SOCCER
What happens if there’s a tie in the new UEFA Champions League? How the scoring works
A new Champions League format makes its debut this midweek, but some things will remain the same.
While the overall format of the UEFA Champions League’s opening stage has changed, there’s nothing new about its points-per-game scoring system.
What happens if UCL league-phase game is tied?
During the new ‘league phase’, which replaces what was known as the ‘group stage’, teams will earn three points for winning a game, and zero points for losing. If the scores are level when the referee blows the final whistle after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, there will be no extra time or penalties. The game will be declared a tie and each team will be awarded one point.
Where, previously, the points teams won in the Champions League’s opening phase went towards determining their position in a four-team group - with the top two in each section qualifying for the knockout stage - every club in the league phase will be ranked in a single table. What’s more, there will be 36 teams in the league-phase standings - four more than took part in the old group stage.
Under the new Champions League format, each team will play eight league-phase games - four at home, four away - against eight different teams. At the end of the league phase, the top eight-ranked clubs will qualify automatically for the last 16. Clubs finishing ninth to 24th will have to negotiate a playoff to advance to the knockout stage proper.
What happens if there’s a points tie in the UCL league phase?
If two or more teams are level on points in the league phase, they will be separated by their goal difference across each of their fixtures during the opening stage. This represents another change from the Champions League’s format in previous seasons: in the former group stage, the top tiebreaker used was head-to-head results between the teams level on points.
2024/25 Champions League matchday one: full fixture list
See also
How to watch the 2024/25 Champions League in the US
In the United States, CBS and TUDN have the broadcasting rights to the 2024/25 Champions League. CBS says its coverage of the tournament will be across CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports Golazo and its streaming service Paramount+. TUDN, meanwhile, is set to show the action on the channels TUDN USA and UniMás, and the affiliated streaming platform ViX
Who are the 2024/25 UCL favourites?
Manchester City are the bookmakers’ frontrunners to win the Champions League this season, per Oddschecker. The Premier League holders, who won their only continental crown so far in 2023, are rated at +200 to +280 for victory in May’s final in Munich.
Defending champions Real Madrid, who are bidding for a record-extending 16th European Cup win, are second favourites on +270 to +350. Arsenal, who have never won the competition, begin the 2024/25 campaign as third favourites: the Gunners are priced at +700 to +800.