Champions League

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      Europa League draw in full as Man Utd face Mourinho reunion and Tottenham handed tricky away ties in new format

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham have discovered their fate in the new-look Europa League with the Red Devils pitted against former boss Jose Mourinho.The draw also produced two blockbuster Battle of Britains with both Man Utd and Spurs to face Rangers in the league phase.The new-look Europa League draw took place on FridayCredit: GettyManchester United qualified for the Europa League through winning the FA CupCredit: GettyTottenham are preparing for their first European campaign under Ange PostecoglouCredit: AlamyMan Utd will face former manager Jose Mourinho and ex-midfielder Fred when they head to FenerbahceCredit: Getty – ContributorErik ten Hag’s men will host the Scottish giants while Ange Postecoglou’s side travel to Glasgow.Follow SunSport’s live blog of the Europa League drawMan Utd will head to Mourinho’s Fenerbahce where ex-Red Devils midfielder Fred also plies his trade.Manchester United’s remaining fixtures will see them travel to Porto, Viktoria Plzen and Twente, as well as hosting PAOK, Bodo/Glimtand FCSB.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSpurs face some tricky European away days as they prepare to head to Turkish giants Galatasaray and German side Hoffenheim.They also go to Hungary to play Ferencvaros.Tottenham will host Roma, AZ Alkmaar, Qarabag and Elfsborg.And Postecoglou, who managed Celtic before joining Spurs, joked he is expecting a “warm reception” from the Rangers fans when his side head north of the border.Most read in Europa LeagueHe said: “Exciting. It’s good to be a part of. Some good games.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSNew Europa League format explainedTHE Europa League has been given a revamp this season, with a whole new group-stage format.All 36 teams are in one big league.Each team will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.The bottom 12 teams are eliminated from Europe entirely.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The knockout phase of the tournament remains the same as previous years.”I am sure I will get a warm reception at Ibrox and they’ll look forward to seeing me.”The competition will follow the same format as the new Champions League, with all 36 teams playing eight matches in the “league phase”.Fans in hysterics as they spot PSG president’s reaction to brutal Champions League draw on live TVThe top eight progress straight through to the last-16, with ninth to 24th going into a play-off round.The bottom eight teams are immediately eliminated.Another change means no Champions League sides will drop down into the Europa League this season.On Thursday, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa learned their Champions League fixtures.SunSport has a full breakdown of the fixture list for each of the English clubs here.Man Utd failed to earn European football through their Premier League position last season after they finished eighth.But their FA Cup triumph over Man City salvaged Europa League football for Ten Hag’s men.READ MORE SUN STORIESTottenham qualified for the Europa League by finishing fifth in the Premier League, two points adrift of the Champions League places.This year’s final will take place in Bilbao on May 21. More

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      Conference League clash suspended as police evacuate entire away stand after shameful scenes

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      POLICE have evacuated away yobs after a Conference League clash was suspended.The tie between NK Olimpija Ljubljana and HNK Rijeka was brought to a halt after flares were thrown into the home stands.A Conference League clash was suspendedCredit: xFlares were thrown into one of the standsCredit: xThe Rijeka hooligans were escorted out by policeCredit: xThe match was stopped in the 65th minute, and the players were taken into the dressing rooms.Reports online have claimed that the Rijeka hooligans started to fight with police who were confronting them.The yobs were then escorted out of the Stožice Stadium in Slovenia.The suspension of the match lasted 26 minutes and was restarted with the away stand empty of fans.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSFans slammed the actions of the away hooligans as they reacted on social media.One posted: “Just call off the game.”A second wrote: “This is the biggest disaster in Croatian football since I can remember. Shame.”A third commented: “Croatia should be banned from football.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA fourth said: “Those idiots have acted shamefully.”Another added: “I hope those supporters that were near the flares are okay.”The Sun’s Shaun Custis and Martin Lipton break down the new changes for the UEFA Champions League format for 2024/25The yobs were slammed by fans onlineThe match was suspended for nearly half an hourThe incident did little to dampen the joy of the Olimpija supporters.Their team has romped into a 5-0 lead inside the first half with the score 6-1 on aggregate.Raul Florucz opened the scoring in the 2nd minute before goals from Thalisson Charles Alves Moreira (x2), Dino Kojic and Perdo Lucas put the result to bed.Elsewhere in the competition, Chelsea took on Swiss side Servette in the second leg of their play-off tie.The Blues were forced to stream the match for free for their supporters due to a website error.New Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season. More

