The Champions League Deep Dive: What did we learn from the opening round and is the new format looking like an early success?

While this season’s Champions League adventure might have got underway last week, there is still plenty of confusion over UEFA’s controversial new format.

Almost universally regarded as the greatest club tournament from across the globe, this is the first time since 1992 that such a drastic revamp has been completed.

With UEFA completely tearing up the long-standing and traditional format, we have broken down just how all of the alterations work and taken a look at just how the new look Champions League could impact Europe’s elite.

How does the new Champions League format work?

For as long as many can remember, the Champions League group stage was set up with 32 teams in eight separate groups of four – with the top two sides from those respective groups qualifying for the last 16.

However, in what has been a drastic alteration by football’s leading governing body, the new 36-team tournament will see all of the clubs placed into one single group and each will play eight games – four at home and the remaining four on foreign soil.

Teams who finish in the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16, while those who place ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.

Unlike previous tournaments, the eight clubs that end the new group phase sat in the bottom eight will be completely eliminated from all European tournaments and will not drop down into the Europa League knockout stage.

What are the reasons behind the new format choice?

Although UEFA might have decided to add two more additional group stage fixtures in an attempt to earn more finances, they have insisted that the new Champions League format has been designed so more of Europe’s fringe clubs can be handed a chance.

Likewise, stating that they believed the previous group stage format was not as entertaining and saw all of Europe’s elite avoid each other until the later stages, UEFA has insisted that the new idea is to allow more big-match fixtures from the offset.

However, although UEFA might have been quick to praise what they have billed as an ‘innovational’ new format for European football, their expanded tournament has received a hefty amount of backlash.

Watching Manchester City ace Rodri openly discuss the potential prospect of players going on strike due the added fixture congestion, organisations such as the PFA have raised concerns over play welfare issues.

How did the British teams fair?

While both Manchester City and Arsenal might have opened their respective Champions League adventures with 0-0 stalemates against Inter Milan and Atalanta, the British elite got things underway with an early flurry.

With no Premier League club managing to reach the semi-final stage last season, the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa certainly made their own early statements on foreign soil.

Watching Liverpool mount a stellar comeback away at Italian heavyweights AC Milan as they eventually left the San Siro with a 3-1 victory, Unai Emery’s men marked their iconic Champions League return with a famous 3-0 romp away at Swiss outfit Young Boys.

However, laying down what was a sensational opening week marker, Celtic stole plenty of the early headiness as they stormed their way to a 5-1 win against Slovan Bratislava as they remarkably finished the opening round of fixtures sat second in the table.

Who are the leading title contenders this season?

Although UEFA might have extended their tournament in an attempt to hand more clubs a chance on the grandest of stages, it isn’t a surprise that the usual suspects are once again pencilled in as this season’s leading title contenders.

With Spanish icons Real Madrid making real history back on June 1st as they secured a 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley as they got their hands on a 15th European crown, Los Blancos are seen as one of the standout candidates this time around.

However, while Manchester City might have relinquished their maiden Champions League crown last season, it is the English record-breakers who are seen to be as the standout contender in 2025.

With this season’s tournament set to come to a close at Bayer Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31st, Pep Guardiola’s men have plenty of scrutiny on them as they look to claim just a second European piece of silverware.