Real Madrid will face high-calibre opponents / Photo: UEFA
Defending champions Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Milan, Atalanta, Salzburg, Lille, Stuttgart and Brest in the first round of the new Champions League, according to the draw held this afternoon at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The Whites will host Dortmund in a repeat of the last final, Milan, Salzburg and Stuttgart and will visit Liverpool, Atalanta, Lille and Brest.
This initial stage, called the “league phase” by UEFA, will include eight rounds, from September 17 to January 29. All will be played on two dates – Tuesday and Wednesday – except for the first – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – and the last, which will be unified on Wednesday and which could be decisive in establishing the round of 16. The schedule will not be known until Saturday 31.
Format
The top eight teams will advance directly to the last 16. Those finishing between ninth and 24th will play a two-legged knockout round in February to complete the last 16, and those placed between 25th and 36th will be eliminated, with no option to advance to any other competition, as has been the case to date.
The competition will then continue in the current two-legged knockout format until the final on 31 May 2025 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Monaco / EFE
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2024-08-30 15:53:07
