The Champions League knockout stages are set for seismic changes that will completely overhaul the competition, according to ESPN. The new format will be put into place in the 2024-25 season.
With Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal likely to be competing for places in Europe's top tournament, the new rules could impact all three clubs in some way. The Blues have already qualified for next season's competition, whilst the two north London clubs have taken the battle for qualification to the final day.
With separate projects underway at all three clubs, they're all expected to be there or thereabouts when it comes to competing for a Champions League spot in the future. If all goes well, each club could experience the new change.
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The report from ESPN states that the changes mirror the format of Grand Slam tennis tournaments and would be introduced from the 2024-25 season. Country protection is to be scrapped after the group stage, meaning the three London clubs would be able to face each other in the early knockout rounds.
It's all part of a revamp which comes in from the 2024-25 season, expanded from 32 to 36 teams as one league table rather than groups of four teams. Under the new format, each team will play eight games over 10 match weeks.
The report also adds that all clubs who progress into the knockout stages of the competition will have their route right through to the final seeded and pre-drawn, based largely upon their group ranking, just like tennis stars such as Rodger Federer and Novak Djokovic in tournaments such as the Wimbledon Championships. However, the top two teams in the group stage would not be able to meet each other in the knockout rounds until the final, as they will be on opposite sides of the draw.
Whether the changes will improve the nature of the competition remains to be seen, but it's something that fans will have to get used to as plans are firmly in place.
