UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Group Stage Begins in Europe

The UEFA Champions League for the 2024-25 season has introduced a new format featuring 36 teams, marking a significant change in the tournament's structure. Instead of traditional group stages, teams will now compete in a league phase, playing eight matches against different opponents in a home-and-away format. This adjustment aims to enhance competition by allowing clubs to face a broader range of teams, increasing the excitement for fans and the number of matches from 125 to 189. The draw for the league stage occurred on August 29, resulting in high-profile matchups, including Real Madrid's challenging fixtures against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund. The holders, Real Madrid, will also face AC Milan and Atalanta, while Liverpool returns to the competition after a one-year absence, meeting both Milan and debutants Girona. Aston Villa will make their Champions League debut with matches against Bayern Munich and Juventus. The tournament will see clubs like Girona, who will host Liverpool and Arsenal, and travel to PSG and AC Milan, marking their first appearance in this prestigious competition. The knockout stage will commence after the league phase, with the top eight teams advancing directly, while those finishing ninth to 24th will enter a playoff round. Financially, the Champions League has become more lucrative, with the total prize pool increasing by approximately 25% to nearly 2.5 billion euros. This financial incentive, combined with the revamped format, is expected to elevate the competition's profile and attract even more attention from fans and clubs alike.