"There's always a buzz when European football returns and this season marks the second year of the revamped format, where clubs compete in a league phase rather than a group stage. In the Champions League, the 36 clubs will each play eight different teams four at home and four away. The top eight qualify for the round of 16, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th face a play-off round to join them."
"You may like What we have learned is that it creates more elite matches early on, meaning mouth-watering viewing for fans. This season, the draw gave us Bayern Munich vs Chelsea in the opening week, Barcelona hosting PSG in the second round of games, Liverpool welcoming Real Madrid to Anfield and Manchester City making a trip to the Bernabeu in December. Top clubs and their superstars are everywhere you look."
"With more opponents and more games, there's also a touch of randomness and unpredictability. Last year's champions PSG started their run with three defeats in their opening five games and finished outside the top eight, while Manchester City were 22nd. The final round of matches in the league phase are played simultaneously, making for utter chaos on the last day with 18 games all underway at once."
Champions League's 36-team league phase has each club play eight different opponents, four home and four away. The top eight go directly to the round of 16, while ninth to 24th enter a play-off to qualify. The format yields more high-profile early fixtures, such as Bayern vs Chelsea, Barcelona vs PSG, Liverpool vs Real Madrid, and Manchester City at Real Madrid. More opponents and matches increase randomness; PSG lost three of their first five and finished outside the top eight last season, while Manchester City were 22nd. The final matchday features 18 simultaneous games, leaving many ties undecided until the end.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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