In the revamped format of Europe’s top club competition, every team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, as all 36 clubs are now combined into a single league rather than divided into groups. Defending champions Real Madrid will take on Liverpool away and host Borussia Dortmund, recreating last season’s final during the league stage of the newly structured Champions League, according to Thursday’s draw. Additionally, Real Madrid, who have signed French superstar Kylian Mbappe since clinching their record 15th European Cup, will also face AC Milan at home and travel to Atalanta.
Defending champions Real Madrid are set to face Liverpool away and host Borussia Dortmund in a repeat of last season’s final as part of the league stage in the new format of the Champions League, according to Thursday’s draw. The restructured competition now features all 36 clubs pooled into a single league rather than being divided into groups, with each team playing eight games against eight different opponents. Real Madrid, who recently signed French superstar Kylian Mbappe after securing their record-extending 15th European Cup, will also host AC Milan and travel to Atalanta.
Real Madrid recently defeated Atalanta, the previous season’s Europa League winners, in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw. Liverpool, returning to the Champions League after a one-year absence, will also face Milan and tournament debutants Girona. However, Anfield fans will likely be most excited about hosting German champions Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, winners of the 2023 edition, are scheduled to host Italian champions Inter Milan and travel to both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. Their draw also includes more manageable fixtures against Club Brugge, Sparta Prague, and Slovan Bratislava, who are making their first appearances in the modern Champions League.
Other notable matchups include Bayern Munich against PSG and Barcelona, and Arsenal facing off against Inter and Paris Saint-Germain. The number of teams in the Champions League has increased from 32 to 36, with the clubs divided into four seeded pots of nine teams each for the draw. Each team will play against two opponents from each of the four pots, one home and one away. The first matches are set for September 17, 18, and 19.
Two additional matchdays in the new league phase will occur in January, concluding with the top eight clubs from the 36-team league advancing directly to the last 16. Teams ranked between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round to determine the remaining eight spots in the last 16. The bottom 12 teams in the league phase will be eliminated entirely, with no relegation to the Europa League as in previous years.
The Europa League and the third-tier Conference League will also adopt this new format with 36 clubs, although the Conference League will feature only six match days in its league phase. The draws for these competitions are set to take place on Friday.
