The Champions League is the tournament that defines greatness in European football. From Johan Cruyff’s early triumphs to Lionel Messi’s dominance of the latter part of his career, the title has been a pinnacle of achievement for clubs throughout the continent and beyond. It’s a competition that consecrates the very best and immortalizes the clubs that manage to break logic and overcome giants, and every edition provides new chapters to its rich history.
Since its launch in 1955, the Champions League has grown into one of the biggest sports media and broadcasting commodities in the world. The event also has a special place in the hearts of fans, who flock to stadiums across Europe to watch their heroes take on some of the most formidable sides in the game.
For the first time since 2003, this season sees an overhaul of the Champions League format. The number of participating clubs has been increased to 36, and the group stage has been replaced by a ‘league system’ in which teams play eight games against their fellow pool members.
The top six teams from each of the ten biggest domestic leagues qualify directly for the group stage, while national champions in associations ranked 7 through 15 compete in three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds to earn the remaining spots. The final change from this year onwards is that the draw for the round of 16 will seed clubs based on their finishing position in the league phase, and there is no longer country protection for teams in Pot 1. This should mean more competitive matches and a better chance for fans to see their local heroes play in the big games earlier in the competition.