Champions League: "Group stage matches limited to eight in 2024-25" (European Leagues)

"The expansion of the calendar of UEFA Champions League (from 2024-25 onwards) when it comes to the number of matches qualified clubs will play in the so-called group (league) stage must be limited to eight," announced European Leagues at the end of its general assembly attended by 30 leagues from 30 European countries in Istanbul (TUR) on 29/04/2022.

A year earlier (19/04/2021) UEFA adopted a format of 10 games instead of 6 before reaching the Round of 16, 10 different opponents (5 at home and 5 away) instead of paired home-away matches in groups of four.

Rather than being divided into eight groups of four, the 36 clubs - instead of 32 - will be in the same league from the 2024-25 season: the top eight will qualify directly for the Round of 16 and the next 16 will compete for the remaining eight places via play-offs. In total: 225 matches per season instead of 125 (+80%).

While European Leagues is calling for the number of matches per team in the "group stage" to be limited to eight (there will only be one group), this is because "this substantial change in UCL calendar will already…