Manchester, Sep 15 (AP) - The revamped Champions League format delivered surprises, intense moments, and ultimately crowned a new champion in European club soccer's premier competition last season. Europe's elite teams are prepared to embark on another exhilarating campaign.
The action begins on Tuesday, with the first round of matches spread across three days this week.
Paris Saint-Germain clinched victory in May, achieving the largest winning margin in a final by defeating Inter Milan 5-0. However, their journey to the final was fraught with challenges, narrowly avoiding elimination in the early phase.
This was precisely the kind of excitement and uncertainty UEFA sought with its bold overhaul of the tournament. Gone were the predictable groups where favorites typically progressed. Instead, a league phase was introduced, ensuring "every game counts" and maintaining suspense until the final fixtures, with heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and PSG all unsure of their standing.
While PSG—one of the most powerful and heavily funded teams globally—ultimately lifted the trophy, the new format introduced an element of unpredictability not seen in recent years.
The revised structure added a new risk component. UEFA replaced the previous eight groups of four with a 36-team league phase.
This change meant more teams, more matches, and consequently, more revenue. Last season, it also introduced greater risk for top clubs.
Instead of playing each group opponent twice, teams now face eight different sides once.
The league phase draw involved four seeding pots, with top-ranking teams in pot one and the lowest in pot four. Teams were drawn to face two opponents from each pot.
The result? More games between high-ranking teams early in the competition. For example, Madrid faces both Liverpool and Manchester City, while PSG encounters both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The format benefits lower-ranked teams by offering them better chances to accumulate points and advance to the playoffs or the round of 16. They are guaranteed matches against similarly ranked teams, allowing them more competitive opportunities rather than simply being overpowered by elite clubs.
Last season, Brest and Brugge advanced to the playoffs. However, Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava failed to secure any points.
The top eight teams from the league phase progress to the round of 16. The subsequent 16 teams enter a two-legged playoff, with eight advancing.
The ninth-placed team meets the 24th-placed team, the 10th faces the 23rd, and so on.
Last year's playoffs were gripping, notably with former champions Madrid and Manchester City clashing, resulting in City's elimination.
League standings can be misleading as Liverpool topped the league phase, defeating Madrid, AC Milan, and Bayer Leverkusen. However, PSG's struggles meant they progressed through the playoffs and subsequently faced Liverpool in the round of 16.
PSG, having finished 14 places below Liverpool with eight fewer points, won the two-legged encounter and ultimately claimed the trophy.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot lamented his team’s misfortune, describing their knockout as “unlucky” after losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout to what he called “one of the best teams in Europe.” He conceded, “That's the format we are in and we have to accept it.”
Exciting fixtures are on the horizon, notably as newly-crowned world champion Chelsea returns to the Champions League with a challenging visit to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. On the same evening, PSG begins its title defense against Atalanta, and Liverpool hosts Atletico Madrid in a tough opener.
On Thursday, Newcastle welcomes Barcelona, while Manchester City plays at home versus Italian champions Napoli.
Can PSG be stopped? Their triumph last season ended their wait to conquer Europe. The challenge now is to emulate Madrid, who uniquely retained the trophy in the modern Champions League era.
Under Luis Enrique's leadership, PSG's dynamic performance against Inter Milan in the final set a new standard.
However, retaining the coveted trophy is notoriously challenging. PSG's rivals have bolstered their squads to dethrone the French giants.
Liverpool, for instance, invested around $500 million to enhance a squad that recently secured the Premier League title.
Additionally, Madrid enters the new season with Xabi Alonso as head coach, while Manchester City's squad has been reinforced with an influx of approximately $500 million in new talent since January.
The Champions League final is scheduled for May 30, 2026, at the Puskas Aréna in Budapest.
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