Real Madrid are the reigning Champions League winners. It was the fifth time the Whites have won the continental tournament in the last 10 seasons. It's no coincidence that Real are the all-time winners of the competition, with 15 trophies. That's eight ahead of second-placed AC Milan.
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With the arrival of Kylian Mbappe to their already stellar squad, Real Madrid are emerging as virtual contenders for another Champions League title.
But other teams are vying to dethrone the Spanish side, such as three-time English champions Manchester City, who won the Champions League in the 2022/23 season, as well as other European giants like Bayern Munich, bitten after an unbeaten 2023/24, and Barcelona themselves with the talent of Lamine Yamal and the command of German Hansi Flick, who won the tournament as coach in 2019/20.
Regulations
The first major change will be in the number of participants. Instead of 32 teams divided into eight groups of four each, the new Champions League will have 36 teams that will play eight matches in the first phase. The matches will be against different opponents that have been drawn by lots, with each participant facing two teams from each pot.
In this first phase, the teams will play four games as hosts and four as visitors.
How will qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League 2024/25 be determined?
Advancement to the knockout stage will be determined by straight points. However, only the eight best-placed teams in this first phase will progress directly to the round of 16.
To complete the remaining participants in the decisive knockout round, the teams finishing between ninth and 24th place in the first phase will compete in a playoff with back-to-back matches.
Whoever progresses will go through to the Round of 16. The losers will join the others eliminated from the competition.
With the Round of 16 settled, the format of the tournament will revert to what has already been agreed. Return legs, with the final taking place in a single match on a neutral pitch.
Participating teams
England: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Man City
Spain: Atletico de Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, Real Madrid
Germany: Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig, Leverkusen, Stuttgart
Italy: Atalanta, Bologna, Inter, Juventus, Milan
France: Brest, Lille, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain
Austria: Salzburg, Sturm Graz
Netherlands: Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven
Portugal: Benfica, Sporting CP
Belgium: Club Brugge
Croatia: GNK Dinamo
Czechia: Sparta Praha
Scotland: Celtic
Serbia: Crvena Zvezda
Slovakia: Slovan Bratislava
Switzerland: Young Boys
Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
League phase dates
The new Champions League will have its league phase, with eight dates set for the 36 teams to play their eight matches in the quest to qualify for the knockout stage or to stay in the playoff prior to the decisive phase.
In order to favour the league format, UEFA is preparing a Champions League-only week, with no Europa League matches.
Gameweek One: September 17th-19th
Gameweek Two: October 1st-2nd
Gameweek Three: October 22nd-23rd
Gameweek Four: November 5th-6th
Gameweek Five: November 26th-27th
Gameweek Six: December 10th-11th
Gameweek Seven: January 21st-22nd 2025
Gameweek Eight: January 29th 2025
Standout fixtures
AC Milan vs Liverpool - September 17th 21:00 CET
Manchester City vs Inter Milan - September 18th 21:00 CET
Arsenal vs PSG - October 1st 21:00 CET
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich - October 23rd 21:00 CET
Real Madrid vs AC Milan - November 5th 21:00 CET
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen - November 5th 21:00 CET
Inter Milan vs Arsenal - November 6th 21:00 CET
Bayern Munich vs PSG - November 26th 21:00 CET
Liverpool vs Real Madrid - November 27th 21:00 CET
Juventus vs Manchester City - December 11th 21:00 CET
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Leverkusen - January 21st 21:00 CET
PSG vs Manchester City - January 22nd 21:00 CET
Aston Villa vs Celtic - January 29th 21:00 CET
Knockout round dates
The first knockout phase of the new Champions League will be a playoff between the teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the group stage. There will be back-to-back matches.
Playoffs: February 11th/12th and 18th/19th 2025
Once the qualifiers have been determined, the knockout stage will continue from the Round of 16 until the big decider in Munich.
Round of 16: March 4th/5th and 11th/12th 2025
Quarter-finals: April 8th/9th and 15th/16th 2025
Semi-finals: April 29th/30th and May 6th/7th 2025
Final: May 31st 2025
Final venue
The Champions League final will return to Munich for the first time since 2012, when the same Allianz Arena saw Chelsea beat Bayern on penalties to become continental champions for the first time.
The Allianz Arena has also hosted matches in the last two European Championships, including this year's competition. The stadium has a capacity of 67,000 fans.
