The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is entering a new chapter for the 2024-25 season, with a revamped format promising more teams, more matches, and an intensified level of competition. The first step in this new era takes place on Thursday, August 29th, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco with the highly anticipated draw ceremony.
This draw marks a significant milestone for the Champions League, a ritual that fans eagerly anticipate. The traditional format of drawing balls from a bowl remains, but it will be complemented by a computer-driven process to ensure complete impartiality. UEFA’s football division has spent countless hours developing the new format, utilizing complex mathematical models and algorithms to create a balanced and engaging competition.
The group stage has been replaced by a single league comprising 36 teams – four more than the current 32. Each team will now play eight matches (up from six) against eight different opponents, determining who advances to the knockout phase. This new format aims to provide more teams with opportunities to reach the knockout rounds.
Following the league stage, the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 16th engage in two-legged knockout matches (home and away) to determine the remaining eight participants for the pre-quarterfinals. From this stage onwards, every knockout match, including the final, will be played over two legs (home and away) except for the final, which will be a single-leg tie.
The draw itself will see teams divided into four pots based on their seeding. Each team will play two opponents from each pot, one at home and one away. Once a team is selected from a pot, UEFA’s program will determine which of their eight opponents they will play at home or away. This format ensures more games between top teams, with teams like Manchester City potentially facing Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. The program prevents domestic rivals from playing each other, and each team is limited to playing two clubs from the same nation.
To ensure fairness, UEFA’s computer technology anticipates potential conflicts and ensures teams aren’t matched against opponents they are ineligible to play against.
Key Dates for the UEFA Champions League 2024-25:
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Group Stage:
* Matchday 1: 17-19 September 2024
* Matchday 2: 1-2 October 2024
* Matchday 3: 22-23 October 2024
* Matchday 4: 5-6 November 2024
* Matchday 5: 26-27 November 2024
* Matchday 6: 10-11 December 2024
* Matchday 7: 21-22 January 2025
* Matchday 8: 29 January 2025
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Knockout Stage:
* Knockout round play-offs: 11-12 and 18-19 February 2025
* Round of 16: 4-5 and 11-12 March 2025
* Quarterfinals: 8-9 and 15-16 April 2025
* Semifinals: 29-30 April and 6-7 May 2025
* Final: 31 May 2025, Munich
How to Watch the UEFA Champions League Draw:
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India:
The draw will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network and live streamed on Sony LIV. Sony Sports will also broadcast all Champions League matches throughout the season.*
United States:
The draw will be live streamed on Paramount+. CBS Broadcasting, which owns Paramount+, will broadcast all UCL matches in the USA.*
United Kingdom:
The draw will be broadcast on BBC Sport with expert analysis and live streamed on BBC iPlayer. BBC One will also show highlights later.*
