The Football Reporters podcast crew discusses the new Champions League format and its impact on the knockout playoff round draw.
The Football Reporters podcast crew voiced their frustrations with the new Champions League format ahead of the crucial final group stage matches. The excitement surrounding the competition is heightened by the upcoming knockout playoff round draw, scheduled for Friday, January 31st at 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. GMT at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
A significant departure from previous seasons, this year's format dictates that the knockout bracket will be determined by the final league standings. Instead of the traditional open draws, teams will face predetermined opponents based on their positions. This unique approach has resulted in a heavyweight matchup in the knockout playoff round, as Manchester City, finishing 22nd in the group stage, will square off against either 11th or 12th placed Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.The pairing process is meticulous. Teams are matched based on their final rankings, with 9th facing 10th, 11th against 12th, and so on. Crucially, each pair is strategically placed in opposite halves of the knockout bracket, ensuring that they cannot clash until the final stage. This intricate system guarantees a compelling and unpredictable journey through the competition. Before the draw, each paired team has two potential opponents. To illustrate, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, occupying 11th and 12th positions respectively, could face either 21st-placed Celtic or 22nd-placed Manchester City. The draw commences with the eight unseeded teams, starting from 23rd and 24th and progressing down to 17th and 18th. The first team drawn from each pair is placed in the first half of the bracket, while the second automatically goes into the second half. This process continues with the seeded teams, from 15th and 16th down to 9th and 10th, further solidifying the knockout playoff round matchups.
Champions League Knockout Draw New Format Football Reporters Real Madrid Bayern Munich Manchester City Celtic UEFA
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