The Scottish champions’ automatic Champions League qualification may end this season.
However, Celtic and Rangers will undoubtedly continue to strive to compete annually in the top club competition in Europe. However, they will also need to be aware of another significant modification that UEFA will be implementing starting with the upcoming season, which will be a change to the present group stage model.
With a completely new framework in place, participation will be enhanced as four more clubs will be able to advance to that round. They will also no longer be divided into separate group sections consisting of four teams each. Are you curious about the implications of that? Don’t worry—this clarifies the situation.
What will the new Champions League format look like?
As mentioned, the group stage is now completely changing to a league phase, comprising of 36 teams instead of 32.
There will still be four pots, and each team will be drawn against eight different teams, two from each pot. Every team will be handed four games at home and four away.
The top eight teams from the league phase will qualify straight to the last 16 while teams 9-24 will then feature in a knockout play-off round for the chance to join them. Teams from position 25 down will be eliminated from Europe altogether.
From now on, the top 16 teams will continue to be drawn against one other and play each other at home and away over two legs, followed by a one-leg final at a neutral site.
The Conference League and Europa League operate similarly, with the exception that each squad in the latter competition will consist of SIX teams, selected from six pots.
