Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund was not only their 15th Champions League title but also the last time we saw that format of Europe’s premier club competition. In a bid to make lifting the trophy more achievable for other teams and make sports betting more unpredictable, the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season is set to bring exciting changes to the tournament structure.
Moving away from the traditional group stage format, UEFA has introduced a Swiss-style format ahead of the new campaign. The new approach hopes to add more excitement and unpredictability to the competition.
In this article, we provide a comprehensive look at the old format, how the new Swiss Style works for teams looking to reach the final in Munich’s Allianz Arena next year.
The Old Champions League Format
Traditionally, the Champions League featured a straightforward group stage followed by knockout rounds. In the group stage, 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four.
Each team played the others in its group twice (home and away), resulting in six matches per team. The top two teams from each group advanced to the Round of 16, while the third-placed teams moved to the Europa League knockout stage.
Following the group stage, the tournament proceeded to the knockout rounds. This included the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final. All knockout rounds, except for the final, were played over two legs, home and away, with the final played in a single match.
How the New Format Works
The new Swiss-style format introduces a significant overhaul to the group stage structure, aiming to provide more competitive balance and excitement. Instead of the traditional group stage, the tournament now features a league phase with 36 teams, an increase from the previous 32.
In this new format, each team plays eight matches against different opponents between September and January, meaning the matchdays extend beyond Christmas and into some nations’ winter breaks.
Unlike the old format, teams are not placed into groups. Instead, they face a variety of opponents determined by a seeding system and their performance in previous matches. Teams are seeded based on their UEFA coefficient rankings, ensuring that they face a balanced mix of strong and relatively weaker opponents.
Each team will play four home matches and four away matches. The opponents for these matches are selected to ensure a competitive balance, meaning that no team will face only top-seeded teams or only lower-seeded teams. This approach aims to provide a fairer and more unpredictable competition.
Key Information on the Knockout Rounds
After the league phase, the top 24 teams will advance to the knockout stage. The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while teams placed 9th to 24th will compete in a playoff round to determine the remaining spots in the Round of 16, similarly to how the Europa League round of 32 would operate for team’s previously eliminated from Europe’s senior competition.
The knockout rounds will then proceed as before, with the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final. The playoff round and all subsequent knockout rounds, except for the final, will be played over two legs (home and away).
The final for this year is scheduled at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31, 2025. It will be the first time the final has been played there since 2012, where Chelsea famously caused an upset to hosts Bayern as they beat them in their own backyard on penalties. Vincent Kompany, the new manager in Bavaria, will be hoping to reach this year’s final in his maiden season.
Purpose of Changing the Format
The primary purpose behind changing the format is to increase the excitement and unpredictability of the tournament. The old groups often resulted in predictable outcomes, with the same teams frequently advancing to the knockout stages.
The new format also increases the number of high-profile matches, which is beneficial for broadcasters, sponsors, and ultimately, the fans. By having more competitive and varied fixtures, the tournament aims to attract a larger global audience and enhance its overall appeal.
