Understanding the UEFA Champions League draw: Updated procedures for the 2024/25 'league phase'

The UEFA Champions League is set to embark on a new chapter as the draw for the competition proper unfolds in Nyon on Thursday.

For the first time, the number of entrants in 2024/25 has been expanded from 32 to 36 clubs and a new league phase will accommodate this.

Instead of the traditional round-robin phase of eight groups of four, with the teams in each section playing one another home and away, the competing clubs will instead take part in a single league format, dubbed "the Swiss model".

Each team will play eight games, four and home and four away, with a different opponent for each matchday. 

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At the end of the league phase, the top eight sides will progress automatically to the Round of 16. The teams placed ninth to 24th will take part in a playoff round to book their place in the final stages, while the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated from European competition with no drop down to the Europa League under the new format.

But what does this mean for the draw at the "House of European Football", ringmaster Giorgio Marchetti and his famous pots and miniature balls? Allow The Sporting News to explain.

How does the UEFA Champions League draw work?

To some extent, the machines are taking over. When the draw gets under way, UEFA software will decide a team’s eight opponents after that club is manually drawn out of its assigned pot.

The teams have been split into four pots based on their club coefficients at the start of the season, and each team will face two clubs from each pot. 

This means, for example, that champions Real Madrid could theoretically face Manchester City and Bayern Munich during the league phase, despite all of them being pot one clubs.

UEFA’s software will be programmed to ensure teams cannot play counterparts from their own countries and can only face two clubs from any one country.

The AI element of the draw is necessary because if this system was to be applied to the old format, there would be nearly 1,000 balls on stage and at least 36 bowls required!

UEFA Champions League schedule 2024-25

League Phase:

Matchday One: Sept. 17-19, 2024Matchday Two: Oct. 1-2, 2024Matchday Three: Oct. 22-23, 2024Matchday Four: Nov. 5-6, 2024Matchday Five: Nov. 26-27, 2024Matchday Six: Dec. 10-11, 2024Matchday Seven: Jan. 21-22, 2025Matchday Eight: Jan. 29, 2025

Knockout phase:

Knockout-round playoffs: Feb. 11-12 & Feb. 18-19, 2025Round of 16: Mar. 4-5 & Mar. 11-12, 2025Quarterfinals: Apr. 8-9 & Apr. 15-16, 2025Semifinals: Apr. 29-30 & May 6-7, 2025Final: May 31, 2025

The new format to the Champions League means the first phase will last a little longer than the previous group stage. Matchday One is on September 17, and the final Matchday Eight will not take place until January 29, 2025.

The playoff round for the knockout phase is in mid-February, with the remainder of the elimination stages taking place across March, April and May.

The 2024/25 Champions League final will be held on May 31, 2025, at Munich's Allianz Arena.