing one team from each pot at their home stadium and one away.

How will the four extra Champions League group stage spots be allocated?

  • Qualification for the Champions League will continue to be open and depend on a club’s final position in the previous season’s domestic league competition combined with each association’s position in the association club coefficient ranking.
  • The access list will maintain its current structure for the upcoming season, with an additional four slots being distributed for the 2024/25 season as outlined below:
  • Slot one: This place will go to the club ranked third in the championship of the association in fifth position in the access list, which is determined by the UEFA association club coefficient ranking.
  • Slot two: This place will be awarded to a domestic champion by extending from four to five the number of clubs qualifying via the Champions path of the competition’s qualifying process, which will consist of four qualifying rounds.
  • Slots three and four: These places will go to the associations with the best collective performance by their clubs in the previous season (i.e. the association club coefficient of the previous season, which is based on the total number of club coefficient points obtained by each club from an association divided by the number of participating clubs from that association). Those two associations will each earn one automatic place in the league phase (‘European Performance Spot’) for the club ranked next-best in their domestic league behind those clubs that have already qualified directly for the league phase.

How will teams reach the Champions League knockout phase and will the format for the knockout phase change?

  • Each match outcome will determine the final ranking in the league, following the traditional point system of three points for a win and one point for a draw.
  • The teams ranked in the top eight positions will secure direct qualification to the round of 16, while those placed between 9th and 24th will participate in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to earn their spot in the last 16 of the competition. If teams finish 25th or lower, they will be eliminated without any chance to participate in the UEFA Europa League.
  • The updated structure, where all teams are ranked in one league, will increase the stakes for every team until the last night of the league phase.
  • In the knockout phase, the teams which finished between 9th and 16th will be seeded in the knockout phase play-off draw, meaning they will face a team placed 17th to 24th – with, in principle, the return leg at home.
  • The eight clubs which prevail in the knockout phase play-offs will then progress to the round of 16, where they will each face one of the top-eight finishers, who will be seeded in the round of 16.
  • The pairings of the knockout phase will also be partly determined by the league phase rankings, with a draw which likewise determines and lays out the route for teams to reach the final.
  • From the round of 16 onwards, the competition will continue to follow its existing format of knockout rounds leading to the final staged at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.
  • All games before the final will continue to be played in midweek, recognising the importance of the domestic calendar of games across Europe, while the final will continue to be played on a Saturday.

Will the Europa League and Europa Conference League formats change from 2024/25 too?

  • In a similar manner, adjustments will be made to the UEFA Europa League (eight matches against eight different opponents in the league phase) and UEFA Europa Conference League, which will be known as the UEFA Conference League starting from 2024/25 (six matches against six different opponents in the league phase). Both tournaments will include 36 teams in the league phase.

How will the calendar look for the new format of the three competitions?

  • The matches for the Champions League and Europa League are scheduled from September to January, with the Europa Conference League matches set to take place from September to December. Every UEFA club competition will feature a unique matchweek, with the other two competitions not having any matches during that time.
  • During a standard week, Champions League games are scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with Europa League and Europa Conference League matches taking place on Thursdays.
  • During the Champions League exclusive week, matches will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
  • During the Europa League exclusive week, matches are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. During the Europa Conference League week, matches will be held on Thursday.
  • During the final matchday of each league phase, all games will be played at the same time.

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European Leagues

Juventus fire Allegri after cup final antics

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10 hours ago

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May 17, 2024

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Juventus have sacked Massimiliano Allegri two days after he led the side to the Italian Cup. The Turin side beat Atalanta 1-0 in Rome,

Juventus have sacked Massimiliano Allegri two days after he led the side to the Italian Cup.

The Turin side beat Atalanta 1-0 in Rome, but Allegri was sent off late on for ranting at match officials and waving away sporting director during the celebrations.

The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into Allegri.

And yesterday ,Juventus confirmed he was no longer their boss.

“The dismissal follows certain behaviors during and after the Italian Cup final which the club deemed incompatible with the values of

Juventus and with the behavior that those who represent it must adopt,” a statement read.

Juve’s 1-0 win over Atalanta, thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s early goal, gave Allegri a record fifth Coppa Italia as a manager.

“If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations,” he said in the post-match news conference.

