The Champions League Expansion: A New Era Kicks Off
UEFA, European football’s governing body, has introduced a new format for the Champions League, aiming to inject excitement and unpredictability into the competition. The traditional group stage has been replaced by a league phase involving 36 clubs, an increase of four teams, with each club playing eight unique opponents across ten matchdays. The league phase kicks off with a mouth-watering set of fixtures. Reigning champions Real Madrid host VfB Stuttgart, runners-up in the German Bundesliga last season. AC Milan, one of Europe’s most successful clubs, take on Liverpool, in a clash of two giants. Manchester City, the 2023 winners, face Inter Milan in a repeat of last year’s final, while Monaco and Barcelona will also add glamour to the opening week. The expanded format also sees historic clubs, such as Red Star Belgrade and Benfica, face off, while newcomers Brest from France meet Austrian champions Sturm Graz, showcasing the diversity of the competition. According to UEFA Preside...