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Andrew Cesare Richardson

The Uefa Champions League returns on Tuesday, or early on Wednesday for those of us in Hong Kong, but the 2024-25 competition has a revamped format that is completely different from previous editions.
After a big rebranding in 1992, the format had generally been that of a group stage consisting of a total of eight matches per group, with four teams playing home and away, before entering a knockout stage.
In 1992-93, it was two groups with the winners meeting in the final, then came a semi-final before a first quarter-final of the Champions League era was introduced in 1994-95. In 1999, there was even the brief introduction of a second group phase.
Since 2003-04, there have been eight groups of four with two qualifying to the round of 16, followed by the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final. But not any more.
Now, it’s the “Swiss model”. But how exactly will it play out? Let’s take a look.

Since 1999-2000, the number of teams has been 32 in the group phase, but that has now increased by four. And the group phase is no more. It has been replaced by a league phase.
Previously, the 32 sides were split into four pots, sorted according to Uefa coefficient rankings, and each allocated a different group, with each side playing each other home and away.
That system has come under criticism in recent years because of its perceived predictability with a lack of surprises, with matches where the big teams often rest players and, too frequently, a set of meaningless games on the final match day.
However, now all 36 teams are one giant league. As in previous years, teams are separated into seedings but, crucially, each side will take on two opponents from each pot – including from their own seed – with no home and away.
It means we have Manchester City against Inter Milan, a repeat of the 2023 Champions League final, in the opening round of fixtures, while Bayern Munich will take on Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool face Real Madrid in a repeat of numerous finals.
Each team has four matches at home and four away, but now against eight different opponents rather than the three others in their group.
The first match day will be played across three nights with the Europa League not yet kicking off, and match days two to seven played across two nights, as in previous campaigns.
Match day eight, however, will see a veritable feast of football, and the risk of utter chaos, with all 18 games taking place at the same time.

And in a further break from tradition, the final two sets of matches will take place in January, which means there is no real break from continental football in Europe. Up until 2024-25, the group stages would finish in December with the knockout stages not returning until February
At the end of proceedings, teams will be ranked from one to 36 with the top eight progressing automatically to the knockout stage and those finishing from 25th to 36th eliminated.
Teams finishing from ninth to 24th will then compete in a two-legged play-off to reach the last eight, with teams placed ninth to 16th seeded and therefore playing the second leg at home.
Another major change from previous seasons is that there will be no Europa League reprieve. In the past, third place in the group meant dropping down to Europe’s secondary competition.
From the knockout stage onwards, starting with a round of 16, there are no major changes from previous campaigns and the kick-off times remain the same.
The Europa League and Europe’s third competition, the Uefa Europa Conference League, will be played in the same format.
UCL fixtures (all times Hong Kong): Wednesday – Juventus v PSV Eindhoven, Young Boys v Aston Villa (12.45am), Real Madrid v Stuttgart, Bayern Munich v Dinamo Zagreb, Sporting v Lille, Milan v Liverpool (3am). Thursday – Bologna v Shakhtar Donetsk, Sparta Prague v RB Salzburg (12.45am), PSG v Girona, Club Brugge v Borussia Dortmund, Celtic v Slovan Bratislava, Man City v Inter (3am). Friday – Red Star Belgrade v Benfica, Feyenoord v Bayer Leverkusen (12.45am), Brest v Sturm Graz, Atalanta v Arsenal, Atletico Madrid v RB Leipzig, Monaco v Barcelona (3am)


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Uefa Champions League

Uefa Champions League winners Real Madrid will be defending their trophy under a totally different format in 2024/25. Photo: AP

The 2024-25 Champions League begins with a league phase that pits the big guns against one another. Photo: AFP

Who will be the first team to lift the Uefa Champions League under the new ‘Swiss model’ format? Photo: AFP

Could superstar Cristiano Ronaldo add AFC Champions League to massive list of accolades?

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to add the Asian Champions League to the staggering list of accolades collected throughout his career. Photo: Reuters

Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli signed Ivan Toney from Brentford for $45 million last month. Photo: Reuters

United Arab Emirates side Al Ain celebrate winning the 2024 Asian Champions League. Photo: Reuters

Manchester City hearing over 115 charges for financial breaches in Premier League begins

Manchester City stand accused of bending financial rules to their will while on the rise to their current status as the dominant force in English football. Photo: EPA-EFE

Roberto Mancini managed Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2012. Photo: Getty Images

If City are found guilty, they could lose striker Erling Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola. Photo: Reuters

English Premier League: Man Utd lift mood by easing to victory at 10-man Southampton

Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt (centre) celebrates with team mates after scoring his side’s first goal against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. Photo: DPA

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford puts the ball past the despairing dive of Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Goodbye groups, hello league: from 32 to 36 teams, matches in January and an extra play off round – a look at the new system


Goodbye groups, hello league: from 32 to 36 teams, matches in January and an extra play off round – a look at the new system.
