Trending searches: how does the new champions league work
hold on to your scarves folks the champions league is about to get a major makeover the Champions League draw is this Thursday at 17 00 BST live on the BBC sport website this year the format's got a facelift say goodbye to the old eight groups of four system hello 36 Team league phase each team plays eight matches four at home four away against different pots ufa's software makes sure no team faces one from their own country and limits to two clubs per Nation teams are in pots based on seeding facing two opponents from each pot the software randomly picks their eight opponents and decides home or away this means more epic clashes think Man City versus Real Madrid Bayern and Barcelona in one phase top eight teams go straight to the last 16 teams 9th to 24th they battle it out in Knockouts below 24th sorry you're out more games from 125 to 189 and the league phase runs until January more football more Thrills don't miss the draw and catch all the highlights on BBC I player like subscribe and hit the bell for more Champions League updates thanks for watching