The UEFA Champions League is set to kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 17 with the first match between Aston Villa and BSC Young Boys at Stade de Suisse Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland. This year marks a new format for the competition, with an increase in teams from 32 to 36 and each team playing eight matches against two teams from each of the four seeding groups.
The tournament will feature a playoff phase where 16 teams will compete for the final eight spots in the knockout phase, which starts in the Round of 16. The top eight teams in the table will automatically advance to the Round of 16, while the ninth through 24th teams will compete in a playoff round. Meanwhile, the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated from the competition.
Young Boys and Aston Villa are set to face Barcelona and Bayern Munich, respectively, in upcoming matches as the competition progresses. Fans can watch all matches live on Paramount+ and catch replays of the UEFA Champions League matches. Those looking to purchase tickets can do so through StubHub or VividSeats, with a promo code available for a discount on ticket orders.
The new Champions League format offers more games, teams, and opportunities for clubs to compete against strong opponents, ultimately leading to more excitement and anticipation for fans. With a prize money fund exceeding 2.5 billion euros, clubs are competing for lucrative rewards, making this year’s competition even more enticing for both teams and supporters alike.
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