A new era in European club football begins on Aug 29, when the draw takes place in Monaco for an expanded Uefa Champions League featuring a radically changed format.
European football's governing body is selling what it describes as a "thrilling new future" for the game on the continent with more teams playing more matches, and more prize money on offer.
Uefa needs to generate hype around the new format, because there is a risk-in the beginning at least that fans will find it confusing compared to the old model.
The Champions League had previously included a group stage in which 32 clubs were split into eight groups of four, each playing six games. The top two in each group qualified for the knockout phase.
The new version will feature 36 clubs with everyone playing eight matches, but all teams pooled together into one giant league rather than in groups.
Clubs will still be split into four seeded pots of nine teams, with every side given two opponents from each pot. The top eight in the final ranking go through to the last 16, while the next 16 sides advance to an intermediate play-off round and the remainder go out.
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SCCCI marks 60th anniversary of its iconic building with exhibition, $1.2m donation
At 14, he constructed a three-dimensional model of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) building without floor plans or architectural drawings.
Residents of Sunset Way estate, Clementi condo get new 1.2km road
For as long as he has lived in Clementi Street 12, Sunset Way has been Mr Chan Jun Xiong's only road home.
Community lawn, movable platforms| proposed at former railway station
URA studying suggestions that are part of winning proposal in competition
Disputed elections becoming a global phenomenon, report finds
Voter turnout is diminishing around the world and the results of elections are increasingly being questioned, a report on the state of democracy said on Sept 17.
UN chief condemns 'collective punishment' of Palestinians
He describes the suffering in Gaza as unimaginable but is hopeful of a ceasefire
Climate change set to worsen malnutrition crisis among children
Malnutrition is the world's worst child health crisis and climate change will only make things more severe, according to philanthropist Bill Gates.
More in S-E Asia focused on livelihoods over climate
Geopolitics driving region's concerns with food security, inflation: Researcher
Thai Cabinet approves $5.66b cash handout to help revive economy
Thailand's Cabinet approved a cash handout plan totalling 145.6 billion baht (S$5.66 billion) that will benefit millions of poor people and help stimulate South-east Asia's second-largest economy.
Singaporeans stay indoors to avoid worst of typhoon
They saw fallen trees, experienced power outages and had to cancel plans, but Singaporeans in Shanghai managed to keep themselves safe by staying indoors as Typhoon Bebinca raged outside.
Shanghai cleans up after strongest storm in decades
Emergency crew has to clear some 1,800 felled trees, restore power to 30,000 homes
