European soccer’s elite club competition enters its 70th year with the UEFA Champions League Matchday 1. The 2024-25 format is new, particularly in the group stage, which is now a league stage that involves all 36 qualifying teams. Each club has eight matches (four away and four at home). The top eight teams go right to the round of 16, while the ninth through 24th-place finishers will enter knockout round playoffs, and the winners will finish the round of 16.