EXPLAINED: The new Champions League format | The Gab and Juls Show | ESPN FC

ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens explain the changes to the Champions League format from the 2024/2025 season.
Subscribe to ESPN UK: bit.ly/1oGUzVA
Follow ESPN UK across multiple platforms:
/ espnuk
/ espnuk
www.espn.co.uk/

[@limbeboy7]

If aint broke dont fix it. Now teams play more games along with their regular league games

[@logirex]

This format is clearly better but the problem is the few extra games added. Personally I would make it so each league only has one domestic cup like some already have changed to.

[@limbeboy7]

@@logirex that's the problem. No country wants to give up their local league or cup games for another organization who isn't paying them

[@mysteryman480]

It is kinda broke now though. The group stages are generally not competitive.

[@limbeboy7]

@@mysteryman480 says who?

[@mysteryman480]

@@limbeboy7 My opinion. For example, last season the smallest gap between 2nd and 3rd in a group was 3 points. And, only 20 out of 32 teams managed to win more than one game out of six.

[@mrchickflick4444]

Why change something that already works and still gives us immense excitement! Stop messing with our game

[@jacob4690]

What immense excitement? 90% of groups games are dull and meaningless

[@gilean6179]

@@jacob4690 That is why I want a 128 team straight KO format. We will still have ultimate trashings (Real MAdrid 15-0 vs minnow in Round of 128) but by the round of 32, the Proper teams will be there. Still 13games for a winner to emerge hence not diluting the credibility of the competition. Eliminate the Europa league and Conference league. If a team gets eliminated early, concentrate on the domestic league.

[@naes8258]

​@jacob4690 im afraid this wont fix anything, the REAL problem with europe is the immense financial gap built up over decades and decades between big clubs and small ones not the format of the tournament.

[@caven7056]

The new system is better

[@zorashki]

Because the draw in Quarter-finals/Semi finals are not fair... take example this year.. Barca are trash and they have a chance of winning CLand being in the FINAL because of their draw with PSG and then the winner of Dortmiund/Atletico in Semis.. loll.. While Madird facing City...

[@juanperezpe]

It seems one of the advantages is than we will see matches between teams of the highest pot from the beginning; while in the current format it only may happen from the round of 16.

[@juanperezpe]

And at the same time, this new format (as the current format) keeps access for champions of modest national leagues to the highest European competition, something the proposed Super League does not do.

[@aloo2083]

I guess more injuries and personally am disappointed there will be no more draws in ko phase. Takes away the vibe of champions league

[@caven7056]

Rotation

[@LKSgm]

Bracket seeding is more fair and results in more exciting games as the competition advances

[@danny50117]

​@@caven7056even if rotation is still get tired after this champions league to League they're not robots the human beings they need to rest

[@danny50117]

The champions League will disappointing

[@caven7056]

@@danny50117 shame. The poor multi millionaires

[@GoodGuyChucky-666]

The new format does not excite me, expanding to 36 teams just like the world cup is getting expanded to 48 teams, there is just quantity over quality, it's just fixing something that's not broken, especially if they are teams that are not champions of their own leagues, why call it the champions league

[@jonathanfrancis7608]

Agreed. What's worse is that the teams who finish 1st or 2nd in the group stage will end up playing a side that that is seeded significantly lower than them up until the semi final stage and the top seeds will presumably have their second legs at home for every single round. This seems like a format that heavily favours the sides that finish in the top of the group phase. In this new format, the Group phase might be more exciting but it will definitely take out alot of the excitement from the knockout rounds

[@lowerfive6318]

​@@jonathanfrancis7608i mean, thats how it should be...

[@Cloud_Stratus]

I think group stages are quite boring so I'm open to see some changes.

[@AquarianAngel]

💯

[@SuperFalcon131]

That’s only because it’s 6 games. Make it 3, boom perfect layout with higher stakes.

[@LINKINPARKSPAMPT5]

Not bad, but the calendar can be a nightmare for the clubs

[@justin_abav]

I like this new format, as a football fan. I’m excited and looking forward to the 8 games with different opponents part. That’s excitement every match day.

[@henergy_]

why dont they ask the players what they want

[@Pathofplenty]

They’re contracted to work so don’t really get a say unless your mbappe, the chairman of PSG 😂

[@henergy_]

@@Pathofplenty good one aha

[@gilean6179]

Clear explanation. thank you. . Right now it takes 13 games for a winner to emerge. Im not in favor of having more games but let's see. I know they are trying to cut down the meaningless games which can take place after just 4 games in the group stages. Let's hope seeding is considered important by the teams themselves and they wont be able to selectively or strategically rest/bench their star players along the competition. I'm still hoping for my 128 team straight KO (2 legged) format though --single random drawing at the start...13 games still to determine a winner. I won't probably get this though.

