The new UEFA Champions League season starts in September with a new and changed structure. In the new structure of the Champions League, the number of teams has increased, the number of matches of the teams has increased, and the amount of the prize money has also increased.
The new structure of the new Champions League draw will also be in a new system this time. UEFA organised the draw on Thursday in Monaco. Earlier in the draw, it was decided who would play in which group. This time there is no group stage. The draw will determine which eight teams each team will play against in the single points league.
The new structure of the Champions League was made by UEFA following the demands of the influential clubs of European football. Most of the rich clubs’ deals are settled by European football’s governing body. The Champions League has increased by four teams to 36 teams. Each team will get a chance to play at least eight matches. Previously, the teams that left the group stage played 6 matches each.
Champions League matches will be held in January for the first time. The total prize money has increased by 25 percent to 250 crore Euros. As the financial rewards have grown, so have the ever-busier schedules. Earlier there were 96 matches in the group stage, now it has increased to 144.
In order to explain why so many changes, UEFA has mentioned some main objectives. In their words, ‘The main objective is to improve the level of competition throughout the tournament and increase the number of matches where both teams have something to gain or lose.’
In the eighth or last round of the first phase, all 36 teams will play the match at the same time. That day will be January 29th. The top eight teams on the points table will go directly to the last sixteen. 9 to 24 on the points table—these 16 teams will play a separate knockout playoff round. The eight winners will face the eight teams who have a direct place in the last sixteen. The bottom 12 teams in the points table will be eliminated.
Stefane Anselmo, Head of Competition Strategy of UEFA, said that it is possible to go to the knockout phase if we get as many points as possible in the first round, ‘We have seen by computer simulation, an average of 7.6 points is needed to get to the next round. Which means two wins and two draws.’
Why the change in Champions League structure?
Of course money is the main factor. But that is not the only reason. For 32 years since its transformation into the Champions League in the 1992-93 season, the Champions League has given the football world the most crowded and highest-quality competition. The prize money has also increased to thousands of crores. Clubs are also able to spend unbelievably well on squad transfers and player salaries, using money from prize money.
The European Club Association (ECA) officials were not satisfied with that either. They found the group stage very dull and boring. They wanted more matches between strong clubs. They hope to get more viewers and new football fans as the amount of money received for broadcasting rights increases. They also planned to leave UEFA and form a new league like Super League.
The first plan to reform the Champions League structure was in 2019. Mid-level clubs and domestic leagues opposed the argument that some big clubs would be favoured. However, after the big clubs announced the Super League in April 2021, the clubs that had objected to the reforms started negotiating for the change again. And in that continuity, UEFA finalised the new structure in May 2022.
How is the new structure?
In the last 21 seasons, 32 teams were divided into eight groups and played in the first phase. The top two teams from each group advanced to the last sixteen. Between September and December, the teams played 6 matches in the home and away system.
This time there is no group in the first phase. All 36 teams are under a points table. Between September and January, each team will play eight matches against eight teams in random order. Which of these four matches will be played at home and which four matches will be played at the opponent’s ground will also be determined by lottery.
The top eight teams on the points table will get direct access to the last sixteen in March. Teams from 9th to 24th on the points table will face off in the knockout playoffs in February. Teams numbered 9 to 16 will play against teams numbered 17 to 24. The draw will determine which team will play against whom. The eight teams that win the play-offs advance to the last sixteen. Then quarter finals, semi finals and finals as before.
Who is getting the extra four places?
Clubs from the two countries that did well overall in the UEFA club competition last season are allocated two places. Based on the results of the last season, two additional clubs from Italy and Germany got a chance in this year’s Champions League. Bologna and Borussia Dortmund, who finished fifth last season in Italy and Germany’s top league, will play in this year’s Champions League due to the new rules.
The third team in the league, which is fifth in the UEFA ranking, also got a direct chance this time. France’s Brest finished third in the league last season and qualified for the Champions League. The number 4 team will come through the qualifiers. Earlier, four teams got a chance to qualify for the group stage, now five teams are getting that chance.
How will the draw take place?
The 36 teams will be divided into four pots or divisions according to their rankings. The champions and runners-up teams of the recent Champions League will be in the first pot. This time the draw will be done through a virtual computer program. Each team will get two opponents from each division. Teams will play against one opponent from each division at home and against the other team at home. The schedule of the first phase will be finalised on Saturday.
Billions of dollars in prize money
This year’s champion team can get a maximum prize money of 15 crore Euro or about 2 thousand crore taka. Each team that makes it to the finals will receive 18.6 million euros. Apart from this, the teams will get 21 lakhs for each win and 7 lakhs for each draw.
Apart from this, 99 million euros will be distributed to 36 teams based on their position in the points table. A bonus of 1.1 million euros will be available for each stage of the knockout stage. There is also another €85.3 million bonus for teams based on their history and broadcasting rights in UEFA competitions.
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