By Milcah Tanimu
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League will feature 36 teams, up from the previous 32. The new format eliminates group stages in favor of a single league phase, with each team playing eight matches. The top eight teams will advance directly to the knockout rounds, while the 9th to 24th-placed teams will compete in play-offs for the remaining last 16 spots. The bottom 12 will be eliminated, with no access to the Europa League.
Qualified Teams
Pot One:
– Real Madrid (ESP)
– Manchester City (ENG)
– Bayern Munich (GER)
– Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
– Liverpool (ENG)
– Inter Milan (ITA)
– Borussia Dortmund (GER)
– RB Leipzig (GER)
– Barcelona (ESP)
Pot Two:
– Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
– Atletico Madrid (ESP)
– Atalanta (ITA)
– Juventus (ITA)
– Benfica (POR)
– Arsenal (ENG)
– Club Brugge (BEL)
– Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
– AC Milan (ITA)
Pot Three:
– Feyenoord (NED)
– Sporting (POR)
– PSV Eindhoven (NED)
– Celtic (SCO)
– Young Boys (SUI)
– Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
– Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) or Qarabag (AZE)
– Slavia Prague (CZE) or Lille (FRA)
Pot Four:
– Monaco (FRA)
– Sparta Prague (CZE)
– Aston Villa (ENG)
– Sturm Graz (AUT)
– Bologna (ITA)
– Brest (FRA)
– Girona (ESP)
– VfB Stuttgart (GER)
The draw for the new format will take place on Thursday in Monaco.