Champions League 2024/ 2025

[Stephen230]

UEFA have confirmed the format for the season after next’s Champions League.

4 x 9 team groups based on coefficients at the end of ‘23/‘24.

Everyone plays other teams in the group once. 4X home. 4 X away.

Possibility that countries with 4 or more teams in the competition could have two teams in the same group.

One 36 team league table is produced at the end of qualifying dependent on results.

Teams ranked 1-8 go straight through to the last 16.

Teams ranked 9-24 play off to make up the other 8 teams in the last 16.

Teams ranked 25-36 are out of Europe. No Europa drop back.

The knockout stages will comprise what they are calling a ‘tennis format’ That is the whole knockout stages are mapped out in advance based on seedlings earned exclusively in the group stages.

So seeds 1 and 2 can not meet before the final. Or indeed any two teams in opposite halves of the draw.

No longer any protection for teams from the same country meeting in any knockout rounds.

The intention is to produce less dead rubbers in the group stages. As the higher seeding you earn, the easier your passage through the knockout stages should be.

 

[deano ou812]

What a load of bollocks ..

 

[bluenova]

UEFA have confirmed the format for the season after next’s Champions League.

4 x 9 team groups based on coefficients at the end of ‘23/‘24.

Everyone plays other teams in the group once. 4X home. 4 X away.

Possibility that countries with 4 or more teams in the competition could have two teams in the same group.

One 36 team league table is produced at the end of qualifying dependent on results.

Teams ranked 1-8 go straight through to the last 16.

Teams ranked 9-24 play off to make up the other 8 teams in the last 16.

Teams ranked 25-36 are out of Europe. No Europa drop back.

The knockout stages will comprise what they are calling a ‘tennis format’ That is the whole knockout stages are mapped out in advance based on seedlings earned exclusively in the group stages.

So seeds 1 and 2 can not meet before the final. Or indeed any two teams in opposite halves of the draw.

No longer any protection for teams from the same country meeting in any knockout rounds.

The intention is to produce less dead rubbers in the group stages. As the higher seeding you earn, the easier your passage through the knockout stages should be.

Or more matches?

I know we've had dead rubbers at the end of the group stage, but it's usual that most games have something riding on them. Even our dead rubbers may not have been for the opponent.

 

[Stephen230]

Or more matches?

I know we've had dead rubbers at the end of the group stage, but it's usual that most games have something riding on them. Even our dead rubbers may not have been for the opponent.

I’m not bigging up this format. I think we’ll have to give it a go before drawing any conclusions.

The disadvantage with been so good is the group stages are an absolute borefest these days.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

Shit format, gives more games to failing teams thus aiding goalscorers charts for some players. It s stupid to change something like this.

Booing continues...
Except we wont be the only ones, protests from fans should gain momentum.

 

[RACHACE]

9 team group sounds shite.

 

[Stephen230]

Shit format, gives more games to failing teams thus aiding goalscorers charts for some players.

Not necessarily. Teams who finish near the bottom, will have their whole European campaign done and dusted in eight games. As opposed to dropping into the Europa and having never ending Thursday night games.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

9 team group sounds shite.

Not sure how you decide who plays home or away.
Its possible a team could top their group but only end up 7th or 8th in the overall 36 team league.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

Not necessarily. Teams who finish near the bottom, will have their whole European campaign done and dusted in eight games. As opposed to dropping into the Europa and having never ending Thursday night games.

6 games?
I read it as 2nd and third places are in a playoff situation to play group winners.

Its called backdoor system in Irish sports.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Thank fuck Spurs didn't qualify. Bound to have got those cunts in our group.