The 2024–25 UEFA Champions League 챔피언스리그 season has introduced significant changes to its format. This is the 70th season of Europe’s premier club competition and the first to feature a revamped structure.
Key Changes:
- New League Phase: The traditional group stage has been replaced. Now, 36 teams compete in a single league phase, with each team playing eight matches against different opponents (four home and four away). This shift away from groups to a larger, more integrated league structure provides more variety in matchups.
- Qualification: The same basic qualification method is retained, with clubs entering based on their domestic league performances. However, four additional slots are added, including spots for top-performing clubs from associations with the best results in the previous season’s European competitionsWikipediaUEFA.com.
- Knockout Rounds: The top 8 teams from the league phase automatically qualify for the round of 16. Teams ranked from 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to secure the remaining 8 spots. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated from the competitionFIFPlay.
- Key Dates:
- The league phase started in September 2024, and matches will run through January 2025.
- Knockout playoffs are scheduled for February, with the final to be held on May 31, 2025, at the Munich Football Arena in GermanyUEFA.com.
This new format aims to increase the excitement and competitiveness of the tournament, ensuring more high-stakes matches throughout the season.