September 17th 2024.
After a long wait, the Champions League is finally making its return tonight. But this year, things are going to be a little different. The renowned European club competition has undergone a major revamp and is set to introduce a brand new format that promises to bring even more excitement to the field.
The action kicks off tonight with Aston Villa and Liverpool going head to head, followed by Manchester City and Arsenal later this week. As fans eagerly anticipate the return of their favorite teams, there is one question on everyone's mind - what will it take to make it to the knockout phases? Thankfully, Opta has done the math and calculated the minimum number of points needed for teams like Real Madrid to secure their spot in the round-of-16. But what exactly is this new format and how does it work?
This season, the traditional group stage of 32 teams has been replaced by a league phase featuring 36 clubs, often referred to as the 'Swiss model'. Each team will play a total of eight games, facing two opponents from each of the four seeding pots. The results will then determine the final standings in one big league table. The top eight teams will qualify directly for the round-of-16, while the teams ranked ninth to 24th will enter a knockout playoff to fight for their spot. Unfortunately, the remaining 12 teams will be eliminated from the competition.
The knockout phase will consist of home and away games, with the ultimate goal being a spot in the single leg final. But how many points do teams need to reach the round-of-16? According to Opta, 15 out of a possible 24 points is the most likely requirement. This means that winning five out of eight games should secure a team's spot in the knockout phases. However, the margins are tight, and every point and goal can make a significant difference. As we saw last season, even one point can make or break a team's chances of progressing.
But what about the play-offs? Opta predicts that 10 points will almost certainly guarantee a team's spot in the play-offs, with nine points also being a strong possibility. This means that winning just three games out of eight could potentially be enough to secure a spot in the knockouts. However, nothing is set in stone, and we won't know for sure until the end of the league phase.
Inevitably, there will be teams tied on points in the league table, so how will UEFA determine the final standings? The first tiebreaker will be goal difference, followed by goals scored, away goals scored, wins, and away wins. If these criteria fail to separate the teams, then it will come down to the collective performance of their opponents in the league phase. But if all else fails, then UEFA will look at the teams' disciplinary record and their UEFA club coefficient ranking.
As fans eagerly await the knockout draw, they may be wondering whether it will be seeded or not. The answer is yes. The teams finishing between 9th and 16th in the league phase will be seeded and will face the teams ranked 17th to 24th in the first leg of the play-offs. The top eight teams will then be seeded for the round-of-16 and will face the winners of the play-offs. However, the draw will not be entirely random, as UEFA has hinted that the league phase results will play some role in determining the pairings.
With the Champions League returning after a season's absence due to the pandemic, the excitement and anticipation among fans are at an all-time high. The new format promises to bring even more drama and unpredictability to the competition, making it one of the most highly anticipated events in the football calendar. So buckle up and get ready for another thrilling season of the Champions League!
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