New structures for the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League have caused a stir in big club championships of UEFA.
We realize 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 teams advance directly to the Round of 16. Additionally, teams ranked 9th to 24th enter the play-offs. The play-off winners will compete in the Round of 16. The format remains the same from the last 16 rounds onwards. Consequently, the top 8 league clubs secure automatic advancement to the knockout round.
Moreover, teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in a knockout phase play-off. Teams finishing 9th to 16th receive seeds for the draw, while 17th to 24th do not. As a result, the top 8 league teams face the 8 play-off winners in the Round of 16. Finally, the Champions League format stays the same until the final, including the quarterfinals and semifinals.
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.
