The Digest:
The draw for the new Champions League season has set up some major clashes, with Liverpool and Manchester City facing Real Madrid, and title-holders PSG handed a difficult schedule.
Key Points:
- Liverpool and Manchester City will both face Real Madrid.
- Title-holders PSG will play Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
- The new format features a single league of 36 clubs.
- Every team will play eight games against eight different opponents.
- The top eight teams advance directly to the last 16.
- Teams finishing 9th to 24th go into the knockout round play-offs.
- The first round of games is scheduled for September 16-18.
The new format signals The New Gauntlet for top teams. It guarantees more high-profile clashes and a more unpredictable path to the knockout stages.
Source: AFP, Goal.com
