Reason All Final League Phase Games in the Champions League Kick-off at 8pm

Reason All Final League Phase Games in the Champions League Kick-off at 8pm

  • The 2024/25 Champions League league phase features a total of 144 matches
  • In the final round of fixtures, up to 18 games will kick off at the same time to ensure fairness
  • The top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th will battle in a February play-off for a spot in the knockout stage

The 2024/25 Champions League has undergone a major format overhaul, introducing four additional teams and expanding the total number of matches from 125 to 189.

This marks the biggest transformation in Europe’s premier club competition since 2004.

Reason All Final League Phase Games in the Champions League Kick-off at 8pm
As many as 18 games will kick off simultaneously in the final round of league-phase fixtures.
Source: Getty Images

Previously, the tournament featured eight groups of four, with the top two teams from each advancing to the round of 16.

However, the new ‘league phase’ sees all 36 teams play eight matches against different opponents, forming a single league table.

The top eight teams automatically qualify for the round of 16, while those ranked ninth to 24th will battle in a play-off for the remaining spots.

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Unlike past seasons, teams finishing at the bottom will not drop into the Europa League.

To ensure fairness and prevent any competitive advantage, UEFA has scheduled all final league phase fixtures to kick off simultaneously at 8 PM GMT on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

This measure eliminates scenarios where teams could manipulate results based on earlier outcomes, maintaining the integrity of the competition.

18 Champions League Matches to be Played Simultaneously

By the end of the 2024/25 Champions League 'league phase,' a total of 144 matches will have been played across eight matchdays, with 18 games each week.

As part of the competition's new format, the opening round of fixtures took place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, marking an 'exclusive week'—a concept applied across all three of UEFA's European tournaments, ensuring that only one competition is played in a given week.

Now, after seven matchdays, all 36 teams are preparing for the decisive final round, set to kick off simultaneously at 8 PM GMT on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

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Since all teams are ranked in a single league table, UEFA has scheduled all matches at the same time to maintain fairness and prevent any side from gaining an advantage by playing later and knowing exactly what result they need.

This approach mirrors the final day of the Premier League season, where simultaneous kick-offs ensure competitive integrity.

How the New Champions League Format Works

The 36 teams that qualified for the league phase were divided into four pots of nine, with each club randomly assigned eight opponents—four home and four away—through a computer-generated draw. Each team faced two opponents from each pot, ensuring a balanced mix of matchups.

Clubs with higher UEFA coefficient rankings, based on their past performances in European competitions, were placed in the top pots, with heavyweights like Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester City featuring in pot one.

Throughout the league phase, teams accumulated points across their eight matches, with the top eight in the final standings earning automatic qualification for the round of 16.

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Meanwhile, clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a two-legged play-off round in February for a chance to advance.

Those ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated from all European competitions. The round of 16 will take place in March, and from that point, the knockout stages will follow the same format as previous Champions League seasons, leading up to the final.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Isaac Darko avatar

Isaac Darko (Sports Editor) Isaac Darko is a Sports Editor at Yen, boasting over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He has produced award-winning TV shows such as "Football 360" and "Sports XTRA" on ViaSat 1/Kwese TV. Isaac began his career as an Assistant Producer at TV3 Ghana Limited (Media General) and also contributed as a Writer and Weekend Editor for Pulse Ghana. He earned his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now University of Media, Arts and Communication). Email: isaac.darko@sportsbrief.com.

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