As the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League gears up for its historic 36-team league phase, excitement is at an all-time high.
This is as the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League draw will also take place.
However, in contrast to past seasons, where 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four, this year’s tournament will feature a revolutionary new format, PUNCH Online reports.
The draw for this much-anticipated league phase will take place in Monaco on Thursday, August 29.
In March 2024, PUNCH Online did an explainer on the new Champions League format.
A statement from the UEFA website on Tuesday confirmed the clubs that have already qualified for the 2024/25 Champions League league phase, along with those whose fate will be determined in tonight’s playoff matches.
“We look ahead to a busy week in Monaco as clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League find out who they will face in the inaugural league phases,” it read partly.
2024/25 Champions League: Who has qualified for the league phase?
2024/25 league phase qualifiers:
England (4): Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Man City
Spain (4): Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, Real Madrid
Germany (5): Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig, Leverkusen, Stuttgart
Italy (5): Atalanta, Bologna, Inter, Juventus, Milan
France (3): Brest, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain
Netherlands (2): Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven
Portugal (2): Benfica, Sporting CP
Belgium (1): Club Brugge
Scotland (1): Celtic
Austria (1): Sturm Graz
Ukraine (1): Shakhtar Donetsk
Which teams compete in the 36-team league phase?
Twenty-five teams qualified automatically by virtue of their domestic league placing, with the holders of the Champions League and UEFA Europa League also both guaranteed a spot. Rebalancing was required as both of those title winners also qualified automatically via their domestic league placing.
Full explainer: Champions League winner rebalancing (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Full explainer: Europa League winner rebalancing (Benfica)
Two further places (Bologna and Dortmund) were filled by the European Performance Spots, while the final seven slots will be determined via qualifying.
Russian team remain banned
Meanwhile, UEFA stated that the list is provisional, with Russian teams still suspended.
The same way they were banned from the just concluded 2024 Paris Olympics and Euros 2024 competition in Germany.
“The list above is provisional, based purely on sporting performance and does not account for any potential disciplinary or licensing matters. All Russian teams are suspended from participation in UEFA competitions until further notice,” it noted.
European football’s governing body has banned Russian teams from its competitions following the invasion of Ukraine. Re-elected UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin says it would be very difficult to lift Russia’s suspension from the European football governing body’s competitions until the war in Ukraine ends.
PUNCH Online reports that some second-leg playoff matches are slated for Tuesday and Wednesday as the draw is held Thursday in Monaco.
