The consultations started yesterday in Madrid, continued today with two separate meetings, and UEFA officially confirmed it – we finally found out what the Champions League will look like from the 2024/2025 season, when the elite European competition will be expanded from 32 to 36 participants.One additional spot will certainly belong to the fifth league on the UEFA list, which has been France for years, although the Portuguese have come dangerously close; the second one will be reserved for the “Champions path” of the qualification. With four champions from lower-ranked countries reaching the group so far, that number will be increased to five in the future.And the main piece of news concerns the controversy that caused the most attention. Those around the two additional spots that were kept for the strongest leagues in Europe ( (it was a public secret, everyone avoided saying it out loud) because fans across Europe were generally against it. They praised UEFA when it refused the rush of clubs interested in founding the Super League, but it turned out that they still made a concession.28.05. Sat 22:00: (2.05) Liverpool (3.60) Real Madrid (3.80)Truth be told, not exactly what they hoped for, because the first idea of the European Club Association (ECA) was to award two places to the clubs with the highest odds that did not win a place in the Champions League through the domestic championship. For example, if that rule was valid now, Manchester United or Roma would benefit. Villarreal would have to wait for a while.Such a proposal met with great resistance from their compatriots as well, because it could happen that greats like the ones mentioned, specifically Manchester United, will forever keep their positions ahead of, say, Leicester, who were fifth last season. All national championships were therefore against the use of the club rating to supplement the Champions League. A reminder – club rating is determined on the basis of games in Europe in the last five years.Therefore, a compromise will be reached. Two places will be won not by clubs, but by leagues, again on the basis of ratings, but not five-year ones, but with coefficient points won in the previous season. If such a rule was valid now, Tottenham and PSV would go over to the Champions League, because no one has won more points this season than clubs from England and the Netherlands. The success of the Netherlands is an exception. In recent years, the biggest points tally came from bigger leagues: England, Spain or Germany.Salary reduction hit Man United players after missing out on the Champions LeagueUEFA defend this decision by claiming that the practice is in line with the European understanding that placement deserves results. It will also be said this gives more importance to the results in the Europa League and the Conference League. Although it seems to us again that the rich big clubs will be privileged. However, this will prevent the possibility that the English, just for the sake of example, will win six clubs in the Champions League. The limit will be set at five representatives. Plus the Europa League winner of course.Another reminder, four additional places in the Champions League were created by UEFA’s decision that from 2024, the elite competition will count 36 instead of 32 clubs. They will play according to the so-called “Swiss model”: all 36 clubs will be ranked on one table, although they will not play with each of the other participants.✅🚨| Official: UEFA changes the format of the Champions League. From the 2024/25 season, the group stage will be replaced by a mini-league of 36 teams. #fcblive #UCL #uefachampionsleague #uefa pic.twitter.com/80LzuwUQiD— emir yusuph (@emiryusuph_) May 10, 2022 The original plan was to play 10 games, five at home and five away, always with different opponents of different rating, but it has now been agreed that instead of the mentioned ten, each club will play eight matches. Currently, each participant in the Champions League is guaranteed six games in the group.Those eight rounds will be played in 10 “European weeks”. Two will be reserved only for the Europa League and the Conference League.SUMMARY: ADDITIONAL FOUR SPOTS IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE* One for the fifth country on UEFA’s league rankings, currently France, Portugal impose also* One is reserved for the “Champions path” of the qualification.So far, four champions have reached the groups through those qualifications, and now there will be five* Two spots for the leagues that won the most points on the UEFA rankings previous season. This season, it was England and the Netherlands, so if the rules were already valid, next season, Tottenham and PSV would be in the Champions League. However, the Netherlands will hardly repeat such success, usually England, Spain or Germany take the most pointsReward for loyalty: Roma provide 166 supporters with the tickets for the ECL finals after they cheered them in a 6-1 defeat at BodoNEW CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FORMAT* Instead of the previous 32, there will be 36 participants* It will be played according to the so-called Swiss model: everyone will be ranked on one table, eight rounds will be played, four matches at home and away. There are no groups, always different opponents, not everyone will play with the same rivals. However, clubs will certainly be divided by pots in order to have opponents of approximately uniformed quality.* The first eight teams go directly to the round of 16. The teams ranked from the ninth to the 24th position will decide in the doubles of the barrage who will be the remaining eight participants in the eighth finals.* Similar changes will apply to the Europa League (eight games in the group stage) and the Conference League (six games in the group stage), and both will have 36 participants instead of the previous 32 clubs
