As domestic football kicks off across Europe, the excitement for the UEFA Champions League is reaching another level. This season is starting strong with a new, revamped format that’s more unpredictable and thrilling, marking a new era of Europe’s premier club tournament. 

What is the new Champions League format?

Traditionally, the Champions League would have 32 teams divided into eight groups. This year, with a total of 36 teams in the line-up and the number of matches increasing from 125 to 189, all eyes are on the Champions League. The new format allows each team to play against eight different opponents in the group stage- four at home and four away. The top eight teams will enter the next round, while the teams between the ranks 9 and 24 will fight it out in a play-off match to secure their spot in the last 16. Teams ranking after 25 will be eliminated from the tournament. Based on their UEFA club coefficients at the start of the season, teams will be divided into four pots. Each team will play against two teams from the pots. Clubs from the same country will not be able to face each other in the league phase.

This year’s draw will use automated software to randomly group eight players to each team rather than footballers drawing balls from pots. The reason for a new format in the first place, is to secure the future of European football and to increase the appeal of the tournament. The new format offers high-stakes games for the viewers to enjoy with balanced matchups with similar skill sets by involving more European teams. This new format is called the ‘Swiss Model’. 

Teams to Watch out for

This season has both familiar faces and new competitors. Real Madrid, with Kylin Mbappe now in the team, is once again among the favorites. The defending champions secured their 15th title last season and seem like they’re aiming for another to add to their list. However, the new format could pose unpredictable setbacks for them.

Manchester City, who almost made it to the final last time, and Barcelona, under their new coach Hansi Flick, are other remarkable teams to look out for. Arsenal and Liverpool cannot be ruled out either as they could surely be a surprise package with the new Champions League format. Serie A and Bundesliga also have strong contenders with Inter Milan, Juventus, Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Statistical Breakdown

Access to real-time statistics is very important for fans and analysts alike. Data Sports Group, a football data provider offers broad, in-depth coverage of every match. We provide comprehensive statistics that can be used to analyze the performance of the team, the contributions of players, and overall results throughout the tournament. You can get all the information you need within seconds. 

Every little detail of the game is captured, ranging from goals and assists to possession percentage, shot accuracy, and a lot of other key metrics. Our live data feed offers all the information with minimum latency. Our sports data service helps you form a deeper understanding of the performance of each team by providing you with all the information you need, ahead of the game. 

You can stay ahead of the game by getting access to the most trustworthy, current, and credible statistics available with our sports data services. 

Who Has Qualified for the Champions League?

The qualifying rounds have already been completed and many teams have landed their spots in the group stage. While teams from Bundesliga and Serie A have earned extra spots because of their strong performance in last season’s UEFA tournament, Brest from Ligue 1 and Girona from La Liga will make their European debuts this season. 

Here’s a look at the pots as they currently stand:

• Pot 1: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Barcelona
• Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Arsenal, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, Milan
• Pot 3: Feyenoord, Sporting CP, PSV Eindhoven, Celtic, Dinamo Zagrez, FC Salzburg, Lille, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys
• Pot 4: Monaco, Aston Villa, Bologna, Girona, VfB Stuttgart, Sturm Graz, Brest, Sparta Prague, Slovan Bratislava

The Champions League’s league phase will extend into January. The extended timeline indicates the escalated intensity of the tournament.

Key Dates

• Group Stage: September 17, 2024 – January 29, 2025
• Knockout Round Play-offs: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025
• Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
• Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
• Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025
• Final: May 31, 2025, at Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

This Champions League season seems to be very promising and unforgettable, with the new format offering more matches, varied players in different teams, and even more anticipation. Stay tuned for Data Sports Group’s in-depth statistical insights and breakdowns, powered by cutting-edge live football data feed. Stay informed with our sports data services.