Real Madrid, the reigning champions, will travel to Liverpool and host Borussia Dortmund in the league stage of the revamped Champions League. This matchup is a repeat of last season’s final, adding excitement to the draw held on Thursday.
New Format Unveiled
The new format features each team playing eight games against different opponents. All 36 clubs are pooled into one league, moving away from the traditional group format.
Star-studded Lineup for Madrid
Madrid, fresh off signing France superstar Kylian Mbappe, will also host AC Milan and travel to Atalanta. Earlier this month, Madrid defeated Atalanta, the Europa League champions, in the UEFA Super Cup.
Liverpool’s Return
Liverpool, returning to the Champions League after a one-season absence, will face Milan and Girona. However, the Anfield faithful are most excited about hosting Bayer Leverkusen, led by former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
City’s Challenge
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, winners of the 2023 competition, will face Inter Milan at home and travel to both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. Their group also includes less formidable opponents like Club Brugge, Sparta Prague, and Slovan Bratislava.
Other standout fixtures include Bayern Munich versus PSG and Barcelona, as well as Arsenal against Inter and Paris.
Expanded Tournament
The number of clubs has increased from 32 to 36, divided into four seeded pots of nine. Each team will face two opponents from each pot, one at home and one away. The opening matches are set for September 17, 18, and 19.
Knockout Phase Explained
The top eight teams from the league phase will advance directly to the last 16. Teams ranked between ninth and 24th will compete in a playoff round, with the winners progressing to the last 16. The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated, with no Europa League drop-down.
Europa League and Conference League Updates
The Europa League and Conference League, with their draws on Friday, will also expand to 36 clubs. The Conference League will feature six matchdays in its league phase.
