The Champions League is about to undergo revolutionary changes. From 2024, it will bear a striking resemblance to the rejected Super League

It’s time to say goodbye to the traditional format. The most prestigious football competition in the world is about to undergo significant changes to the game model in two years’ time, which will not please every fan. Let’s explain the changes that will soon be introduced. The question is whether the Champions League needs similar changes. Will it become even more attractive or will it eventually lose its charm?

The group stage will see the most significant changes to the rules and format. From the 2024/25 season, this part will literally disappear. Competing teams will have to play ten matches against ‘arbitrary’ clubs to qualify for the knockout phase.

After these ten matches, the teams in the top eight places will move on directly. Then the clubs from 9th to 24th place will also play their play-offs to stay in the competition. Again, the top eight will advance, where they will join the aforementioned top eight.

The format of home and away matches will remain unchanged in the knockout phase. Until the semi-finals and the final, when they will be played on neutral ground. Where is the hidden problem? After the rule change, smaller clubs will be at an even greater disadvantage. They will be pitted more times against the big clubs and are more likely to drop out early. The competition will lose the element of surprise.

The number of matches will increase considerably, which will make players even more tired in an already demanding season. This whole arranged system feels like the oft-mentioned football Super League. At present, there are 96 matches in the Champions League, and in 2024/25 it will be twice as many.

Finance vs. player health

We can therefore expect 180 games in a single competition, which is unbearable for player health. The whole football calendar will become unbearably uncompressed. This does not take into account the World Cup or the European Championship.

Moreover, UEFA is apparently considering introducing a ‘final four’ instead of semi-finals. This would mean that only one match would be played from the semi-finals onwards. In addition, UEFA is pocketing more than half of the television rights belonging to the teams playing in the modified Champions League with this modification of the competition.

On the economic side, this will become even more liquidating for other clubs who already struggle with financial fair play under the current conditions due to the non-existent salary caps. It may therefore appear to many that Premier League teams may be at a slight advantage over their rivals.

We will see if, sportingly, the matches will become more attractive when they are played on the pitch. Either way, it may be clear to all that this may not be what the competition officials are so concerned about. Money plays a major role in this respect again.

Source: Twitter, UEFA