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      Champions League fans ‘entertained by how bored Cristiano Ronaldo looks’ after being given mundane task in new draw

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      FOOTIE fans couldn’t get over just how bored Cristiano Ronaldo looked during the Champions League draw.The five-time Ballon d’Or winner played a key role in the draw in Monaco after receiving a gong for being the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.Cristiano Ronaldo played a big part in the Champions League draw along with former team-mate Gianluigi BuffonCredit: APRonaldo was tasked with pressing the all-important magic button to help finalise the groupsCredit: APBut he cut a bored figure on several occasions during the near hour-long drawCredit: TNT SPORTSRonaldo’s enthusiasm for the draw quickly wanedCredit: GETTYHis lack of interest quickly became the talk of social mediaCredit: GETTYThe Portuguese superstar was dressed to the nines as he was tasked with the job of pressing the all-important supercomputer button.Ronaldo was required to push the button every time his former Juventus team-mate Gianluigi Buffon drew a team out of the four seeded pots.The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend initially cut an enthusiastic figure, although his eagerness waned as the draw dragged on.The 39-year-old had a vacant look on his face several times when his services weren’t required.READ MORE UCL NEWSAnd his boredom was clear and evident when German giants Borussia Dortmund were learning their fate.The forward looked unbothered as he leaned against the table and placed one hand on his hip.His boredom didn’t go unnoticed, with one viewer of the draw saying: “Ronaldo is killing me, he’s so so bored.”Another said: “Ronaldo is SO bored of standing there pressing the same button every 2 minutes.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSNew Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season.And another said: “Ronaldo already looks bored lol. Some Champions League draw this.”One remarked: “Only thing I like about this is Ronaldo getting bored and just pressing the button whenever he wants.”The new Champions League format explainedAnother chimed in: “Surely I’m not the only one entertained by watching Cristiano Ronaldo trying to make pressing a button over and over entertaining.”He looks so bored.”Premier League quartet Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City learned the fates for this season’s tournament during the draw.Arsenal will be away to Inter Milan, Atalanta, Girona and Sporting Lisbon and will host Shakhtar Donetsk, GNK Dinamo, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates,Aston Villa, meanwhile, will welcome Bayern Munich, Juventus Bologna and Celtic to Villa Park in their return to Europe’s elite club competition.Unai Emery’s Villans will be away to RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Young Boys and Monaco.Manchester City’s away days consist of clashes with Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, Slovan Bratislava and Paris Saint-Germain.The defending Premier League champions will host AC Milan, Club Brugge, Feyenoord and Sparta Prague at the Etihad.READ MORE SUN STORIESLiverpool were handed arguably the toughest draw, which includes away matches against AC Milan, Girona, PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig.The Merseysiders face difficult home matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid but will fancy their chances against Bologna and Lille. More

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      Champions League draw in full as Liverpool handed nightmare fixtures and Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa learn fate