[@3515B1]

Yoh that's the best format in my opinion. Every club has a chance

[@davinnicode]

Feels more likely that this favors the already big clubs.

[@jacob4690]

How

[@gilean6179]

Yes, it takes out the element of a slip. You are given 8 games to begin with hence the bigger clubs have more games to show their true strength and the weaker clubs have less elements of an upset. It is like basketball format.

[@dwex8596]

its favors the big clubs already with the awa goal ruled out. The best clubs are still gonna advance the furthest anyway

[@kakamuris4083]

But we want the big clubs playing against each other...the current format makes it too easy to get weaker teams in the latter stages

[@nab7]

Big teams will only play against big teams. Small teams will only play against small team. Small teams have high chance to qualify now that they will play teams similar to their level. For example in order for real madrid to get maximum point they have to win against best 8 teams of the world. So getting maximum points seems difficult for POT 1 teams. Meanwhile now its easier for the smaller clubs to earn points more because they will not have to play the biggest team anymore

[@JPzizou]

The draws bring quality ties which we wont get

[@souravshyam]

Brilliant video! Nice way to explain 🎉

[@dilhus5687]

I understand how it works, but still somethings to clarify, 1. Can you face teams from your own country? 2. How is the draw played out for the first league?

[@i.q.1979]

Thank you so much for this. I really needed it.

[@jamesallen8917]

Fans like draws!!! No draws is boring. There will be FARRRR more dead rubbers in this format

[@caven7056]

You dint speak for everyone

[@jamesallen8917]

@@caven7056 i do

[@nandishnan5680]

What happens if 2 teams finish with exactly the same number of points, the same goals scored, and the same goal difference?

[@ahmadkhan-uv7tv]

Another VAR ISSUE man

[@leonthethird7494]

number of away goals scored

[@mr.sporty2094]

then comes teams's head to head in previous UCL games or co-efficient of teams in ucl rankings.

[@NajashiProductions]

Same thing any other league does when the same thing happens in the standings

[@gilean6179]

there will be a set of crappy determinants for that Im sure.

[@CherryJudoClub]

How do the League Stage Fixtures Work

[@notknown1393]

My question is how group fixture will drown, before there was group drown among 4 team and then their fixture decided, but how it will in next system if all fixture decide by draw well it's will not take too much time for fixture, bcz every match by draw it make sens ??

[@danieljames9322]

So no country protection. No drop down to the EL and EC.

[@Weildren]

This format is terrible. The randomness that the current drawing format has makes it fairer for all the teams.

[@Sevilian]

This is actually good

[@beobo2009]

So no more home and away against 1 team?

[@ctrprog]

The only thing I truly like, is that we can see teams hold on for dear life to their definitive elimination. It would be nice to see the atypical teams reach the Round of 16.

[@mustaquemahammed9739]

But don't you think, the more you play, the more you have injuries and fatigue, i understand the money aspect but i don't know it will be difficult for top teams as they have to compete in different competition.

[@Marcus1074]

What is not explained is how the ranking is given? meaning if a team like Chelsea (which this year was left out of european competition was ranked 20th (for example), does it means it will participate anyways?

[@irresistible743]

Is it the same format in the Europa and Conference Leagues?

[@ashishtripathi3487]

Yes

[@markwillcocks7701]

Confrence league is slightly different they only play 6 games in league phase

[@rpshah79]

2:15 if 24th ranked team beats the 9th ranked team in the knockout playoffs, then who would be their opponent in the round of 16? The 7th ranked team or the 1st ranked team?

[@Simbaforlife]

On a 24 team bracket the winner of 9v24 will play the 8th ranked team.

[@MaDFroG88]

Much needed changes, watched it twice still confusing 😅

[@DailyDiscountNL]

What happens to the teams that lose the play offs?

[@jayanand_1993]

eliminated

[@VivesMutale-iu8ib]

They drop to the Europa

[@zylgwynlucas]

@@VivesMutale-iu8ib No demotion also for 9th to 25th who lose in knock-off round.

[@conoroflynn4057]

It’s a mess don’t think teams too bothered ranked first or eight. Even if 9 or 10 will get a lower ranked team in knockout.

[@gilean6179]

yeah. It's like the NBA...just playing for seedings for most part of the year. That is why I stopped watching basketball 2 decades ago. Strong teams just coasting along the way, just enough to get to the post season. That is like 72 games to determine seeding there..wow...// I would like a 128 team straight KO (2 legged) format. Every game is important. The problem there is on the round of 128 is when Real MAdrid gets drawn against a minnow. That will be like 15-0 thrashing. LOL. But by the time it's Round of 32, Im sure the proper teams will be there.

