2024-2025 Champions League: 36 Teams Compete for the Title

The 2024-2025 Champions League main stage is set to begin, featuring 36 teams competing for the top prize. The new system, introduced by UEFA, will see teams play 8 matches against different opponents, with the top 8 teams qualifying directly for the last 16.

Champions League New System

UEFA has expanded the main stage of the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with all teams competing in one group. However, teams will not face each other in a traditional group stage format. Instead, each team will play 8 matches against 8 different opponents, with 4 matches at home and 4 away.

The teams were divided into 4 pots, with 9 teams in each pot, before the draw. Each team will play 2 teams from each pot, resulting in 8 matches per team.

Qualification and Knockout Stage

After the 8 matches, the top 8 teams will qualify directly for the last 16. Teams ranked 9-16 will play a play-off match against teams 16-24 to complete the round of 16. The knockout stage will feature head-to-head matches, similar to the old Champions League system, until the final match on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

36 Teams Competing

The 36 teams competing in the Champions League are divided into 4 divisions based on UEFA classification:

• First Division:
  • Real Madrid
  • Manchester City
  • Bayern Munich
  • Paris Saint-Germain
  • Liverpool
  • Inter
  • Borussia Dortmund
  • RB Leipzig
  • Barcelona
• Second Division:
  • Bayer Leverkusen
  • Atletico Madrid
  • Atalanta
  • Juventus
  • Benfica
  • Arsenal
  • Club Brugge
  • Shakhtar Donetsk
  • Milan
• Third Division:
  • Feyenoord
  • Sporting Lisbon
  • PSV Eindhoven
  • Dinamo Zagreb
  • Red Bull Salzburg
  • Young Boys
  • Red Star Belgrade
  • Celtic
  • Lille
• Fourth Division:
  • Slovan Bratislava
  • Monaco
  • Sparta Prague
  • Aston Villa
  • Bologna
  • Girona
  • Stuttgart
  • Storm Graz
  • Brest

First Round Matches

• Young Boys vs. Aston Villa: Tuesday at Wankdorf Stadium
• Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven: Tuesday at the Allianz Stadium
• Milan vs. Liverpool: Tuesday at the San Siro Stadium
• Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb: Tuesday at the Allianz Arena
• Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart: Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
• Sporting Lisbon vs. Lille: Tuesday at the Jose Alvalade Stadium
• Sparta Prague vs. Red Bull Salzburg: Wednesday at the Generali Arena
• Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk: Wednesday at Renato Dellara Stadium
• Celtic vs. Slovan Bratislava: Wednesday at Celtic Park
• Club Brugge vs. Borussia Dortmund: Wednesday at Jan Breidel Stadium
• Manchester City vs. Inter: Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Girona: Wednesday at Parc des Princes Stadium
• Feyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Thursday at De Kuip Stadium
• Red Star Belgrade vs. Benfica: Thursday at Rajko Mitic Stadium
• Monaco vs. Barcelona: Thursday at Stade Louis II
• Atletico Madrid vs. RB Leipzig: Thursday at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium
• Brest vs. Sturm Graz: Thursday at Rudo Row Stadium