The Champions League is back, but not as we know it. Gone is the familiar group stage, where each team is put into a group of four, with the top two qualifying. In its place is a new, expanded ‘league phase’ which sees each side play eight games against eight different opponents (four at home, four away).
A total of 16 teams will qualify from the league phase to the knockout round, which then follows the familiar format of two-legged ties, up to the final.
