As of: March 13, 2024, 8:00 a.m
By: Christoph Wutz
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Split
The draw for Champions League games is undergoing a reform.
This is intended to save time.
However, the first part of the usual ceremony does not change.
Nyon – Football fans have to prepare for some changes in the next Champions League season.
The reason is a completely new mode in the premier class with significantly more encounters.
This also results in a change to the game draws.
In the future, a computer will put the games together.
But part of the draw remains as usual.
Ciao, Champions League draw: Super-Computer will take over from next season
From the 2024/25 season, a super computer will draw the fixtures in the Champions League.
This is what Sky
reports
.
UEFA's draw simulations showed that a manual ceremony as before would take “between three and four hours”.
In addition, 900 of the distinctive Champions League balls are required.
The European Football Association wants to counteract this.
Therefore, in the future he will use a mixed method of analog and digital components for the main part of the drawing.
In the future, a Champions League legend (pictured: Joe Cole) will continue to pull the participating clubs out of the pots in draws.
A super computer then determines the pairings.
© Avalon.red / Imago
CL drawing will be transformed - but an essential part will remain the same
According to information from the broadcaster, however, a significant part of the previous draw model will be retained for fans: At the beginning of the ceremony, the clubs will apparently continue to pull deserving icons of the competition from the small Champions League balls.
Only then does the computer take over, the report says.
The computer randomly assigns the eight opponents in the preliminary round to each of the 36 participating teams.
This is associated with significant time savings.
The draw only takes about 35 minutes, which is about as long as usual.
The software is provided by an English IT company,
Sky
reports .
The London-based consulting firm Ernst & Young will oversee the digital drawing.
Mixed fan reactions to the new draw process in the premier class
On
X
(formerly
), some fans expressed their excitement about the new draw process;
“I can’t wait to see how this plays out,” wrote one user on the platform.
"That's a good idea.
I completely support that,” said another football supporter on X in favor of the hybrid variant of the draw in the premier class.
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Others, however, are skeptical that a computer would be given responsibility for the draw.
Some of the supporters highlighted the risk of “easily manipulating” the estimates through the programming of the computers.
From the 2024/25 season there will be even more games in the Champions League.
© justpictures.ch / Imago
From next season: Champions League will change fundamentally
As the premier class is increased from 32 to 36 teams from the 2024/25 season, the entire format of the tournament is changing.
From now on there will be no more groups.
Instead, each team initially plays eight games in a league format against different opponents.
The best 24 teams then qualify for the knockout round.
The eight best-placed clubs advance directly to the round of 16.
The teams in places nine to 24 will play the remaining participants in the round of 16 in a playoff mode before things continue as usual.
UEFA hopes that the new approach in the premier class will bring more excitement, equal opportunities and variety.
(wuc)