hey everyone the UEFA Champions League is back with a brand new format let's break down what's changed how the Draw Works and what to expect this season this season for the first time in 21 years we have a new format instead of 32 teams in eight groups we now have 36 teams in a league phase here's the breakdown teams ranked 25 to 36 are out by January teams 9 to 24 enter knockout playoffs in febru uary and the top eight go straight to the round of 16 in March a major change no dropping down to the Europa League if you're out of the Champions League once you're out you're done from the playoffs onwards we keep the two-legged knockout format but the final will be a traditional one-legged Affair for the draw pot one now just includes the Champions League holders pots 2 to four are based on UEFA coefficients so no more automatic placements for domestic League champions teams aren't drawn into groups instead they get fixtures each team plays eight games against two opponents from each pot with one home and one away game the draw is a high-tech Affair ex players draw teams and a computer generates fixtures while ensuring no teams face others from their own League or more than two from one country that's a wrap on the new Champions League format stay tuned for more updates and match fixtures don't forget to like subscribe and hit the Bell icon for the latest Champions League news