New structures for the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League have caused a stir in UEFA’s big club championships.
We realise that some people may find it to be challenging and even confusing. Although the minds behind this modification of strategies for European football are optimistic that it will be beneficial.
Let’s examine how it will function!
Champions League’s New Format: 36-Team League Phase Replaces Group Stage
| Old format | New format |
| 32-team group stage | 36-team league phase |
| Eight groups of four teams | Single league format |
| Six games vs three teams (three home, three away) | Eight games vs eight teams (four home, four away) |
| Top two in each group qualifies | Top eight qualify + winners of play-off |
There will be a 36-team league phase under the new Champions League structure in place of the previous 32-team group stage.
There are going to be eight different opponents that each of the 36 teams will face against; four of the games will take place at home and four away. A seeding procedure determine which team will face each other in the draw.
As per the standard protocol, three points awarded for a win, one point for a toe and zero points for a loss.
Champions League Knockout Format
The top 8 reached to Round of 16.
Play-offs are for teams which place 9th to 24th in the tournament.
Champions of the Play-Offs compete in the final 16 rounds.
The format remained unchanged since the last 16 rounds
The top 8 league clubs advance straight to the knockout round’s round of 16.
There will be a knockout phase play-off between the clubs that place ninth through 24th in the league phase. Teams placing ninth through sixteen will receive seeds for the draw. Those placing seventeenth through twenty-fourth will not receive any.
The top 8 clubs from the league phase will face the 8 winners of the knockout phase play-off in the round of sixteen.
The Champions League format is unchanged from 16 rounds onwards. The quarterfinals and semifinals are followed by a final in a neutral location.
Bottom 12 Teams Eliminated in New UEFA Format
The bottom 12 teams will completely eliminated from the UEFA Club Tournament. Third-place teams in the groups do not have the option to drop down into the Europa League.
