The Champions League is again underway with a brand new format – however what do the groups have to qualify for the knockout rounds of the competitors?
A brand new format brings new expectations in Europe this season, with golf equipment trying on the arithmetic to see what number of factors they would want to qualify for the knockout rounds within the new league section construction.
As an alternative of the standard eight teams of 4 – with the highest two from every group qualifying for the final 16 – a brand new ‘Swiss-style’ 36-league format has been launched this season.
The prime eight sides within the league will qualify routinely for the final 16, whereas the groups ending in ninth to twenty fourth place will compete in a two-legged play-off towards one another to hitch the highest eight groups in that spherical of the competitors.
Sky Information sport correspondent Rob Harris explains what’s new – and why some folks assume it’s complicated.
The underside 12 groups – from twenty fifth to thirty sixth – shall be eradicated with no entry to the Europa League.
So to keep away from an early elimination – what number of factors do you want? And what concerning the quantity wanted to skip the play-off spherical and end within the prime eight?
What do it’s essential end within the prime eight?
The Opta supercomputer believes 16 factors from a potential 24 – so 5 wins and a draw from eight matches, or different mixtures – would virtually definitely be sufficient to end within the prime eight, which ensures you a final 16 spot within the New Yr.
The info additionally believes 15 factors – so 5 wins from eight video games, or different mixtures – may very well be sufficient to sneak into eighth place, with that factors tally being sufficient in 73 per cent of Opta’s 50,000 simulations of the league section.
Fourteen factors, so 4 wins and two attracts, is unlikely to be sufficient for a prime eight end – so the race to 5 wins is more likely to be the goal for the most important sides.
What about to achieve the play-offs?
To end within the prime 24, which ensures you a play-off spot no less than, Opta believes 10 factors – so three wins and a draw, or different mixtures – will virtually definitely assure you a spot in that spherical.
It means whichever groups win within the opening spherical of Champions League fixtures want simply seven factors from the remaining seven video games to ensure themselves a play-off spot.
9 factors – so three wins from eight video games, or different mixtures – may very well be sufficient to complete twenty fourth, with that factors tally being sufficient in 69 per cent of the simulations.
However simply eight factors – so two wins and two attracts, or different mixtures – runs the chance of elimination, with that factors tally being enough in simply 16 per cent of the simulations.
So groups shall be concentrating on no less than three wins from eight to offer them the absolute best likelihood of reaching the Champions League knockout rounds.
The Champions League desk – who’s on track to qualify?
Arsenal fixtures
September 19: Atalanta vs Arsenal, Gewiss Stadium, kick-off 8pm
October 1: Arsenal vs Paris SG, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 8pm
October 22: Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 8pm
November 6: Inter Milan vs Arsenal, San Siro, kick-off 8pm
November 26: Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal, Jose Alvalade Stadium, kick-off 8pm
December 11: Arsenal vs Monaco, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 8pm
January 22: Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 8pm
January 29: Girona vs Arsenal, Estadi Montilivi, kick-off 8pm
Aston Villa fixtures
September 17: Younger Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
October 2: Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
October 22: Aston Villa vs Bologna, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
November 6: Membership Brugge vs Aston Villa, Jan Breydel Stadium, kick-off 5.45pm
November 27: Aston Villa vs Juventus, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
December 10: RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa, Pink Bull Area, kick-off 8pm
January 21: AS Monaco vs Aston Villa, Louis II Stadium, kick-off 5.45pm
January 29: Aston Villa vs Celtic, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
Liverpool fixtures
September 17: AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool
October 2: Liverpool vs Bologna, Anfield, kick-off 8pm
October 23: RB Leipzig vs Liverpool, Pink Bull Area, kick-off 8pm
November 5: Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen, Anfield, kick-off 8pm
November 27: Liverpool v Actual Madrid, Anfield, kick-off 8pm
December 10: Girona vs Liverpool, Estadi Montilivi, kick-off 5.45pm
January 21: Liverpool vs Lille, Anfield, kick-off 8pm
January 29: PSV Eindhoven vs Liverpool, Philips Stadium, kick-off 8pm
Man Metropolis fixtures
September 18: Man Metropolis 0-0 Inter Milan
October 1: Slovan Bratislava vs Man Metropolis, Narodny futbalovy stadion, kick-off 8pm
October 23: Man Metropolis vs Sparta Prague, Etihad Stadium, kick-off 8pm
November 5: Sporting CP vs Man Metropolis, Jose Alvalade Stadium, kick-off 8pm
November 26: Man Metropolis vs Feyenoord, Etihad Stadium, kick-off 8pm
December 11: Juventus vs Man Metropolis, Allianz Stadium, kick-off 8pm
January 22: Paris Saint-Germain vs Man Metropolis, Parc des Princes, kick-off 8pm
January 29: Man Metropolis vs Membership Brugge, Etihad Stadium, kick-off 8pm
Celtic fixtures
September 18: Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava
October 1: Borussia Dortmund vs Celtic, Sign Iunda Park, kick-off 8pm
October 23: Atalanta vs Celtic, Gewiss Stadium, kick-off 5.45pm
November 5: Celtic vs RB Leipzig, Celtic Park, kick-off 8pm
November 27: Celtic vs Membership Brugge, Celtic Park, kick-off 8pm
December 10: Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic, Maksimir Stadium, kick-off 5.45pm
January 22: Celtic vs Younger Boys, Celtic Park, kick-off 8pm
January 29: Aston Villa vs Celtic, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
When are the 2024/25 Champions League league-stage matches?
- Matchday 1: September 17-19, 2024
- Matchday 2: October 1/2, 2024
- Matchday 3: October 22/23, 2024
- Matchday 4: November 5/6, 2024
- Matchday 5: November 26/27, 2024
- Matchday 6: December 10/11, 2024
- Matchday 7: January 21/22, 2025
- Matchday 8: January 29, 2025
When are the 2024/25 Champions League knockout levels?
- Knockout spherical play-offs: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025
- Spherical of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
- Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
- Semi-finals: April 29/30 and Could 6/7, 2025
- Ultimate: Could 31, 2025
The place is the Champions League closing being held in 2025?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will happen in Munich on the Allianz Area on Could 31, 2025.
