Champions League Draw: Key Details on the New Format

The revamped Champions League draw is set to occur today at 5 p.m. (UK time) on Thursday. For the 2024/25 season, the tournament has undergone significant changes, expanding from 32 to 36 clubs.

The most notable shift is the transition from the traditional group stage to a single league phase, where all participating teams will compete against each other.

This overhaul increases the number of fixtures from 125 to 189, and the league phase will conclude at the end of January, extending beyond the usual December finish.

Teams will play 17 matches throughout the competition. Each club will face eight different opponents—four home and four away—ensuring a minimum of eight league-stage games, compared to the previous format of six matches against three teams.

The top eight teams will advance directly to the knockout stages, while those finishing in 9th to 24th place will enter a two-legged play-off for a spot in the last 16. Teams ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated from the tournament.