How are teams placed in groups?
Before the group stage begins, teams are placed in different pots based on their coefficient rankings. Pot 1 consists of the champions from the top domestic leagues, while the other pots are determined by a team’s historical European performance. The aim is to distribute the teams evenly across the groups.
How many teams are in each group?
There are eight groups in total, labeled from Group A to Group H. Each group consists of four teams. In total, there are 32 teams competing in the group stage.
How many matches are played in the group stage?
During the group stage, each team plays six matches – three home games and three away games. This means every team faces each of the other teams in their group twice – once at home and once away.
How is the group winner determined?
At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds. The tiebreaker criteria to determine the group winners are as follows:
- Points earned in all group stage matches
- Head-to-head points between the tied teams
- Goal difference in all group stage matches
- Goals scored in all group stage matches
What happens if teams are still tied?
If two or more teams are tied on all the above criteria, then their ranking is determined by the coefficient ranking of their respective associations.
What about the third-place team in each group?
The teams that finish in third place in their group automatically qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, another esteemed European club competition. This provides them with an opportunity to continue their continental campaign.
The Champions League group stage is a thrilling phase of the tournament, with teams vying to secure their place in the knockout rounds. The group winners and runners-up advance, while the third-placed teams get a chance to compete in the Europa League. Understanding how the groups work adds to the excitement and intrigue of the competition.