Witness as clubs unveil their destiny in a fresh structure that features a 36-team league stage.

Jude Bellingham, the rising star of Real Madrid, proudly celebrated with the trophy in the Plaza Cibeles during the UEFA Champions League Trophy Parade on June 2, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. The young midfielder’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament contributed to Real Madrid’s triumph.

In an interview with ceremony hosts Reshmin Chowdhury and Pedro Pinto, the legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon expressed his thoughts on the Champions League. He emphasized that the competition was not just about winning for him, but also about the joy of playing in it. Buffon regarded the Champions League as the most significant tournament in soccer, highlighting its importance in his illustrious career.

The prestigious 2024 UEFA President’s Award was presented during the ceremony. This year’s deserving recipient was none other than Gianluigi Buffon himself. The Italian goalkeeper, who had previously won the World Cup in 2006, reached three Champions League finals with Juventus. Buffon became the fifth Italian to receive this esteemed award, joining the ranks of Gianni Rivera, Arrigo Saachi, Paolo Maldini, and Francesco Totti.

The match dates for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League were also announced. The group stage matches will commence on September 17-19 with Matchday 1, followed by Matchday 2 on October 1-2, Matchday 3 on October 22-23, Matchday 4 on November 5-6, Matchday 5 on November 26-27, and Matchday 6 on December 10-11. The competition will resume in the new year with Matchday 7 on January 21-22 and Matchday 8 on January 29.

The knockout round play-offs will take place on February 11-12 and 18-19, followed by the Round of 16 on March 4-5 and 11-12. The quarter-finals are scheduled for April 8-9 and 15-16, while the semi-finals will be held on April 29-30 and May 6-7. The highly anticipated final will take place on May 31, marking the culmination of an exhilarating season.

A reminder was given about the format of the competition. The 36 teams participating in the UEFA Champions League have been divided into four pots based on their UEFA coefficients. Each team will face two opponents from each pot, playing a total of eight matches – four at home and four away. The automated software will determine the fixtures, ensuring that teams do not face opponents from their own country and limiting the number of matches against teams from the same nation to a maximum of two.

The top eight teams from the league phase will directly advance to the last 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th will enter the knockout play-off round in hopes of securing a spot in the next stage. Unfortunately, teams ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated from all European competitions.

The anticipation was palpable as the draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League began. This season marked a historic change in the tournament, as the traditional four-team group stage was replaced by a new 36-team league phase. The introduction of designated automated software to determine the schedule added an element of excitement, as clubs’ opponents were randomly selected for the competition.

Football fans around the world eagerly tuned in to witness this momentous occasion. The draw was broadcasted live on various platforms, including this website, TNT Sports 1, discovery+, and the UEFA YouTube channel. The stage was set for an unforgettable season of European football.