Frank Christian
The UEFA Champions League has ushered in a new era with a revamped competition structure. The traditional group stage has been replaced by a “league phase” that features all 36 teams, up from the previous 32, arranged in a single league table. Each team has been placed in one of four pots and assigned an eight-game schedule, with four matches at home and four away, one from each pot. The top eight teams in the final standings advance directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked nine through 24 progress to the playoff round for another opportunity to qualify.
Although the old group system is now a thing of the past, every draw still presents varied schedules, with some clubs facing challenging fixtures and others enjoying more favorable prospects.
Considering the draw, The Sporting News has analyzed and identified the toughest and easiest eight-game schedules allocated to the Champions League participants.
Champions League Draw Winners and Losers: Pot 1
Toughest Draw: PSG
Home: Man City, Atletico Madrid, PSV, Girona
Away: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Salzburg, Stuttgart
Paris Saint-Germain faces the most challenging slate in the entire draw. Their schedule features formidable opponents from Pot 1, including Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Additionally, matchups against strong teams from Pots 2 and 4 make their path to the knockout stage a daunting one.
Another team with a tough draw is Liverpool, who have to contend with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan from Pot 2 alongside other strong opponents.
Easiest Draw: Barcelona
Home: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, BSC Young Boys, Brest
Away: Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Red Star Belgrade, AS Monaco
Barcelona received a relatively favorable draw, with a mix of challenging away games but more manageable fixtures at home. Their schedule provides them with a decent chance of progressing to the next stage.
Manchester City also lucked out with a softer draw, facing fewer top European clubs during the league phase.
Champions League Draw Winners and Losers: Pot 2
Toughest Draw: Atalanta
Home: Real Madrid, Arsenal, Celtic, Sturm Graz
Away: Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk, BSC Young Boys, Stuttgart
Atalanta finds themselves with a challenging draw, especially with tough opponents like Real Madrid and Barcelona awaiting them. Another noteworthy team is AC Milan, who face strong adversaries in Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Easiest Draw: Atletico Madrid
Home: RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Slovan Bratislava
Away: PSG, Benfica, Salzburg, Sparta Prague
Atletico Madrid has a relatively straightforward path with a mix of opponents that may work in their favor. This draw gives them a chance to progress without facing too many formidable teams.
Champions League Draw Winners and Losers: Pot 3
Toughest Draw: Feyenoord
Home: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Salzburg, Sparta Prague
Away: Man City, Benfica, Lille, Girona
Feyenoord faces a tough draw with challenging opponents like Bayern Munich and Manchester City in their schedule. Another team, Dinamo Zagreb, also has a formidable lineup ahead.
Easiest Draw: Celtic
Home: RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, BSC Young Boys, Slovan Bratislava
Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb, Aston Villa
Celtic has a relatively easier set of fixtures compared to other teams, with a lineup that could potentially lead them to the knockout stage.
Champions League Draw Winners and Losers: Pot 4
Toughest Draw: Girona
Home: Liverpool, Arsenal, Feyenoord, Slovan Bratislava
Away: PSG, AC Milan, PSV, Sturm Graz
Girona faces a challenging schedule with tough opponents from top clubs, making their journey in the competition an arduous one. Similarly, Slovan Bratislava also faces a daunting lineup.
Easiest Draw: Sturm Graz
Home: RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Girona
Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Lille, Brest
Sturm Graz enjoys a favorable draw with a set of fixtures that could work in their favor, providing them with a relatively simpler path in the competition.
Full Champions League League Phase Draw 2024/25
For the complete draw of all 36 clubs participating in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase, refer to the list below.
Purchasing Champions League Tickets for 2024/25 Season
As soon as the schedule for the Champions League matches is finalized, the ticketing process will commence. Except for the final match, UEFA does not directly sell tickets for European games.
Therefore, the participating clubs manage the primary sales of tickets. This arrangement ensures that fans can easily acquire tickets just like they would for any other game.
Even after the initial distribution of tickets, fans still have the option to buy tickets from the secondary market. StubHub International is highlighted as a recommended platform for securing tickets to Champions League fixtures.
