UEFA Champions League set for new era after draw: Real Madrid vs Liverpool, FC Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
The UEFA Champions League marked the beginning of a new era with the league-phase draw on August 29, setting up the clashes for the 2024-2025 season under its new format that reshapes European football’s most prestigious competition. Moving away from the traditional group stage, the new draw setup determined which top clubs would face off in this revamped league-phase, marking a significant shift in how the tournament unfolds.
Under the new format, the 32 participating teams were not placed into groups but were instead matched through a unique draw system. Each team will play eight matches against different opponents from their own respective domestic leagues, drawn from four distinct pots. Teams will face two opponents from each pot, with one match at home and the other away.
How did the draw work out?
The draw for the new format of the competition was carried out by none other than football icons – former Juventus and Italy star-goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and the Champions League’s all-time top goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Who faces who in UEFA Champions League new format?
The draw saw Real Madrid, the defending La Liga and Champions League champions, get pinned against familiar foes including Liverpool and AC Milan, while FC Barcelona will clash with Bayern Munich, reigniting a historic rivalry. Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, were drawn against formidable opponents such as Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus.
Paris Saint-Germain, however, face one of the toughest draws of the evening, pitted against heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, and Arsenal. Meanwhile, Turkish side Feyenoord were dealt a challenging hand with fixtures against Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Bayer Leverkusen.
The new format also extends the Champions League calendar, stretching the league phase across eight matchdays and finishing in January instead of December. With six games scheduled before Christmas and two in late January, this expanded schedule allows the Europa League and Conference League their own dedicated midweeks, ensuring a more balanced European football calendar.
UEFA Champions League 2024-2025: Top league phase fixtures
Bayern Munich: PSG (H), Barcelona (A), SL Benfica (H), Shakhtar Donetsk (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Feyenoord (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A).
Real Madrid: Borussia Dortmund (H), Liverpool (A), AC Milan (H), Atalanta (A), RB Salzburg (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), Brest (A).
Paris Saint-Germain: Manchester City (H), Bayern Munich (A), Atlético Madrid (H), Arsenal (A), PSV (H), RB Salzburg (A), Girona (H), Stuttgart (A).
FC Barcelona: Bayern Munich (H), Dortmund (A), Atalanta (H), Benfica (A), Young Boys (H), Red Star (A), Brest (H), AS Monaco (A).
Inter Milan: RB Leipzig (H), Arsenal (H), Bayer Leverkusen (A), Red Star (H), Young Boys (A), AS Monaco (H), Sparta Prague (A).
RB Leipzig: Liverpool (H), Inter Milan(A), Juventus (H), Atlético Madrid (A), Sporting CP (H), Celtic (A), Aston Villa (H), Sturm Graz (A).
Borussia Dortmund: Barcelona (H), Real Madrid (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Sturm Graz (H), Bologna (A)
Manchester City: Inter Milan (H), PSG (A), Club Brugge (H), Juventus (A), Feyenoord (H), Sporting CP (A), Sparta Prague (H), Slovan Bratislava (A).
Liverpool: Real Madrid (H), Leipzig (A), Leverkusen (H), Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Bologna (H), Girona (A).
Arsenal: PSG (H), Inter Milan(A), Shakhtar (H), Atalanta (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Sporting CP (A), AS Monaco (H), Girona (A).
Celtic: Leipzig (H), Dortmund (A), Brugge (H), Atalanta (A), Young Boys (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A).
Aston Villa: Bayern Munich (H), RB Leipzig (A), Juventus (H), Club Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Young Boys (A), Bologna (H), AS Monaco (A).
