Champions League 2024/25: Why it issues the place every crew finishes within the league stage desk and influence of the spherical of 16 | Soccer information

We're within the residence stretch of the Champions League stage – with all 5 British groups seeking to obtain totally different feats within the new format.

The controversial new Swiss-style system has divided opinion, with every crew grouped into a big 36-league crew and dealing with eight totally different opponents all through the season.

Liverpool don't appear to thoughts after profitable every of their first 5 league stage matches up to now with out conceding a aim. Fifteen factors all however secured them a prime eight spot, which secures them a spot within the final 16.

However can Arne Slot now afford to rotate his crew? No, as a result of there’s an incentive to maintain profitable, as a result of each place counts on this new Champions League format.

Learn beneath to see all of the permutations concerning the remainder of the Champions League format…

Who qualifies out of the championship part?

To earn automated qualification for the spherical of 16 in March, groups should end within the prime eight.

These in ninth by means of Twenty fourth place will compete in a home-and-away play-off spherical in February, with the winners filling the opposite eight locations within the spherical of 16.

Those that end ninth to sixteenth might be seeded for the play-offs and can subsequently have the second leg at residence. These 17-24 is not going to be seeded, so have the primary leg at residence.

Groups that end between twenty fifth and thirty sixth place might be eradicated from the competitors this season, with out entry to the Europa League.

Okay, but when we’re within the prime eight, does it matter if I end first or eighth?

Sure, it’s. The way in which the Champions League league stage works is that the ultimate league place provides you a selected route – and particular opponents – within the spherical of 16 draw.

The graphic beneath reveals the match tree for the rest of the competitors. For the primary time ever, the Spherical of 16 is determined by the Championship Stage – with no separate attracts for the Spherical of 16, Quarter-Finals and past.

For instance, groups that end first or second within the championship stage will face a crew that finishes fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth or 18th.

Evaluate that to the crew that finishes seventh or eighth, who may face a crew that finishes twenty third or Twenty fourth – however would additionally run the chance of dealing with the crew positioned ninth or tenth – who could possibly be a significant European crew.

The benefit for the crew that finishes first or second is that they are going to be assured to play a crew within the “center” of the Champions League closing desk. Ending decrease carries the chance of enjoying a greater crew.

Is it actually a bonus to complete first?

Not essentially. Particularly this season.

The early struggles of groups similar to Actual Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain imply a prime European facet may discover themselves within the “center” of the Champions League desk, discovering themselves up towards one of many hardest groups extra environment friendly.

At the moment, Liverpool are prime of the league stage desk, however the groups presently in fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth and 18th are Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Manchester Metropolis and PSV Eindhoven.

So, if groups don't do in addition to anticipated within the league stage, it may create a blockbuster knockout spherical, taking away their benefit of ending within the prime doable locations.

Is there a distinction between ending ninth and Twenty fourth?

Once more, sure. An enormous one. And it’s all tied to the playoffs.

The brand new Champions League format means the crew that finishes ninth faces the Twenty fourth-placed crew within the play-offs. The tenth performs the twenty third, the eleventh performs the twenty second and so forth.

So in case you narrowly miss out on a top-eight spot, the blow is lessened by enjoying the lower-performing groups that qualify from the league stage. So, the upper you end, the “simpler” the sport is.

However once more, if groups like Actual Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain wrestle within the league stage, prime groups may meet within the play-off rounds.

What number of factors do it’s essential assure a spot within the prime eight?

The Opta supercomputer believes 16 factors would virtually actually be sufficient to complete within the prime eight, which then ensures you a spot within the closing 16 in March.

The info additionally means that 15 factors could possibly be sufficient to sneak into eighth place, with that factors complete being sufficient in 73 per cent of Opta's 50,000 simulations of the championship stage. Liverpool reached this complete final month after 5 wins in 5 matches.

In the meantime, 14 factors most likely gained't be sufficient to complete within the prime eight.

What number of factors do it’s essential assure a spot within the prime 24?

End within the prime 24, which ensures you at the very least a spot within the play-offs, believes Opta 10 factors will virtually actually assure you a spot on this spherical.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa have already reached this determine, whereas Celtic and Manchester Metropolis are one win away from that complete.

Nonetheless, 9 factors may be sufficient to complete Twenty fourth, with that factors complete being sufficient in 69 % of simulations. Metropolis and Celtic are presently one level off that complete.

However solely eight factors are vulnerable to being eradicated, with this level complete being ample in solely 16 % of simulations.

Opta predictions: Arsenal and Liverpool within the prime eight | Villa to get Actual Madrid

The Opta supercomputer says Arsenal And Liverpool are anticipated to complete within the prime eight, with Arne Slot's facet remaining on prime and the Gunners in third.

In its present kind, Manchester Metropolis And Celtic are anticipated to complete fifteenth and 18th – which might imply they might face one another within the play-offs in February.

There could be a tantalizing tie for thirteenth place Villa Astonwho would get Actual Madrid – ought to end twenty first – within the play-offs, with the primary leg on the Santiago Bernabeu.

The supercomputer additionally says Paris Saint-Germain are on the right track to complete twenty sixth – and would subsequently be eradicated from all European competitions on the first hurdle.

Who’re the supercomputer favorites within the Champions League?

Liverpool are presently the favorites to win the Champions League, with Slot's facet having a 20 % likelihood of lifting the trophy in Munich after an distinctive begin to the season.

Arsenal are third favorites with 13.2 % – simply forward of Pep Guardiola's Man Metropolis – fourth favourite with 9.3 %.

Inter Milan are second favorites with 15.8 % – with Atalanta, Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich, Actual Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen And Sporting Lisbon constituting the highest ten.

Villa Aston have a 0.6 % likelihood of profitable your entire match, twice as possible as Celtic about 0.3 %.

When do the 2024/25 Champions League spherical of 16 happen?

• Spherical of 16 play-offs: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025
• Spherical of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
• Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
• Semi-finals: April 29/30 and Might 6/7, 2025
• Ultimate: Might 31, 2025

The place will the Champions League closing happen in 2025?

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will happen in Munich on the Allianz Enviornment on Might 31, 2025.