Last season in the men’s Champions League we saw the end of the group stage process the first stage of the competition instead we saw a league table.
This concept officially launched this year on the women’s side, so here is how it works as they also expand the number of teams to 18.
Under this new format, clubs will not play three other teams twice with a home and away leg in a group stage, but instead six different teams, half at home and half away.
The opponents are determined by teams ranked in three seeding pots based on their latest club coefficient ranks. So the top three are Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais, and Chelsea. Because they have won their leagues multiple times in a row, they will be seeded in one group.
However, to ensure a balance of opposition, each team will then be drawn to play two opponents from each of these pots, playing one match against a team from each pot at home and one away.
Each game matters as it's like the WSL, so if you win all six games, you will be at the top of the league. This means there is more to play for through the competition.
The top four sides in the league phase will qualify automatically for the quarter-finals, while teams finishing 5th-12th place will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure the last eight positions. Of course, we need more games and an increase in injuries.
Teams that finish in the league stage ranked 13 to 18 will be eliminated.
The rest of the competition is as expected: quarter-finals, semi-finals, then the final.
Arsenal (holders), Chelsea, Barcelona, Lyon, and Bayern Munich are already in the Champions League; the rest are the runners-up from those leagues who are currently in the Champions path and league path to ensure they join the Champions League.
Second qualifying round
Draw: 19 September, Nyon
First leg: 7/8 October
Second leg: 15/16 October
Round of 16
Draw: 17 October, Nyon
First leg: 11/12 November
Second leg: 19/20 November
Quarter-finals
Draw: 17 October, Nyon
First leg: 11/12 February
Second leg: 18/19 February
Semi-finals
Draw: 17 October, Nyon
First leg: 24/25 March
Second leg: 1/2 April
Final (two legs)
Draw (to decide order of ties): 17 October, Nyon
First leg: 25 or 26 April
Second leg: 2 or 3 May
Add comment
Comments