[@mustaquemahammed9739]

Will be decided in alphabetical order😂😂

[@Rayado_26]

Personally the group stages look very boring, but the elimination phase is better

[@derickaby1731]

So 4 more games for the teams who finish 9th - 24th and 2 more games for 1st - 8th teams

[@tomwilko7841]

can teams play others from their own country in the initial league??

[@uBenji1234]

Shouldn't it be 3vs14, 4vs13 & 7v10 and 8v9? :s

[@Whizkidsoo]

Might as well keep adding games & add a two legged final

[@xrhkotro3884]

this is not swiss model. Swiss model is like a championship with points, no no1 vs no 16 etc.

[@jinayvora6240]

Why not pair matches like chess grand swiss tournaments. The first round is drawn and other matches are paired based on performance. Would result in more competitive matches.

[@gilean6179]

this seems interesting. I also watch chess but is this format the The swiss system?

[@DavidNdara]

The only video that explained the confusion

[@captainfalconmain6576]

i think the group stages are boring it should be a knockout tournament like concaf does for their champions league

[@gilean6179]

128 teams straight knock out. That will be epic.

[@stephenonyango3866]

At least now new talented players will be discovered from new upcoming players

[@FelixOmbaba]

When the current format was introduced, they said its terrible now people are praising it. Am Excited can't wait for sept 😮😮

[@mofirminhosadiosalahrobert4904]

2 teams from each pot , 4 home 4 away , how is it determined which games are home and which are away ?

[@Pathofplenty]

It’s going to feel much more like a league.

[@DORNAGiri-619]

interesting format❤

[@davejones81]

This doesn't seem fair to me. So in the initial phase, you have 8 teams to play. 4 home, 4 away. What if you play the tougher teams all away from home. And another in the pot gets them all at home? Extreme example but seems odd. It's imbalanced without an effective home and away tie vs each opponent. Don't like it.

[@nothreeshoes1200]

“Distribute more money throughout the pyramid” 😂 y’all are funny.

[@FedgirlTV]

Clearly a horrendous cash grab... more games when players are already complaining about fatigue and injury

[@silvermig]

This new format will make new players more easy to break CR7 goal record. Haaland or Mbappe now are contenders.

[@soohfxxh]

Just created to pander to the big teams.

[@captainfalconmain6576]

i think seeding better at least if you place top 2 an the league you cant play until the final should of been like that an the first place this supposed be a sedding tournament why have a random draw an the first place

[@nigel-jg4dn]

more money for the big clubs

[@BS-ol1hs]

I don’t get it

[@anucaps7466]

What a shame that it gives an easy run for big teams

[@ahmadkhan-uv7tv]

Another VAR ISSUE

[@atliengooner]

NCAA Men’s BB in Europe now… pffft

[@jaredmomanyi9808]

This is a super league in disguise

[@ghsppme1602]

Wow, more money to loose to betting companies... just can't wait😂

[@ezraezra2928]

I'm really disappointed to see this new format of UEFA club competitions: 1.36 teams in main round without proper group stage. You forgot the point where Europa League holders must be seeded in Pot 1. Same goes for the Conference League holders in Pot 1 of Europa League draw. 2.Permadeath rule. Basically, if the team finished on 25th-36th, they will automatically go out without even playing in the Europa League or Conference League knockout phases. 3.Extended schedule. 9 months full with European games. Even January matches are also included, despite, in normal, this is where the domestic cup competitions are usually held. Does it mean too risky if they played European games at extreme cold weather during that month?

[@caven7056]

Uefa has more money

[@_Forza]

Looks good but I guess we'll have to see just how good. Lots of mid table teams will have a better shot this way

[@andrecastilhopinto389]

this was made to favour the bet mafia

[@lucaschapman2188]

Really need to Reduce the premier league to 18 clubs to help with the fixture congestion. Relegate the bottom 3 and Chelsea. Only promote the top 2 teams in the Championship no playoffs this year 😊.

[@carlpeterson2666]

I am not gonna like it....but will give it a try..

