New format of course, the final is in Munich's Allianz Arena (70,000 capacity) so fans of the finalists might get a few thousand each British interest in the qualifying rounds has pretty much dwindled so barring a miracle Rangers are the only Brits left to try and qualify to join Celtic, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa. The draw for the league phase is on the 29th of August. Rangers have two qualifying rounds with Dynamo Kiev their probable next opponents.
So Munich, eh? I know already who won't win it then, Bayern Like in 2012 in their so-called (in bavarian german) "Finale dahoam" where they lost and this time they have Harry Kane ..... Bundesliga with 5 teams this time (like Italy's Serie A) thanks to the good overall performance of the Bundesliga last season ( 2 finals reached...although both lost). Bayer Leverkusen VfB Stuttgart Bayern München RB Leipzig Borussia Dortmund btw: Still haven't informed myself about the new format of the CL (and I think in the EL, too?)
Details of the draw . UEFA Club Competitions 2024/25 onwards: new league phase draw procedures explained
In brief: • 36 teams instead of 32. • One big league instead of eight mini-tournaments in groups of four. • Eight matches against eight different teams instead of playing three group opponents on a home-and-away basis. • At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams progress to the Round of 16. • The next 16 engage in knockout play-offs for the right to join them. • The last 12 are eliminated from European competitions. Europa League and Conference League follow suit. The only difference is that in Conference League every team will play 6 opponents in the league phase, not 8.
Almost impossible for a big team not to get through now. There's going to be some total mismatches. There's going to be some second 11s sent out of teams feel they can and thry can be in the play offs and just go from there if needed. I don't like this and I think it'll be very dull
It does feel like it. Until the draw is made I don't know what to make of it. It could have some big mismatches rather than the elitist stuff the super league wanted that'd be the same games every time
There have been mismatches all the way with the current (i.e. former) format too. I don't know what to make of the new competition system, frankly. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it goes.
There have been yes but there was a small amount of danger a side ended up 3rd after a mistake in the group. With 8 games to play in random places across the entire structure it's hard to see yet the impact of this and how rhe final table looks like. What we know is 24 out of 36 qualify, this means the last 12 as total make weights and a certain number of points (9?) Might to ensure you are not in tha The reward for being top 8 is to go to last 16 The reward for being 9 to 16 is seeding in last 32. The teams from 17 to 24 and then again assumed to be up against it in a two legged game. The seeding for the league still exists so it's not an open draw. A top seed must play 2 from each pot from 1 to 4) I presume this means 1 home game against each of the pots amd 2 away game? A top 8 team might need to be unbeaten, the top seed games.might be very cagey as a result. Let's see, the cl.was entirely predictable before. A side like newcastle stepping in and not making the points to get put of the group wasn't shocking but now they have more than enough games to get top 24. We will have 4th seeds playing 4th seeds now so they at least get some points to force the clubs around 24th to fight
We'll see. On the one hand, the system looks less predictable because, as you pointed out, one or even two lapses will not be fatal, and a team will still be able to hope for qualifying for the next round. On the other hand, the top teams are less likely to suffer unexpected exits given the longer distance. And I can't decide what is more true here ) But I have to say I'm more excited about the new format than sceptical. At least, it will interesting to watch and discuss.
Until clubs outside the big four leagues (and PSG) can compete it'll remain dull. Ajax are the closest thing we've had in recent years and they were promptly asset-stripped. More league / group games will ensure the top teams from the top nations aren't penalised for a couple of off nights in Europe. Hopefully the knockout stages will make up for the longer group stage. That's effectively when the competition starts and gets exciting.
Be interesting seeing how this new format pans out. Did like the eight groups of four then going to last sixteen etc etc. Give it a go before deciding whether like it or not.
Yes, there's less jeopardy for the bigger sides but that's counter balanced by the minnows having a better chance of playing knockout football in the new year.
I'm not sure this is true. There are 24 knockout places available, because there appears to be less jeopardy in the Swiss system (I think you could afford three bad results and still qualify) I'd be willing to guess that most seasons 18 of these slots will be taken up by the English, German, Spanish and Italian qualifiers, assuming the extra slots awarded to the countries with the best European performance the prior season goes to two sides from these leagues. Then add in PSG and another French side, one or two from the Portuguese league and a Dutch side or two leaves at most three KO places to be won by a relative minnow.
I think pot 3 and pot 4 sides have a better chance now than before purely because they’ll be playing two additional sides from their respective pots. 6 extra points can go a long way and not everyone in the above pots will win all their games. It’s hard to know for sure because we have no idea what kind of point tally will be required to break 24th. Best indicator I can use is my FM save thats in 2032 Apparently last season the average points for second in a CL group was 11.6. (We’ll say 11) A pot 4 side would have needed 3 wins and two draws to qualify against 3 ‘harder’ teams. Whereas now, it’s a bit of an unknown and they’ll have two more games against teams of a similar level to them.
