The Champions League’s first-ever league-phase format is poised for a nail-biting and competitive conclusion on Wednesday, with 25 of the 36 participating teams still in contention for progression.
The new system has ensured nearly every match has significance, with 16 of the 18 final games carrying implications for qualification.
The New Format Explained
This revamped structure replaces the previous group stage format of four-team groups, ensuring that every matchday remains competitive.
Here’s how it works:
Top 8 Teams: Advance directly to the last 16 as seeded teams.
9th–24th Teams: Enter the knockout play-off round. Teams ranked 9th–16th will be seeded and play teams ranked 17th–24th over two legs, with seeded teams hosting the second leg.
25th–36th Teams: Eliminated outright with no entry into the Europa League.
This setup guarantees meaningful stakes for most teams until the final matchday, delivering on UEFA’s promise that “every game counts.”
British Teams’ Scenarios
Manchester City
City’s fate hinges entirely on their final game. A win against Club Brugge at home secures them a spot in the play-offs. Anything less, and they are eliminated.
Automatic last-16 qualification: Not possible.
Arsenal
The Gunners are virtually through to the last 16, sitting three points clear of the play-offs with a superior goal difference. A draw or win against Girona will confirm their place.
Liverpool
Liverpool have secured a top-8 finish and are guaranteed a seeded spot in the last 16. With their top-two position already confirmed, they’ll avoid meeting the second-ranked team until the final.
Aston Villa vs. Celtic
This all-British clash has significant implications:
Villa: Guaranteed at least a play-off spot. A win gives them a shot at a top-8 finish, though they would need help from results elsewhere.
Celtic: One point behind Villa, Celtic need a win and several favorable results to climb into the top 8. However, Opta projections indicate they are highly likely to settle for a play-off spot.
Who’s In and Who’s Out
Qualified for Top 8
Liverpool, Barcelona
Guaranteed Top-24
Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, Celtic
Uncertain
PSV, Club Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, Shakhtar Donetsk
Eliminated
Bologna, Sparta Prague, Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys
The Financial Stakes
The Champions League is not only about prestige but also significant financial rewards:
Each participating team earns €18.62m (£15.6m).
Performance bonuses: €2.1m (£1.8m) per win and €700,000 (£587,000) per draw.
Each position in the league phase adds €275,000 (£231,000), ranging from €9.9m (£8.3m) for first place to €275,000 (£231,000) for last.
Knockout Stage Bonuses
Play-off participation: £840,000
Last-16: £9.3m
Quarter-finals: £10.6m
Semi-finals: £12.7m
Runner-up: £15.6m
Winner: £21.1m
Teams are also set to benefit from UEFA’s new “value pillar”, which distributes broadcast revenue based on finishing position in the league phase.
Fan Frenzy and Matchday Chaos
With all 18 games kicking off simultaneously at 20:00 GMT, the league table will constantly shift as results come in, making for a chaotic yet thrilling conclusion.
Games with direct implications include Manchester City vs. Club Brugge, Stuttgart vs. PSG, Brest vs. Real Madrid, and Inter Milan vs. Monaco.
Teams like Aston Villa could either overtake six teams or be overtaken by 15 others, depending on results.
Early Verdict on the New Format
UEFA’s goal of creating a more competitive and entertaining group phase appears to be a success.
With only two dead rubbers and 16 games still relevant, the stakes remain high across the board.
High-profile matchups, like Real Madrid facing Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona clashing with Bayern Munich, have already showcased the appeal of this structure.
The question now is whether the drama of the final day will cement this format as a long-term replacement for the traditional group stage.
(Credit: UEFA, BBC Sport)
