Champions League Draw - 29th August '24 | Opponents (pg69) | Fixtures (pg128)

[tedmak]

In the knockout phase, the teams that finish between 9th and 16th will be seeded in the knockout phase play-off draw, meaning they will face a team placed 17th to 24th – with, in principle, the return leg at home. The eight clubs which prevail in the knockout phase play-offs will then progress to the round of 16, where they will each face one of the top-eight finishers, who will be seeded in the round of 16.


To strengthen the synergy between the league and knockout phases, and to provide more sporting incentive during the league phase, the pairings of the knockout phase will also be partly determined by the league phase rankings, with a draw which likewise determines and lays out the route for teams to reach the final.

From the round of 16 onwards, the competition will continue to follow its existing format of knockout rounds leading to the final staged at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.

From UEFA.com

The round of 16 and beyond will now be seeded, so the teams who finish first and second in the league phase cannot face each other until the final.

From The Athletic

I haven't been able to find the full competition regulations but this means we should not get a load of dead rubbers at the end of the group. It may well make the group stages better. Seeding the knockouts like tennis, as this implies, makes things better for the better teams - which we currently are one of.

As for the draw - am happy with Bratislava, Milan and Sporting as never been to the former and love the latter two cities. PSG I will swerve.

I just checked the regulations, the Athletic is correct. The tennis model

If you are that way inclined. the full regulations are here.

UEFA Documents

documents.uefa.com

 

[Vic]

The link to a better "horizontal" diagram of the above wouldn't work, but it's here if you keep going through the slides to the third slide of the Knockout Phase.

UEFA

www.uefa.com

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

If we are the 24th team, even if it was due to an own goal, I will attempt my first back flip from a standing position. I have avoided this so far, for the obvious reasons of a lengthy stay in hospital and the whole pain in the arse learning to walk again pish. That to us will be like winning the fucking thing to the top teams. I shit you not.

How are you going to do a backflip with one leg? You should be out in Paris at the para Olympics.

 

[Big Swifty]

PSG and Juventus away - not going to be easy. Liverpool have Madrid at home, lucky buggers

 

[Cobwebcat]

To strengthen the synergy between the league and knockout phases, and to provide more sporting incentive during the league phase, the pairings of the knockout phase will also be partly determined by the league phase rankings, with a draw which likewise determines and lays out the route for teams to reach the final.

Partly determined? What’s the other criteria?

This format is growing on me other than the extra games. Every game matters. Playing for a draw is a waste of time. If you don’t want even more games you must finish top 8 and, in theory, one gets the easiest route to the final. Knockout phase is just like the Copa Libatadores.

No playing the Academy in this format! Not that Pep would.

 

[ysmsa]

I’ll take a wild guess and suggest that the almighty dollar may have something to do with it.

Everyone seems to forget this is a sweetener to the Clubs who were pursuing the European Super League.

The Clubs have driven this not UEFA.

 

[Cobwebcat]

With the new CL format and the new FIFA World Club every 4 years, how long before the PL is forced to copy most other countries and reduce the league to 18 and ditch the League Cup? English teams were at a disadvantage before but now it looks a bigger problem for them.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Everyone seems to forget this is a sweetener to the Clubs who were pursuing the European Super League.

The Clubs have driven this not UEFA.

This is true and it makes me wonder why Managers complain about UEFA and FIFA when it’s their clubs who have asked for this. I imagine City included.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

Most people do but that doesn't mean the CL is nowt does it!

Oh dear. Triggered by an opinion. Forum’s aren’t for everyone are they? Did I say the Champions League was ‘nowt’? I’m pretty sure most people understood what I was saying. It’s been badly diluted from what it says on the tin, Champions League. There’s also an inference if you wanted to read between the lines that this is the European League by the back door. Definitely didn’t say or infer ‘nowt’ though. More like my interest is on the wane. Hope that helps.

Ref your other response too having a pop at the Premier League naming some supposed low level opposition. We are playing Brugge and Bratislava in this silly new format. I know some want to City v Liverpool, United or Arsenal every week. Or in your case City v Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Barcelona every week. Not possible I’m afraid.

See, we can both draw silly conclusions.

 

[Stoned Rose]

PSG and Juventus away - not going to be easy. Liverpool have Madrid at home, lucky buggers

The pair of them will be shitting themselves.