Monaco, Aug 28 (AP) José Mourinho's hopes of returning to the Champions League were dashed as his Fenerbahce team fell 1-0 to Benfica in the qualifying playoffs. The Portuguese side maintained their dominance with two goals overturned via video review in the first half, before Kerem Aktürkoglu scored a decisive goal in the 35th minute, securing Benfica's advancement over two legs.
Champions League Lineup The Champions League draw is set to be made on Thursday, completing the lineup that will see Club Brugge, Copenhagen, and Qarabag of Azerbaijan join the 36-team competition. Mourinho, a two-time winner of the tournament, has been absent from its main stage for six seasons, while Fenerbahce extends its absence to 17 years.
Club Brugge emphatically secured their place with a 9-1 aggregate win over Rangers, aided by the early dismissal of Rangers defender Max Aarons in their 6-0 victory. Qarabag returns to the Champions League after an eight-year absence, reaching this stage with a 5-4 aggregate victory over Ferencvaros, despite losing 3-2 at home in Baku. Meanwhile, Copenhagen progressed with a 3-1 aggregate win against Basel, thanks to a 2-0 win in their final leg.
Draw Details The draw ceremony, held at a beachside venue in Monaco, marks a record year for English teams in the competition, with six representatives. A total of 19 teams belong to the top four ranked countries: England, Italy, Spain, and Germany. Newcomers Bodo/Glimt, Kairat Almaty, Pafos, and Union Saint-Gilloise add fresh intrigue, from the Arctic Circle to the eastern depths of Kazakhstan.
Notably, Spain’s Athletic Bilbao returns for the first time since the 2014-15 group stage, while Olympiakos and Villarreal also make a comeback. For the first time in two decades, no Ukrainian team will feature, as Russian clubs remain banned for the fourth consecutive season after Ukraine's full invasion.
Former Champions The 71st edition of the Champions League will feature 14 past winners, boasting a collective 50 titles. Current holder Paris Saint-Germain leads the way. Following Carlo Ancelotti's move to Brazil, Pep Guardiola stands out as the top coach this season, with three titles to his name, following his 2023 victory with Manchester City. Other notable winners include Luis Enrique and Barcelona’s Hansi Flick, who formerly celebrated success with Bayern Munich.
Competition Format Entering its second season of a new format, the Champions League will see 36 teams compete against eight different opponents in a single standings table. The schedule favors balanced matchups drawn from four seeding pots, using five seasons’ worth of UEFA results. Games begin on September 16, and the league phase wraps up on January 28. Notably, Bodo/Glimt will host one game on heated artificial turf during Norway's offseason.
Advancing to the round of 16 in March will require a top-eight finish, while teams ranked ninth through 24th will compete in knockout playoffs in February. The final, set for May 30 at Budapest's Puskas Arena, takes place just days before the World Cup begins in Mexico City.
Prize Money Distribution This season, the FA has allocated €2.47 billion ($2.88 billion) from €4.4 billion ($5.1 billion) in commercial revenue across all European club competitions. Each team, like Kairat, is guaranteed at least €20 million ($23 million), while marquee teams like Real Madrid and PSG will receive a minimum of €60 million ($69 million). Additionally, teams earn extra for each victory and progression in the competition, with the ultimate winner expecting a windfall of €150 million ($175 million).
(AP)
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