UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Draw Live Score: For the first time in the competition’s history, 36 teams will participate.
Champions League Draw 2024-25 Live: The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League draw is currently taking place on August 29, Thursday in Monaco. For the first time in its history, the competition will feature 36 teams (instead of 32). The draw will also have a different format, one that’s been used in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying competition before.
Featuring top European clubs such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, the format will see the 36 teams will be divided into four pots of nine teams each. Every side will be playing two teams from each pot, one at home and one away.
Spanish giants, Real Madrid will walk into the new season as the defending champions having bested German club Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in last year’s final at the Wembley Stadium.
Follow live updates from UCL draw below
Live Blog
UEFA Champions League Draw LIVE: Follow the UEFA Champions League New Format Draw Live from Monaco.
The Champions League expands from 32 to 36 teams this season, forcing inevitable structural tweaks. (AP)
36 teams, long first stage, a legal threat, how and why Champions League draw would be different this season
The Champions League expands from 32 to 36 teams this season, forcing inevitable structural tweaks. The group stage ceases to exist, and instead teams tussle in a partial reproduction of the Swiss model often seen in chess tournaments. Understandably, there is excitement as well as cynicism, besides a threat of legal sanctions by Chilean sports consultant Leandro Shara for the “unauthorised and unfair use” of the format. The draw ceremony, from Thursday night in Monaco, would set the ball rolling for the season of intrigue, and potentially mouthwatering encounters.
The format has been used in football before, most notably in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifying competition. The 36 teams will be divided into four pots of nine teams with each side playing two teams from each pot, one at home and one away. The top eight clubs qualify directly to the Round of 16. The teams ranked ninth to 24th will have to take part in play-off matches, from where eight teams join the top eight. The clubs that are ranked 17th to 24th after the play-off stages will be eliminated from all European competitions, which means there will be no place for them in the Europa League as well as the Conference League. From there on, it will revert to its familiar format. (READ MORE)
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First uploaded on: 29-08-2024 at 20:27 IST
