Champions League Group Stage Draw: How the New Format Will Work
The Champions League has undergone a significant change for the upcoming season, with a new format and draw process. Gone are the days of a four-hour draw ceremony, replaced by a state-of-the-art AI supercomputer that will create the groups in a matter of minutes. But how will it work? We’ve got the lowdown on the new format and what you can expect from the group stage draw.
The New Format
This season, the Champions League will feature 36 teams, an increase from the traditional 32 teams. The teams will be divided into four pots of nine teams each, with each pot containing a mix of top-ranked teams and lower-ranked teams. The AI supercomputer will then create the groups by randomly selecting teams from each pot, taking into account various factors such as team rankings, nationalities, and previous group stage performances.
Preventing Repeat Draw
One of the main concerns with the new format is the possibility of a repeat draw, where teams from the same country or group are drawn together. To prevent this, the AI supercomputer has been programmed to ensure that no team from the same country can be drawn together more than twice. This is a significant improvement over the traditional manual draw process, which often resulted in unbalanced groups.
Cybersecurity Concerns
With the introduction of an AI supercomputer, there are also concerns about cybersecurity. UEFA has assured fans that the draw is safe from any cyberattacks, but only time will tell if this is the case.
Draw Ceremony
The group stage draw ceremony will take place in Monte Carlo on Thursday at 5pm UK time. Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa will represent English football in the competition, while Italy and Germany will have five teams each.
Giorgio Marchetti and Pedro Pinto
Giorgio Marchetti and Pedro Pinto, the usual draw masters, will have a reduced role in the new format. While they will still be involved in the draw ceremony, the AI supercomputer will do the heavy lifting in terms of creating the groups.
What’s Next?
The 2024/25 Champions League group stage will take place on Thursday at 5pm UK time in Monte Carlo. Make sure to follow us on all social media platforms for more updates and analysis on the competition. Who do you think will dominate the group stages? Let us know in the comments!
Topics: UEFA, Champions League, Football