The Champions League returns in a significantly revamped format that begins with Thursday’s initial draw.
But how will it differ this season and how will the new-look competition play out for Europe’s leading clubs?
Much like in professional tennis, clubs will now be seeded for the knockout stages of the tournament. So, that means, of the last-16 sides remaining, the top two cannot play each other until the final.
In an initial league phase that has replaced the traditional group stage, all 36 teams (an expansion on the previous 32) will be in one group and each side will play eight matches in all – four at home and four away.
The 36 are split into four pots depending on their UEFA ranking. Every team will play two sides from each of the four pots regardless of their ranking.
The top eight seeds for the knockout format will be decided by league position in the table, while the teams that finish ninth to 24th will contest two more matches in a play-off round. The teams that finish 25th and below will be eliminated from Europe with no possible route down into the Europa League.
Because of the complexity of the new format, the draw will now be made by computer with UEFA research finding it would have taken up to four hours to complete otherwise.
This format is also set to be mirrored by both the Europa League and Europa Conference League, with UEFA hoping the overhaul will lead to greater jeopardy and better games as teams battle it out for league position.
England have four automatic qualifiers into the 36-team Champions League format in Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa. Clubs from the same country cannot play each other in the opening league stage.
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said earlier this year: “This format is here to say. The seeding incentivises the league phase to avoid as much as possible having dead matches.”
