The Champions League 2024/25 is adopting a new format. Rather than eight groups of four teams as before, the competition begins with a ‘league phase’ in which all 36 sides are ranked in the same table.Each team will play eight games against eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The top eight sides will advance straight to the round of 16, while the clubs ranked between ninth and 24th will go through to the knockout round play-offs. The winners of those ties will also proceed to the round of 16.