Even before his antics at the Stadio Olimpico, the 56-year-old had been expected to lose his job and be replaced by Bologna coach Thiago Motta.

But now he will not be there for the final two Serie A games against Bologna and Monza.

“The company wishes Massimiliano Allegri good luck in his future projects,” ended the statement..

Allegri was in charge of Juventus from 2014 until 2019, winning the title in each of his five seasons, as well as four Italian Cups and reaching the Champions League final twice.

He left by mutual consent at the end of the 2018-19 season – and did not work again for two years, until he was re-appointed as Juventus manager at the start of 2021-22.

However his second spell failed to live up to the first and Wednesday’s Italian Cup was their only silverware in that time.

They finished fourth and seventh in his two full seasons – and currently sit fourth.

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Juventus nearly sacked Allegri after Italian Cup row

Published

13 hours ago

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May 17, 2024

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Massimiliano Allegri was close to being sacked by Juventus after exploding with anger during his team’s midweek Italian Cup triumph

Massimiliano Allegri was close to being sacked by Juventus after exploding with anger during his team’s midweek Italian Cup triumph, according to widespread reports in local media.

Juventus won their 15th Italian Cup on Wednesday night but Allegri burst into a rage, first being sent off in the final minutes after ranting at match officials and then waving away sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli during the post-match celebrations.

And Juve are now set to fire Allegri, who was already widely rumoured to be replaced by Bologna coach Thiago Motta in the summer, with two matches of the season remaining.

Juventus sit fourth in Serie A after collecting just 15 points in their last 15 league matches. They are at Bologna on Monday night. The two are teams level on 67 points and both have already qualified for next season’s revamped Champions League.

Italian media reported that Juve are evaluating whether to dismiss Allegri with just cause for his behaviour on Wednesday night, when he is also alleged to have manhandled and threatened the chief editor of newspaper Tuttosport before the post-match press conference.

Such a move would potentially save the club from paying Allegri the remaining year of his contract, which is worth around seven million euros before bonuses.

The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into Allegri, who on Wednesday almost accidentally confirmed that this season would be his last at the Turin giants.

Allegri was on Thursday given an automatic two-match ban in the cup for his straight red card but could receive further punishment.

 

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Man City move close to history – thanks to unlikely hero Romero

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3 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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Manchester City saw an unlikely hero emerge from their galaxy of superstars to make a potentially defining contribution in their pursuit of

Manchester City saw an unlikely hero emerge from their galaxy of superstars to make a potentially defining contribution in their pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola rightly acted with caution when he removed keeper Ederson, with City leading 1-0, after he suffered a nasty blow to the head in a heavy collision at the foot of his post with Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.

Ederson, who had a problem with his eye, did not look happy with the decision – taken upon advice from the club doctor – but his manager was perfectly justified, not just acting in the best interests of the Brazilian keeper but also because he has complete trust in his replacement Stefan Ortega.

And in a 21-minute cameo of the highest quality, Ortega – who has performed with distinction every time he has deputised for Ederson this season – may well have rubber-stamped City’s sixth title in seven seasons.

When the final whistle sounded and the club stood one win away from being champions again, Guardiola headed straight for Ortega and greeted the German with a kiss on the cheek for his crucial contribution. It was richly deserved.

Guardiola did not hold back with the praise as he said: “Ortega is a world-class goalkeeper. An exceptional, exceptional goalkeeper. Ederson did not have concussion, he had a problem with his eye. He could not see properly so the doctor said I should change.”

Spurs made a complete mockery of the cynics who suggested they may ease off because any sort of positive result could potentially give rivals Arsenal their first Premier League title in 20 years.

Ange Postecoglou’s fifth-placed side were fully committed in chasing a goal of their own as they went after a place in the Champions League and it was not for any lack of effort as they came so close to upsetting City’s traditional title charge. They were left disappointed in the end as defeat confirmed Aston Villa’s fourth-placed finish and they will now join European football’s top table.

Ortega’s impact was instant, denying Spurs substitute Dejan Kulusevski with a good save and then the same player shortly afterwards as City almost paid the price for a performance that was not one of their best.

The biggest moment came in the closing minutes, with City clinging on to a one-goal lead, when Son Heung-min collected the ball and raced clear with only Ortega to beat. It was the sort of opportunity the South Korean has taken with aplomb so many times in his Spurs career.

BBC

 

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