The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 season has unveiled its new 36-team league format, promising a series of thrilling encounters.
Among the most anticipated matches, Liverpool will host Real Madrid in what promises to be a clash of titans. This revamped format, which introduces a more diverse group stage, has already set the stage for some of the most electrifying football encounters in recent memory.
Liverpool to Face Real Madrid in High-Stakes Clash
Liverpool and Real Madrid have been drawn to face each other in this season’s Champions League, a fixture that fans and pundits alike will be eagerly anticipating. Liverpool, aiming to avenge their recent defeats to the Spanish giants, will host Real Madrid at Anfield. This encounter is not just a meeting of two historic clubs but also a potential decider for the knockout stages, with both teams eyeing top spots in the newly expanded league format.
Hansi Flick’s Return to Germany
Another fascinating storyline from the draw sees Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick returning to Germany to face his former club, Bayern Munich. This will be the third time in four seasons that these two clubs have met in the Champions League, with Bayern winning the last six encounters.
Among these victories, the 8-2 demolition in the 2020 quarterfinals remains fresh in the memory of Barça fans, making this fixture one of the most compelling of the group stage.
Heavyweight Clashes: Manchester City vs. PSG and Dortmund vs. Madrid
The draw has also thrown up a number of heavyweight clashes, including a showdown between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs, with their star-studded lineups, are perennial contenders for the Champions League title, and their group stage meeting is expected to be a high-octane affair.
Additionally, Borussia Dortmund will once again face Real Madrid, in a repeat of last year’s final. The German side, eager to overcome their previous shortcomings, will host Madrid at Signal Iduna Park, in a match that promises to be a thriller.
Arsenal’s Fortunate Draw
Arsenal, managed to avoid some of the most formidable teams in Pot 1. They were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, with the Gunners likely feeling confident about their chances of progressing. With a balanced draw, Arsenal’s return to Europe’s elite competition could see them make a deep run.
Aston Villa to Reignite Rivalry with Bayern Munich
Aston Villa, another English club with a storied European past, will face Bayern Munich for the first time since their famous 1982 European Cup final victory. This fixture not only revives an old rivalry but also presents Villa with a stern test as they seek to navigate through a challenging group stage.
The New Format: More Games, More Excitement
The 2024-25 season marks the debut of the Champions League’s new 36-team league format. Each club will play eight games in the group stage, two more than in previous seasons. These matches will be spread across different opponents, with each team playing four games at home and four away. This change is designed to increase competitiveness and ensure more high-stakes matches throughout the group stage.
Teams were drawn from four seeded pots, and each team faces two opponents from each pot. However, clubs from the same league cannot be drawn against each other, adding another layer of strategic complexity to the tournament.
Road to the Knockouts
The top eight teams from the league stage will progress directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing between ninth and 24th place will enter a knockout playoff stage.
This format change ensures that even mid-table teams have a fighting chance to advance, keeping the competition intense until the final round of group stage matches.
Champions League 2024-25 Draw Complete List
Manchester City: Inter Milan (H), PSG (A), Club Bruges (H), Juventus (A), Feyenoord (H), Sporting Lisbon (A), Sparta Prague (H), Slovan Bratislava (A).
Arsenal: PSG (H), Inter Milan (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Atalanta (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Sporting Lisbon (A), Monaco (H), Girona (A).
Liverpool: Real Madrid (H), Leipzig (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), AC Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV (A), Bologna (H), Girona (A).
Aston Villa: Bayern Munich (H), RB Leipzig (A), Juventus (H), Club Bruges (A), Celtic (H), Young Boys (A), Bologna (H), Monaco (A).
Real Madrid: Dortmund (H), Liverpool (A), Milan (H), Atalanta (A), Salzburg (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), Brest (A).
Barcelona: Bayern (H), Dortmund (A), Atalanta (H), Benfica (A), Young Boys (H), Red Star (A), Brest (H), Monaco (A).
Atlético Madrid: Leipzig (H), PSG (A), Leverkusen (H), Benfica (A), Lille (H), Salzburg (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Sparta Prague (A).
Bayern Munich: PSG (H), Barcelona (A), Benfica (H), Shakhtar Donetsk (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Feyenoord (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A).
Bayer Leverkusen: Inter Milan (H), Liverpool (A), Atlético (A), AC Milan (H), Salzburg (H), Feyenoord (A), Sparta Prague (H), Brest (A).
Borussia Dortmund: Barcelona (H), Real Madrid (A), Shakhtar (H), Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Sturm Graz (H), Bologna (A).
Inter Milan: RB Leipzig (H), Arsenal (H), Leverkusen (A), Red Star (H), Young Boys (A), Monaco (H), Sparta Prague (A).
AC Milan: Liverpool (H), Real Madrid (A), Club Brugge (H), Leverkusen (A), Red Star (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Girona (H), Slovan Bratislava (A).
Juventus: Manchester City (H), Leipzig (A), Benfica (H), Club Brugge (A), PSV (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), Aston Villa (A).
Paris Saint-Germain: Manchester City (H), Bayern (A), Atlético (H), Arsenal (A), PSV (H), Salzburg (A), Girona (H), Stuttgart (A).
Celtic: RB Leipzig (H), Dortmund (A), Club Brugge (H), Atalanta (A), Young Boys (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A).
The Champions League 2024-25 draw has set the stage for a season filled with drama, high stakes, and unforgettable football moments. With matchups like Liverpool vs. Real Madrid and Bayern vs. Barcelona, fans are in for a treat. As teams prepare to battle it out in this new format, the path to European glory has never been more unpredictable.
When will the UCL 2024-25 group stage begin?
September 17-19
Read More: Explaining the New UEFA Champions League Format: Understanding the Swiss System for 2024-25 season
