The new Champions League 2024-25 has brought with it several new features, the main one being the change in format. Gone was that traditional group stage in which 32 teams were placed in eight different groups in which four sought a place in the round of 16 through six games – two against each rival at home and away. Now the competition is radically different and by hosting four more clubs we find that some of them are of quite low quality, which means an increase in goals, something totally necessary for the biggest ones.
The best teams Europe They are obliged to score as many goals as possible in this reformed Champions League, since there are only eight places in the round of 16 for those 36 teams that play it. Furthermore, each of those positions will be decisive for the next match, so finishing first or second is not the same as finishing third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth.
This means that in the face of a positive crossing in the round of 16 or in the play offwho will go from ninth to twenty-fourth, it is essential to score many goals, since the classification can be as tight as possible until the last day of the league. When goal average between teams disappears, since each team only plays one game against its eight rivals, the general difference between goals scored and goals conceded comes into play, which will be essential to settle the positions in the event of a tie on points.
That equality is a more than possible scenario among the big clubs as it is so easy to defeat lesser quality rivals. It is taken for granted, barring major surprises, that Europe’s leading teams will beat their most affordable opponents, so the score at the end of the group stage aims to be very close between them.
Many wins in the new Champions League
As a result of this, in these first two days we are seeing such a number of goals and defeats by big teams against the smallest teams in the competition. Without going any further, this Tuesday came loaded with goals, with beatings like that of the Brest to the Salzburg at home (0-4), that of Barcelona to the Young Boys in Montjuic (5-0), that of Inter Milan to the Red Star (4-0), that of Manchester City away from home Slovan Bratislava (0-4), or the thickest one, that of Borussia Dortmund to the Glasgow Celtic (7-1).
Going from 32 to 36 teams is not the only novelty with which the Champions League is presented in this edition, but the most relevant thing is that there is no longer a group stage in the first weeks, but rather the teams will form a classification global and unique, in which eight matches chosen in the draw will be considered, four at home and four as visitors.
The results will shape the classification table, from which the top eight clubs have direct access to the round of 16 of the Champions League, with the next 16, between ninth and twenty-fourth position, with a pass to the playoffs of round of 32 Finally, starting from the twenty-fifth place, all teams are eliminated from the competition.
Among the favorites to go far in the Champions League, the candidates from recent years stand out, with Real Madrid, current champion, at the head. In addition to the whites, City, Paris Saint-Germainhe Bayern Munich or the Barça They will also be teams to take into account when it comes to reviewing the results in the group stage that replaces the group stage.