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      THE brand new Champions League format served up a horror draw for Liverpool… and a relative doozy for Arsenal.The Gunners and the Reds – along with Aston Villa and Manchester City – learned their fates for the 2024/25 instalment of Europe’s elite club competition on Thursday evening.The draw for the 2024/25 Champions League draw has taken placeCredit: EPAThe draw for the competition took place at the Grimaldi Forum in MonacoCredit: REUERSArsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City learned their fates for this year’s instalment of the competition thanks to a supercomputerCredit: APCristiano Ronaldo played a big role in the draw, being tasked with the job of pressing the all-important buttonCredit: APFans across the continent watched on in baffled fascination as the fixtures for the competition’s new complicated 32-team league were revealed over the course of close to an hour.It involved Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon drawing team’s out of a hat… before a bored-looking Cristiano Ronaldo repeatedly pushed a magic button to randomly determine which eight teams each plays.And Liverpool fans will be cursing their old Manchester United foe and his supercomputer after it dished them out arguably the toughest draw of the competition.Arne Slot’s troops face tough trips to, Italy, Germany Spain and the Netherlands to take on AC Milan, LaLiga surprise packages Girona, PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig.READ MORE UCL NEWSThe Reds will host Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Bologna at Anfield.Arsenal have been given a considerably easier draw in comparison to the Merseysiders.The Gunners face a tough trip to Italy to take on Inter Milan and Atalanta and will also be on the road for their clashes with Girona and Sporting Lisbon.While the supercomputer gave Mikel Arteta’s troops home games against Shakhtar Donetsk, GNK Dinamo, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.Most read in FootballPremier League champions Manchester City, meanwhile, face away days to Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, Slovan Bratislava and Paris Saint-Germain.BETTING SPECIAL – GET £40 IN FREE BETS WITH BETFREDThe 2022/23 winners will host Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Feyenoord and Sparta Prague at the Etihad.Aston Villa will be on the road against RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Young Boys and Monaco. Champions League releases new anthem as fuming fans say ‘the beautiful game has died’Fans were a little confused by the complicated new formatCredit: ReutersBayern Munich, Juventus Bologna and Celtic will be the Villans’ opposition at Villa Park.The 2024/25 instalment of the tournament kicks off the new format for Europe’s elite club competition – which now features 36 teams instead of 32.The well-known group stage format has been replaced by a SINGLE league set-up in which teams will play eight fixtures.Each side faces two teams from the four-seeded pots.In the new format, teams will play four games at home and four away.The top eight teams will secure automatic qualification for the last 16, while the ninth to 24th-placed clubs will compete in a two-legged playoff.Teams who finished in 25th place and below will be eliminated from the tournament and WON’T drop into the Europa League.That means eight teams will play TEN games to reach the last-16, rather than the traditional six.Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the tournament last season but were dumped out by Bayern Munich 3-2 on aggregate.Manchester City, meanwhile, were also eliminated at the quarter-final stage.The Premier League champions were beaten by last season’s tournament winners Real Madrid on penalties after drawing 4-4 on aggregate.Aston Villa and Liverpool, meanwhile, weren’t in Europe’s elite club competition last season.Villa, who won the old European Cup in 1982, reached the semis of the Europa Conference League last season.READ MORE SUN STORIESUnai Emery’s troops – who sealed UCL qualification with a fourth-placed Premier League finish – were eliminated from the Conference League by Greek giants Olympiacos.Six-time winners Liverpool played in the Europa League last season and were jettisoned out of the competition at the quarter-final stage by tournament winners Atalanta. More

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      Champions League draw LIVE: Event on NOW as Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa learn fixtures – latest updates

