The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League season is a significant one in the history of the competition as the competition now has a new format, as announced by UEFA last season. Unlike previous years, where 32 teams play, there are 36 teams in this year’s edition of the competition, while the format of a competition has been changed from the group stage format to a league format.

Teams previously played six group stage games before the knockout round, but now teams will play eight fixtures in the league phase without a return leg. Teams will be ranked in the single table standing like leagues, with the first eight teams progressing to the knockout stage, while the next eight will play a knockout game home and away while the rest will drop into the UEFA Europa League or completely out of Europe based on their final position.

The biggest significant change in the competition besides the format is the fact that the draws, which were held on Thursday, were handled by Artificial Intelligence. The computer program performed the draw and placed defending champions Real Madrid against Liverpool at Anfield Stadium after their opening game at Bernabeu against Dortmund.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side will also play Italian sides AC Milan and Atalanta, German clubs RB Salzburg and Stuttgart, and French club sides Lille and Brest.

Meanwell Barcelona will play Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Benfica, Monaco, Young Boys Brest and Red Star Belgrade.

Selected draws:

Real Madrid: Dortmund (H), Liverpool (A), AC Milan (H), Atalanta (A), Salzburg (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), Brest (A)

Barcelona: Bayern Munich (H), Dortmund (A), Atalanta (H), Benfica (A), Young Boys (H), Red Star Belgrade (A), Brest (H), Monaco (A)

Atlético Madrid: RB Leipzig (H), PSG (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), Benfica (A), Lille (H), RB Salzburg (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Sparta Prague (A)