Champions League 2024-2025: the ‘simple’ pot division

We hope you’ve recovered a bit from our break-down of the major changes of the new format. If not, we suggest to do so first. Because now it’s time walk you through how teams are divided into pots and how those eight all-important matches are determined. Spoiler alert: it’s not really a breeze. (Or maybe it is, depending on your logical thinking skills.)

Let's start with the basics. The 36 teams are divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficients, which are themselves based on a team’s performance in European competitions over the past five seasons. We won’t bother you with the details, also because we’re not able to do the math either.

So, how are the teams divided?

Pot 1: This contains the reigning Champions League winner, the Europa League winner, and the champions of the top six domestic leagues according to UEFA’s rankings. Basically, it's where the elite of the elite hang out.
  
Pots 2, 3, and 4: The remaining teams are divided into these pots according to their UEFA coefficients. So, teams are sorted from ‘pretty good’ to ‘you’re lucky to be here’.

Easy, right? Well, hold on, because determining the matches is where the real ‘fun’ begins.

Determining the eight matches

Each team will play eight matches: four at home and four away. But, who do they play against? That’s all decided through a system designed to ensure balance and fairness – or as close to it as we can get in a sport rife with unpredictability.

Anyway, each team plays:

1. Two Matches Against Teams from Pot 1: Yes, because playing the big guns twice is always fun.

2. Two Matches Against Teams from Pot 2: To keep things fair and balanced, you see.

3. Two Matches Against Teams from Pot 3: Just to spice things up a bit more.

4. Two Matches Against Teams from Pot 4: Because everyone loves an underdog story.

So, in summary, teams are supposed to get a mixed bag of opponents to test their courage. The scheduling is done in such a way that no team faces overly difficult or overly easy runs. In theory, anyway.

What do we think?

If you’re thinking this sounds a bit complicated, you’re not alone. The new format is ‘just’ a way of ensuring you get the maximum possible footballing excitement (and, of course, a maximum number of lucrative matches).

While the new format might initially seem somewhat discouraging, it’s designed to offer more competitive matches and reduce the predictability of the group stage. By mixing up the teams and providing a diverse range of opponents, every match day is set to be a rollercoaster ride.

Stay tuned!

So, what happens after the eight matches in the League phase are done? Who will go through to the Round of 16? And who will play who? We’ll dive into that a bit deeper in our upcoming article. Don’t worry, it’ll be easier to comprehend. We think…