The UEFA Champions League changes from the 2018/19 season

[Bredbury Blue]

There are new kick-off times and more guaranteed group stage spaces for English clubs

Changes to kick-off times and the amount of automatic entry places English teams have are among the key alterations to the European competition.

Starting from the 2018/19 season, the top four from England will go straight into the group stages - with no need for the team in fourth place to go through the qualifying rounds.

But some games will kick off earlier - instead of 7.45pm across the board, there will be two new kick-off times: 5.55pm and 8pm.

Winning the Champions League - or Europa League - will also guarantee entry into the last 32 for the next season.

But the fourth-placed team in the Premier League could still only qualify for the Europa League, if the two winners of the Champions League and the Europa League from the previous season are from England and finish outside the top 4.

Every team eliminated in qualifying rounds will get a second chance in the UEFA Europa League.

26 teams will automatically qualify for the Champions League group stages. From 2018/19 they will be:

•UEFA Champions League holders (1)

•UEFA Europa League holders (1)

•Top four from associations ranked 1st to 4th: Spain, Germany, England, Italy (16)

•Top two from associations ranked 5th and 6th: France, Russia (4)

•Champions of associations ranked 7th to 10th: Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey (4)

The group stage for 2018/19 will get underway on September 18 and 19.

The final for next season will be on Saturday, June 1, at Atlético Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano.

There will also be six other qualifiers - four champions of their domestic league, two 'non-champions' - to make up the group stages.

The teams who finish fifth and sixth in the Premier League are also guaranteed a spot in the Europa League.

 

CLEAR AS MUD?

Read the full details of the Champions League changes here.

 

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/uefa-champions-league-qualification-changes-14345435

[mrbojangles]

To me, it's always been clear as mud. So no change really

[Bredbury Blue]

So who's going to finish top 4 this season. Beginning to look like City, Liverpool, Spurs and ManU (listed in no particular order).

[yopf]

Look at the Bitters getting all excited suddenly - pathetic Stockport stereotypes!

[mrbojangles]

1 hour ago, yopf said:

Look at the Bitters getting all excited suddenly - pathetic Stockport stereotypes!

What, you mean you disagree we are going to finish Top 4?

[Bredbury Blue]

12 minutes ago, mrbojangles said:

What, you mean you disagree we are going to finish Top 4?

Think we need 9 points from a possible 33 points.

[Bredbury Blue]

1 hour ago, yopf said:

Look at the Bitters getting all excited suddenly - pathetic Stockport stereotypes!

What part of Stockport is your suberb of Rochdale in MrBj?

[mrbojangles]

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

What part of Stockport is your suberb of Rochdale in MrBj?

20 minutes outside Riyadh

[yopf]

9 hours ago, mrbojangles said:

What, you mean you disagree we are going to finish Top 4?

“WE”?? Pep, Peppie........is that really you????

7 hours ago, mrbojangles said:

20 minutes outside Riyadh

 

[Bredbury Blue]

5 hours ago, yopf said:

“WE”?? Pep, Peppie........is that really you????

 

Why isn't it "we"? We fans will still be around after the hired players and managers have gone. So of course its we. 

[mrbojangles]

28 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Why isn't it "we"? We fans will still be around after the hired players and managers have gone. So of course its we. 

And the United fans don't call the players "bitters" the RAGS call the City fans that