UEFA Champions League 2024/25: New Format, Top Favourites, and Key Updates!

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What’s new in the Champions League?

The new UEFA Champions League format was introduced about 15 days ago during the historic, computer-automated draw, which assigned each of the 36 participants eight opponents in the new league.

Groups are a thing of the past, and for the first time, the Champions League will be played on Thursdays (though only in the first matchday of the preliminary phase).

Instead of the usual six, each team will now play eight matches in the league. This means more money for the teams, more for UEFA, but also greater strain on the players.

The top eight teams in the single league will qualify directly for the last 16, while teams placed 9th to 24th will enter a play-off round for a spot in the prestigious knockout stage.

Another change is that there’s no qualification for the Europa League — teams that lose in the play-offs will be out of Europe for the season.

Who are the Champions League favourites?

Real Madrid enters the new UEFA Champions League season as the team to beat. Carlo Ancelotti’s side claimed their 15th European title last season, continuing to push the boundaries of greatness.

The teams they defeated in the finals — Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund—are back, with new managers. Manchester City is once again a main contender alongside Los Blancos.

According to tether.bet markets, Man City is the top favourite with odds of 3.00, followed by Real Madrid at 4.00, and Arsenal at 9.00.

Then come the giants like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, each priced at 13.00.

Who does the supercomputer favour for the Champions League?

Even though Real Madrid strengthened their star-studded team this summer with the world-class Kylian Mbappe, the OPTA analytics supercomputer predicts Manchester City as the favourite.

City is given a 25.3% chance of winning the title, according to research published just days before the start of the Champions League.

The team expected to challenge the English champions is Real Madrid, with an 18.2% chance. Real Madrid knocked out City last season, and in the last four years, Los Blancos have reached at least the semi-finals.

Unlike tether.bet markets, OPTA sees Inter Milan as the third favourite, with a 10.9% chance. The 2023 finalists haven’t significantly changed their squad, with “veterans” like Martinez and Chalhanoglu still leading the charge.

At the top, with odds between 5% and just over 6%, according to the OPTA supercomputer, are Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, and Barcelona. Then come Liverpool, now led by Arne Slot, Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany, and French giants PSG.

photo: OPTA, TheAnalyst.com

Who are the Champions League debutants?

Girona stands out as a Champions League debutant. The team, linked with Manchester City, had a fantastic season last year, shocking La Liga and making history in the process.

Led by Michel, Girona is the 16th favourite, and their goal will surely be to reach the play-offs and secure a place in the last 16.

Bologna is also aiming for the play-off round after squad changes and the departure of Thiago Motta to Juventus, following a historic season and their return to Europe. Bologna will be playing in the Champions League for the first time.

Another beautiful story was written in France, where Brest had a historic season. However, they’ll be underdogs in the Champions League, as will Slovan Bratislava, who will face Celtic in their opener.

UCL Matchday 1 games

Matchday 1 Tuesday 17 September

Young Boys vs Aston Villa

Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven

AC Milan vs Liverpool

Bayern München vs GNK Dinamo

Real Madrid vs Stuttgart

Sporting CP vs LOSC Lille

Wednesday 18 September

Sparta Praha vs Salzburg

Bologna vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava

Club Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City vs Inter

Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona

Thursday 19 September

Feyenoord vs Bayer Leverkusen

Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica

Monaco vs Barcelona

Atalanta vs Arsenal

Atlético de Madrid vs Leipzig

Brest vs Sturm Graz

Full schedule for every Champions League team!

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