RIP to the group matches, the groups and the round-trips that have thrilled us so much in recent years in the Champions League... As of the 2024-2025 season, UEFA is changing its format, with a host of changes that you'd do well to understand before watching the matches! With the draw taking place this Thursday, August 29, let's take a look at what 's new and what you need to know to follow your club in this renowned European competition!
The number of participating clubs has already been increased from 32 to 36, so there will be even more matches! No more pool matches, then, but a form of European championship, in addition to the national ones, with a similar points system accumulating for each match. No more groups either, with one and the same ranking, but teams divided into 4 hats according to their place in the national championship.
Each club will meet eight different clubs and play eight matches, compared with six up to now, with real clashes on the program, four away and four at home. A place in the top 16 will be required to have any hope of progressing to the last 16, with 8 automatically qualifying, and a further 8 having to make the play-offs, between 9th and 24th place. For the others, however, it's a case of direct elimination, with no chance of reaching the Europa League.
The draw has also changed, and is now carried out by a software program to avoid taking three hours. As for the rules, a club cannot play against a team from its own league, nor against more than two teams from another league. For the final phase, it's back to the drawing board, with a seeded system, but fortunately there are two-legged matches for a final on May 31, 2025!
While this new system changes many things, it has enabled France to unlock new quotas to compete in the Champions League, thanks to 5th place in the UEFA index, with four clubs! This year, Paris-Saint-Germain, Monaco, Brest and Lille have qualified, and a fifth could join them next season if they perform well.
Champions League: full draw for the first phase for PSG and our French clubs
The opponents of Paris-Saint-Germain and our three other French clubs are now known for this new version of the Champions League. No mean feat! [Read more]
Champions League: full draw for the first phase for PSG and our French clubs
