How is the new format of the UEFA Champions League?

With the growing popularity of football worldwide, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has decided to implement a new format for the UEFA Champions League starting in the 2024/25 season. The goal is to increase the number of matches for fans to enjoy and create more opportunities for major clubs to meet earlier in the competition. How does the new system work, and how does it compare to the previous format? This article by V9Bet will help you find out.

The New UEFA Champions League Format with 36 Teams, Starting 2024-25 Season

The new UEFA Champions League format for the 2024/25 season will see the number of participating teams increase from 32 to 36. Additionally, UEFA has revamped the group stage system, replacing it with a league format where each team plays 8 matches. The teams will face different opponents without home and away legs, intensifying the competition. This change increases the number of matches from 125 to 189 throughout the tournament.

Teams ranked 1-8 will automatically advance to the round of 16, while those ranked 9-24 will compete in a playoff for the remaining spots. Teams ranked 25-36 will be eliminated without qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. After the playoffs, the competition will return to its traditional knockout format, culminating in the final at the Allianz Arena on May 31, 2025.

List of 36 teams participating in the UCL season 2024/25

• Manchester City (England)
• Arsenal (England)
• Liverpool (England)
• Aston Villa (England)
• Real Madrid (Spain)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• Girona (Spain)
• Atletico Madrid (Spain)
• Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
• Stuttgart (Germany)
• Bayern Munich (Germany)
• RB Leipzig (Germany)
• Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
• Inter Milan (Italy)
• AC Milan (Italy)
• Juventus (Italy)
• Bologna (Italy)
• Atalanta (Italy)
• Paris Saint-Germain (France)
• AS Monaco (France)
• Brest (France)
• Lille (France)
• PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
• Feyenoord (Netherlands)
• Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
• Benfica (Portugal)
• Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
• Sturm Graz (Austria)
• Club Brugge (Belgium)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
• Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
• Young Boys (Switzerland)
• Glasgow Celtic (Scotland)
• Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
• Sparta Prague (Czech)

Summary of UEFA Champions League Seeding for the New 2024-2025 Format

The seeding system will play a crucial role in the new format of the UEFA Champions League. The seeding process divides teams into four pots, with each pot consisting of four teams. This arrangement allows stronger teams in higher pots to face easier competition in the league stage, which is different from the previous format where top teams might be grouped together early on.

Teams will play eight matches in the league stage. Each club will be matched against eight different teams, with no home-and-away games. Teams will face two clubs from each pot, play four home matches, and travel for four away games. Clubs from the same country won't meet in the league stage, and each team will face opponents from no more than two other countries.

In the 2024-2025 draw, UEFA will use an advanced computer system called "AE Live" to ensure a fair and random draw. Auditors from Ernst & Young will verify the process for accuracy.

Pot 1

• Real Madrid
• Manchester City
• Bayern Munich
• Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
• Liverpool
• Inter Milan
• Borussia Dortmund
• RB Leipzig
• Barcelona

Pot 2

• Bayer Leverkusen
• Atlético Madrid
• Atalanta
• Juventus
• Benfica
• Arsenal
• Club Brugge
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• AC Milan

Pot 3

• Feyenoord
• Sporting Lisbon
• PSV Eindhoven
• Dinamo Zagreb
• Red Bull Salzburg
• Lille
• Red Star Belgrade
• Young Boys
• Celtic

Pot 4

• Slovan Bratislava
• AS Monaco
• Sparta Prague
• Aston Villa
• Bologna
• Girona
• Stuttgart
• Sturm Graz
• Brest

Enhance the Excitement and Let Fans Enjoy UEFA Champions League to the Fullest

Stay updated with the new UEFA Champions League format and all 189 matches at V9Bet. Simply sign up for a new membership today to receive a lifetime privilege of free live football streaming. In addition to the prestigious European competition, you can also follow the Europa League and Conference League. But that's not all—we also deliver football matches from around the world 24/7, including top European leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, as well as fast-growing leagues like Major League Soccer (USA) and the Saudi Pro League. All games are broadcasted in high-quality Full HD, free of charge.

Revealing the Top 4 Favorites for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League: Who’s Got the Best Chances?

The top contender for the 2024/25 Champions League is still up for debate. Some remain confident that defending champions Real Madrid, who have won the trophy 15 times, will once again claim glory at Allianz Arena, especially with the addition of superstar Kylian Mbappé to their attacking lineup. However, Premier League fans believe Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will make a strong comeback and win the title, as they have remained unbeaten in 50 consecutive matches across all competitions.

The third favorite is a bit of a surprise but worth rooting for—Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta. The team has shown remarkable improvement, and despite their historical struggles in European competitions, this season, the “Gunners” seem ready to take on any challenge. Lastly, Bayern Munich, who had a disappointing season last year, are the fourth favorites. The German giants, filled with European experience and now performing well under Vincent Kompany, are determined to play in the final at their home stadium. 

Read more >> Gerard Piqué, Former Spanish Star, Makes Early Champions League Prediction

Enjoy the Thrill and Excitement of Betting on the UEFA Champions League with V9Bet

Not only do V9Bet members enjoy free live streaming privileges, but they also have the opportunity to earn extra income at any time through two betting platforms: Inplay Matrix and SABA Sports. What sets us apart is our higher odds, a wide variety of betting options, and a minimum bet as low as 10 baht. You can even sell your bet slips anytime. Sign up today and receive a 100% bonus of up to 3,000 baht, along with free spins or a 50% cashback on losses.

Conclusion

The new UEFA Champions League format is incredibly exciting. Not only does it offer more matches for fans to enjoy, but it also provides smaller clubs with a better chance to reach the knockout stages. Importantly, every game matters, meaning there’s no room for teams to rotate players thinking they’re already through. This makes every match thrilling, and V9Bet is ready to deliver all the action straight to your smartphone for free.