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      THE Champions League is back – and it’s here with a sparkling new format and MORE teams than ever before!Premier League sides Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Aston Villa will today learn their league phase fates – a brand-new component of Europe’s elite club competition.Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid and Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich are also in the draw and could face some big opposition early doors. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFind out all the latest reaction from the Champions League draw with our live blog below…New eraUefa say the new rules will improve the tournament and help keep the Champions League as “the best for clubs, players and fans.”Copy linkCopiedTime for AIGone are the days of awkward ex-pros painstakingly fumbling around trying to open plastic balls during a snooze-fest of a draw.Now, after the first team is pulled out manually, someone presses a button and AI does the rest.Let’s hope it works! Copy linkCopiedReminder of the pots this eveningPot 1Real Madrid (ESP)Manchester City (ENG)Bayern München (GER)Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)Liverpool (ENG)Inter (ITA)Dortmund (GER)Leipzig (GER)Barcelona (ESP)Pot 2Leverkusen (GER)Atlético de Madrid (ESP)Atalanta (ITA)Juventus (ITA)Benfica (POR)Arsenal (ENG)Club Brugge (BEL)Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)AC Milan (ITA)Pot 3Feyenoord (NED)Sporting CP (POR)PSV Eindhoven (NED)GNK Dinamo (CRO)Salzburg (AUT)Lille (FRA)Crvena Zvezda (SRB)Young Boys (SUI)Celtic (SCO)Pot 4Slovan Bratislava (SVK)Monaco (FRA)Sparta Praha (CZE)Aston Villa (ENG)Bologna (ITA)Girona (ESP)Stuttgart (GER)Sturm Graz (AUT)Brest (FRA)Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedFill up your calendar The league phase:Matchday 1: 17/18/19 September Matchday 2: 1/2 October Matchday 3: 22/23 October Matchday 4: 5/6 November Matchday 5: 26/27 November Matchday 6: 10/11 December Matchday 7: 21/22 January Matchday 8: 29 January Knockout stage:Knockout round play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May Final: 31 May Copy linkCopiedRoad to MunichThe final will take place at Bayern Munich’s stunning Allianz Arena home on Saturday 31 May 2025.Copy linkCopiedChampions League ThursdayWe are used to Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the Europa and Conference on Thursday… well, even that has been changed.The majority of weeks will be in standard form – but now each competition will have one exclusive week each.This means Champions League games will be played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during just their exclusive week, which happens to be matchday one on September 17, 18 and 19.The Europa and Conference won’t be on during those days.But they then get the same exclusive week treatment later on in the campaign.Credit: APCopy linkCopiedMore matches, more timeAs we saw in that complex and controversial Carabao Cup draw last night, the extra two matches in the revolutionised group stage will have knock on effects.We are used to the group stage being done by December – but it will now not be finished until the end of January.So fans of City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa – it is time to get next year’s diary out already. Copy linkCopiedLess “dead matches” Uefa are confident that this new style of European competitions will lead to less meaningless group stage games and top teams meeting each other sooner.The top eight from all 36 teams after the “league phase” go straight through into the last-16 and are seeded. Think of a tennis-like draw.Those that finish ninth to 24th get put into a play-off to join them as the non-seeds in the knockout stage.The bottom eight are out – there is no more dropping into the Europa League. Copy linkCopiedNEW Champions League draw explainedThe Sun’s Head of Sport, Shaun Custis and Chief Sports Reporter Martin Lipton take you through all the changes to this season’s Champions League.The Sun’s Shaun Custis and Martin Lipton break down the new changes for the UEFA Champions League format for 2024/25Copy linkCopiedThe stage is setToday marks the first-ever Champions League league phase draw, with 36 teams set to compete in the first stage of the huge European competition.Each club will draw two teams from each pot of the four pots, playing one match at home, and one away and eight in total.Premier League sides Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa will all learn their fate.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedRonaldo awardCristiano Ronaldo will be presented with an award at tonight’s Champions League draw.The five-time winner is set to be recognised for his status as the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer.Ronaldo scored 140 goals in 183 Champions League matches across a period of over 18 years.His nearest rival Lionel Messi is 11 goals back, whilst third-ranked Robert Lewandowski is 46 goals behind.Credit: APCopy linkCopiedPots explainedPots are no longer as important now the Champions League has moved to a single league table format.Being in pot one no longer increases the chances of a simple route to the last 16. Clubs will be drawn using AI against two teams from each of the four pots during today’s draw.However, they can only be drawn against no more than two clubs from the same country.Copy linkCopiedHow to watch the drawThe draw for the league phase of this season’s Champions League is coming up at 5pm from Monte Carlo, Monaco.Fans can live stream the ceremony via multiple different platforms.On traditional TV, the draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.TNT Sports customers can also live stream the event via the discovery+ app and website.Fear not if you are not if you are not a TNT Sports customer – you can live stream the draw for FREE via the official TNT Sports YouTube channel.Uefa.com and BBC iPlayer will also be providing free streams of the huge event from Monaco.Copy linkCopiedDraw potsHere are the four seeded pots for today’s Champions League draw.Champions League league phase potsPot One:Real MadridManchester CityBayern MunichPSGLiverpoolInter MilanBorussia DortmundRB LeipzigBarcelonaPot Two:Bayer LeverkusenAtletico MadridAtalantaJuventusBenficaArsenalClub BruggeShakhtar DonetskAC MilanPot Three:FeyenoordSporting LisbonPSVDinamo ZagrebRed Bull SalzburgLilleRed Star BelgradeYoung BoysCelticPot Four:Slovan BratislavaMonacoSparta PragueAston VillaBolognaGironaStuttgartSturm GrazBrestCopy linkCopiedNew format explainedThis season’s Champions League introduces a new format with the group stage replaced by a league phase.There will now be one league table involving all 36 qualified teams.Each club will play eight matches during the league phase – four at home and four away.Clubs will play two teams from each pot and cannot face more than two teams from the same country.The top eight clubs will advance straight through to the last 16, with those ranked ninth to 24th going through a play-off round.Copy linkCopiedWelcomeWelcome to SunSport’s live blog for today’s Champions League league phase draw.The draw is taking place at 5pm at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco.Copy linkCopied More

