The Champions League begins in just under two weeks, and it looks different than ever before. The familiar group stage with eight groups of four is history. Instead, there is a large league phase with 36 teams. Swiss club Young Boys are also taking part, having prevailed against Galatasaray in the playoffs. Here you can find out how the new format works.
One table for everyone
Instead of playing in groups, all 36 teams compete in a single, shared table. Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four of them at home and four away. Opponents are determined from four pots: each team meets two teams from each pot.
Who advances?
- Places 1 to 8: directly to the round of 16
- Places 9 to 24: knockout playoffs with home and away legs for the remaining eight round-of-16 spots
- Places 25 to 36: eliminated
Also new: anyone who is eliminated no longer moves to the Europa League. The exit is final.
More games, more excitement?
UEFA expects the new format to produce more attractive duels right from the start of the competition. Instead of six group matches, each team now plays eight games, and top teams meet each other earlier. Critics, however, point to the additional burden on the players, whose calendars are already full.
The Europa League and the Conference League are also adopting the new league format. This is changing the entirety of European club football.
The 2025 final
The final will take place on 31 May 2025 in Munich. Many games will be played before then, and the end of the league phase is likely to be exciting. Because all teams are in one table, several matches played at the same time on the final matchday could decide who advances.
What this means for players
More games mean less training time. Professional clubs are therefore increasingly focusing on short, intensive sessions, where specific techniques are worked on in a targeted manner. Instead of long training matches, the focus is often on repetitions under match-like conditions.
The same applies to amateurs, just for a different reason: those training alongside work or school have little time. This makes using that time efficiently all the more important.
Train efficiently like the pros
An example of a short technique session you can incorporate before team training:
- 5 minutes of easy warm-up with both feet
- 10 minutes of volleys from three different heights, 10 repetitions each
- 5 minutes of finishing under time pressure: as many clean shots as possible in 60 seconds
With the VOLLEYCHAMP®, such a session can be carried out without a teammate to pass the ball. The ball is ready at 10, 20, or 30 cm, and you can change the height in seconds.
Why every point counts for Switzerland
The performances of Swiss clubs in European competitions are not only important for the clubs themselves. Every win and every draw contributes to the so-called UEFA coefficient ranking. This ranking decides how many places a country receives in European competitions and in which round teams enter. If YB, as well as the Swiss representatives in the Europa League and the Conference League, perform well, the whole of Swiss football will benefit in the coming years. One more reason to root for them, even as a fan of another club.
We have our fingers crossed for YB in the league phase. Go YB, and enjoy the new Champions League!
