As usual, the UEFA Champions League will be played yet again this season by certain clubs. However, the competition will take a different route this time as it will be played via a format totally different from the past ones.
Being its 70th campaign since its inception, the new format seems more hectic than the former one.
This is how it will work; The group stage will become a single 36-team league stage. Eight separate teams will be pitted against each team—four at home and four away. The top eight seeds proceed directly to the round of 16, while the teams that place ninth through twenty-four go to the knockout round play-offs, where the winners advance to the round of sixteen. From thereon, it will be a straight knockout till the final.
Now, UEFA has released the schedule for the competition. The group stage matches (now phase matches) will be as follows;
Matchday 1: 17–19 September 2024
Matchday 2: 1/2 October 2024
Matchday 3: 22/23 October 2024
Matchday 4: 5/6 November 2024
Matchday 5: 26/27 November 2024
Matchday 6: 10/11 December 2024
Matchday 7: 21/22 January 2025
Matchday 8: 29 January 2025
The knockout matches will be as follows;
Knockout round play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February 2025
Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2025
Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2025
Final: 31 May 2025
Champions League Draws:
The draws for the Phase Matches will take place on the 29th of August. Draws for knockout round play-offs will be held on the 31st of January while the draws for round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will hold on the 21st of February.
Final
The final will hold at the Allianz Arena, the home of German side Bayern Munchen. The stadium has held a UCL final there before ; in 2012.
Note, however, that the dates are subject to changes if the need arises.