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      Why pots no longer matter and no more second chances – all major changes to Champions League draw you may have missed

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      WELCOME to the brave new world of European football.More teams. More games. More prize money. More entertainment?The first draw of the new-look Champions League will take place tonightCredit: GettyTeams will no longer be drawn manuallyCredit: AFPCHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW LIVEThe draw for UEFA’s new-look Champions League takes place today in Monaco.For the first time in 21 years there will be some major changes to the competition – starting with the removal of the group stage.Here’s everything you need to know about the new world of European football and some points you may have missed.Read More in FootballONE LEAGUEIt’s au revoir to the group stage and bienvenue to UEFA’s new league table format.Rather than being separated into groups, all 36 teams will now feature in a single league table.They will play eight games minimum – up from six.The top eight get a bye straight through to the last-16.Most read in Champions LeagueBut teams who finish from ninth to 24th will face an extra two-legged play-off – taking their totals up to TEN games.AI GENERATED DRAWGone are the days of awkward ex-pros painstakingly fumbling around trying to open plastic balls during a snooze-fest of a draw — now, after the first team is pulled out manually, someone presses a button and AI does the rest.The human touch at least gave fans watching from home someone to blame for their club’s unfavourable group. It also let you see Joe Cole’s fear as he tried to say Borussia Monchengladbach.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSTeams will be drawn by AI – not manually from potsCredit: EPAYet those groups rarely threw up pure drama, instead seeing the same old teams saunter through to the knockouts via at least one dead rubber.Uefa’s hope is that the new format will put an end to that.Champions League releases new anthem as fuming fans say ‘the beautiful game has died’Blockbuster ties should be more frequent, the jeopardy of failing to  qualify more intense, making for an all-round more exciting spectacle.The firm providing software for the Champions League draw has already assured fans it will be safe from potential hackers.After the first team is drawn manually from Pot One, a button will be pressed and that team’s eight opponents are calculated within seconds on a screen.The software will also have a number of “checkers” within the system to ensure that no team can face more than two clubs from the same country, and no team can play against each other from the same nation.POTS DO NOT MATTERPots are nowhere near as important this time around.Being in Pot One is no longer a certainty for a simple route to the last 16 for Pep Guardiola’s men — eyeing a second Champions League crown after their 2023 triumph.Premier League champions Man City are not guaranteed an easy routeCredit: GettyCity crashed out in the quarters last term on penalties to Real Madrid, yet there is no stopping AI from pitting these two heavyweights together in the opening few weeks.Arne Slot faces the unenviable task of emulating Jurgen Klopp in this competition, the German taking Liverpool to three finals in six years.Their presence in Pot One alongside City is welcome but not without challenges with Dutchman Slot set to experience some tasty Anfield nights earlier than his predecessor.EIGHT GAMES MINIMUMThe introduction of this new format will see teams play a minimum of eight games – two more than the original group stage format.With teams each playing two more “group-phase” games, this new Champions League will allow Uefa to sell a total of 189 matches instead of 125, with the league stage alone boasting 144 clashes, up from 96.Teams will be forced to play more gamesCredit: GettyIt’s hardly a format that Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane will be licking their lips over given the fatigue they showcased for England in the summer.The teams that finish between ninth and 24th will have to play an additional two Play-Off games.Those that finish 25th and below will be eliminated.NO EUROPA LEAGUE ENTRIESThe teams that finish below 24th will NOT earn a spot in the Europa League.READ MORE SUN STORIESInstead, they will be eliminated entirely.From the last 16 onwards, the Champions League will continue following its existing format.Teams will no longer drop down to the Europa LeagueCredit: GettyNew Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season. More

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      What award is Cristiano Ronaldo being presented with at the Champions League draw?