[@gamegravacoes5363]

If UEFA's intention is to increase the number of matches per club, I don't think they should do this via changing the format, but rather via the preliminary round. Let me explain. Firstly, only the champions of the Champions League and Europa League should automatically qualify for the group stage. Let me explain why. Thus, the preliminary phase would have 77 teams. The national champions of the federations ranked from 21 to 55 (the 34 worst) would play in the 1st preliminary phase, and the 17 winners would join the 43 teams already classified for the play-offs to fight for the 30 places in the group stage. That way, everyone would win. The strongest because they play 2 more games, and the weakest because theoretically it is easier to play in the group stage, since in the past there were 4 preliminary stages, and now they would only have 2. Therefore, weaker teams like Sheriff, for For example, they would play the group stage more often, getting bigger prize money from UEFA more often. In the long term, teams from weaker leagues would once again have a real chance of winning the Champions League, just as they had until the beginning of the 90s. I think this proposal is much more productive and democratic than this complex system whose only real objective is profit. in the hands of a few

[@user-ph5sr8tw6b]

nice one i like iy 👏👏

[@neilsonmartin23]

then everybody have to subscribe to some streaming service to view it😤

[@aserr5660]

FA/EFL cup will be won by championship sides next season

[@darkovujkovic1494]

Uefa mafia

[@Alerion234]

Why change something that has BEEN working? It’s going to start to shift and destabilize like CONCACAF champions league that just changes every year 😤

[@finbarrcorcoran9342]

Last 16 is gonna be very one sided.

[@captainfalconmain6576]

yes but in reality it’s supposed to be like that uefa can’t really do much about that small teams are supposed so compete an this tournament it’s called ucl

[@Noirlore]

Don’t hate it but two legs just to get into the round of 16 is kinda lame

[@gilean6179]

yes...make it a KO on a neutral venue...more exciting...But again the ultimate motive here is more games, more more money.

[@eeshanbaheti1310]

i kinda like it

[@l9ino170]

So first couple of rounds will be boring and obvious results with the big teams fielding reserve squads etc. Bye bye group of death

[@romelmills3328]

Chelsea shouldn't be watching this video because they are not playing in the Champions League

[@LoyalFan9383]

Bruh

[@broman1429]

It's for next season plus five teams from epl so you never know 😂

[@masonridgewell8063]

​@@broman1429why 5?

[@Whizkidsoo]

Wth happened why tf did he blow the whistle

[@kkiat424]

Basically they wan famous team vs famous team. They don't want example, Real Madrid vs Copenhagen FC in champions league Semi Final

[@thabojaphtha1014]

Trues, who will watch that game besides Real Madrid fans

[@zia-ulislam7761]

Absolute shambles.

[@jamesallen8917]

League table will be decided in to time. Then its dead rubbers galore. This is a terrible terrible idea

[@Tan92lfc]

So means Man City and Liverpool won't face each other until Final.

[@viktor80814]

European Super League 2.0 launched :(

[@Krymbo]

What a mess

[@jamesallen8917]

So seeded real madrid get easy games every year and always finish inside top 8. Great

[@danny50117]

This system is broken it destroys football

[@captainfalconmain6576]

🎉

[@pradipartyst5809]

terrible. Its a sad moment in football.

[@Hero-and-Hooligan]

Sounds like some stupid idea that MLS would create

[@bobsanchez2983]

Americanizing UEFA.

[@millicentongoma3946]

Caferin and psg president

[@123wingtsun]

