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🇮🇹 Italy /Sports

Champions League draw: PSG aims for historic third straight title, Inter in top pot

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The draw for the new 36-team single-group phase of the Champions League will take place in Monte Carlo.
  • Paris Saint-Germain is aiming to win a historic third consecutive title, a feat only achieved by three other clubs in the competition's history.
  • The tournament's new format features eight matches per team, with significant prize money distributed among participants.

The prestigious Champions League season officially kicks off with the draw for its new single-group phase at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo. Paris Saint-Germain, under Luis Enrique, harbors ambitions of making history by securing a third consecutive title, a rare achievement in the tournament's 70-year history.

Only three clubs have managed to win three or more consecutive titles: Real Madrid in the early days of the European Cup, Ajax in the 1970s, and Real Madrid again between 2016 and 2018. The Champions League has evolved into a lucrative competition, with the 36 participating teams set to share €2.5 billion this season. Simply qualifying guarantees €18 million, with further bonuses for wins and draws.

The new format involves a single league phase where each team plays eight matches. The final standings will determine qualification for playoffs and the round of 16. A computer will generate the calendar, ensuring teams face opponents from different pots and countries, with no more than two teams from any single nation.

Top-tier clubs in the first pot include PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. Roma, despite a seven-year absence from the Champions League, is in the second pot, having won the Conference League and reached the Europa League final. Napoli, managed by Allegri, is in the third pot, alongside Feyenoord, Leipzig, and Villarreal. Italian newcomer Como, with Fabregas, also celebrates its first participation.

About this summary

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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