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      THE Champions League draw will take place on Thursday evening – and there will be a special guest in attendance.Cristiano Ronaldo will feature at the revamped event to pick up yet another accolade – but what award is the footballing great adding to his collection?Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Champions League five timesCredit: APCHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW LIVEWhat award is Cristiano Ronaldo being presented with at the Champions League draw?Cristiano Ronaldo will be presented with a special Uefa award in recognition of his status as the Champions League’s all-time leading goalscorer.The Portuguese bagged 140 goals in 183 games in Europe’s premier club competition over the course of more than 18 years.Ronaldo is 11 goals clear of long-term rival Lionel Messi and 46 ahead of third-placed Lewandowski in the top scorer charts.READ MORE IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUEThe forward will be honoured at the inaugural 36-team league phase draw ceremony in Monaco on Thursday evening.Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa president, said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the brightest stars in the UEFA Champions League constellation. “His extraordinary goal-scoring achievements in the competition seem destined to stand the test of time, posing a remarkable challenge for future generations to surpass. “His sustained excellence at the highest level is a testament to his relentless pursuit of both team and individual honours. Most read in Champions League”Over more than two decades, he has continuously evolved and refined his game while preserving a youthful passion for scoring and celebrating goals. “His professionalism, work ethic, dedication, and ability to shine on the grandest stage are qualities that football players everywhere should aspire to emulate.”Ronaldo claimed the Golden Boot in seven separate Champions League seasons.The Portuguese legend has won the prestigious competition once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid – making him the first five-time winner in history.Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record in numbersAppearances: 183Goals: 140Wins: 5 (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)Top scorer: 7 times (2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15*, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)Most goals in a single season: 17 (2013/14)Longest scoring streak: 11 gamesWhat TV channel is Champions League draw 2024/25 on and can it be live streamed?You can live steam the brand new Champions League league phase draw via multiple different platforms.On traditional TV, the draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.TNT Sports customers can also live stream the event via the discovery+ app/website.Fear not if you are not if you are not a TNT Sports customer – you can live stream the draw for FREE via the official TNT Sports YouTube channel.Uefa.com will also be providing a free stream of the huge event from Monaco.And if that wasn’t enough, you can follow along live via the BBC iPlayer/BBC Sport website.READ MORE SUN STORIESAlternatively, fans can find out who their teams will be drawn with through our live blog.Can I watch the Champions League draw 2024/25 for FREE?The Champions League draw will be broadcast for FREE on UEFA.com More

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      What is the new Champions League format and how does it work?

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      CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football has produced some of the best matches the world has ever seen – but this season will be like no other.Jude Bellingham capped off his incredible debut season for Real Madrid by helping Los Blancos seal their 15th Champions League triumph in the 2023/24 final.Real Madrid celebrated their 15th Champions League in styleCredit: GettyCHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW LIVEAnd the midfield maestro will be hoping his side can fend off English giants Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal to retain the title.But all teams are set to have a completely new route to the final courtesy of what will now be a league format.Luckily for fans, SunSport can give a clear explanation on how it will all work below.Read more on Champions League What is the new Champions League format?There will be one league table that all 36 qualified teams will participate in.Each club will play eight matches in the opening phase – four home games and four away games against seeded opposition in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.Clubs will only face other sides based on the pot they have been drawn out of and teams cannot face more than two opponents from the same country or from the same association.The top eight teams in the final table will automatically go through to the last 16.Most read in Champions LeagueThey will then be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides who were placed ninth to 24th in the table.Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated from all European competitions this season – meaning that they will not drop into the Europa League similar to previous years.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.How will the knockout stages work?As mentioned earlier, the top eight teams will automatically qualify 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.Then from the last 16 onwards, the Champions League will continue to follow its previous format with the final taking place in a neutral venue.Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated from the competition and will NOT drop into the Europa League.What does this mean for the Europa League and Europa Conference League?Both competitions will see similar changes to those of the Champions League and will both feature 36 teams.The Europa League will follow the exact same format READ MORE SUN STORIESWhile, teams in the Europa Conference League will play six matches against six different opponents in the league phase. More