I think this format will be the most interesting, competitive and most of all - FAIR! There should be 3 European tournaments: - Champions League (League Champions + Champions League title holder from the previous season) - Europa League (2nd placed league teams + Europa League title holder from the previous season) - Conference League (Domestic cup winners or 3rd placed league teams + Conference League title holder from previous season) Each tournament should consist of 16 teams in total (15 from qualification and 1 title holder automatically qualified). Qualification should be based on national coefficient points, so the lowest ranked nations enters in the early qualifying rounds, whereas the highest ranked nations enters the last qualifying round. This means that all non-title holders of the respective European competitions have to qualify in order to enter the tournament. If you loose your qualifying games, you are eliminated from European club competition for that season. This will exclude the possibility of the top 4 nations to have more than maximum 2 teams in each tournament (1 qualified champion and 1 European club competition title holder), meaning that between 15-16 different nations will participate in each tournament. The group stages should be as usual: 16 teams in total, 4 groups, 2 best teams go through to the knockout stages, whereas the two worst teams are eliminated from that seasons european football. The groups will be drawn based on the individual clubs coefficient rankings (title holders will automatically be assigned to pot 1). So the only two purposes of the coefficient system is the national league coefficient rankings for the qualifying rounds and to draw the groups. The knockout stages should also be as usual: 8 teams will progress, the group winners will face runners up from one of the three other groups in the quarter finals. Then the semi finals are drawn randomly and the final will be played in the end. Winning a tournament will mean that you are automatically qualified for the next years tournament (you cannot qualify for the champions league, if you win the europa league, but do not win your domestic league). Then one of two models could be applied: 1) If a team wins the champions league and the domestic league, the "title holder spot", will be allocated to the 2nd placed team in the domestic league (i.e. Man City wins both champions league and PL and Arsenal finish 2nd - then Arsenal will get that spot). For the Europa League - if one team wins the EL and finish 2nd. in the league, then that spot will be allocated to the 3rd placed team in the league (i.e. If Ajax wins the EL and finish 2nd in the Eredivisie, and PSV finish 3rd, then that spot will be allocated to PSV) For the conference league, if one team wins the Conference league and wins the domestic cup, then that spot will be allocated to the 4th placed team in the league (i.e. if Bayer Leverkusen wins the conference league and also wins the DFB pokal, and Leipzig finish 4th, then that spot will be allocated to Leipzig). 2) If a team wins the champions league and the domestic league, the "title holder spot", will be allocated to the highest ranked nation which enters the qualifying stages the earliest (i.e. if the same happens as in 1), then the spot will be allocated to i.e. Turkey, so they will enter the later qualifying stages instead). For the Europa League - if one team wins the EL and finish 2nd. in the league, then that spot will be allocated to the highest ranked nation which enters the qualifying stages the earliest (i.e. if the same happens as in 1), then the spot will be allocated to i.e. Turkey, so they will enter the later qualifying stages instead). For the conference league, if one team wins the Conference league and wins the domestic cup, then that spot will be allocated to the highest ranked nation which enters the qualifying stages the earliest (i.e. if the same happens as in 1), then the spot will be allocated to i.e. Turkey, so they will enter the later qualifying stages instead). So a nation can only get a maximum of 2 teams in a european competition, if the european champion doesn´t qualify through the league. With this format, we will see a lot of variety of different teams each year, meaning that there will be more interesting match ups and more upsets and suprises and teams from smaller nations will have a much higher chance of winning a european tournament. Also, this will improve the lucrativity of both the EL and Conference League, since big clubs will also play in these tournaments, and the difficulty of entering a european club competition in the first place will make it more attractive for lets say. Real Madrid and Liverpool to fight for the EL or Conference League than if there were more teams. What do you guys think about this format?

[@alohatigers1199]

Instead of 16 teams qualifying for champions league, how about 32? Why not include Eastern European clubs that win their country’s domestic league?

[@footballhighlights_21]

​@@alohatigers1199where will a team like Chelsea be cause it is a previous Europa and champions league holder

[@jonathanchinedu_]

Is not gonna work well❌❌❌❌

[@mrchickflick4444]

Not one Chelsea fan watching right now 😅

[@neovarleydownes9109]

Lets face it, it is ALL about the money. Pass how they can call it "The CHAMPIONS League", when it is full of anything but Champions. This is all Players need, even more Games...and they they wonder why there are so many injuries during a Season. It also matters not, the same old same old Clubs will be there at the end and be just as boring and predictable and it will be designed to keep the top Clubs away from each other.

[@samuelsoroaster416]

i hate it! Just a commercial motive....

[@FelixWadsley]

this is everything wrong with the sport

[@3515B1]

Just make it a league for f sake. Lol. You play all 35 teams,. Just for 1 game lol. Like you play home next game you are away. Like that. 😂.. Teams must just increase their squas sizes. That means. Lower ranked teams in the domestic leagues have a chance to win domestic cups like FA cup. It kinda gives more game time to upcoming young talents,. It's draining on the players but come on guys how many promising talents did we lose due to lack of game time.

[@footballfan283]

To be honest this format is like a league with knock out stages. I don’t like it. It’s so weird

[@jamesquirke3637]

I don't like it.

[@TheWaveGoodbye-Music]

Horrible new format, itll create an elite in football and defacto create a superleague. Cant help but think the bigger clubs had a big say in this. Footballs all about money now these days

[@asaniwasabi]

Is this different than the Super League which will have 64 teams?

[@alohatigers1199]

If a club in Poland, Croatia, Greece, Belgium, Turkey, Finland, etc. wins their domestic league, declaring themselves as the best team in their country, don’t they deserve a champions league qualification? Just by qualifying, how much money do they get? That’s a lot of money for those small teams. Why don’t they do that? Like the original format when it’s 1 club per country qualifying.

[@kingpietro1279]

this would work if its a swiss format but it isn't

[@ME-kk9cl]

😂😂😂, uefa propaganda nice! The fact upsets are almost narrowed down to zero is not mentioned. "They can handle an extra 2-4 games" so stupif