Celtic and Rangers face ruthless Champions League revamp as head-spinning changes offer thrills and danger

'Is this the season the Champions League format is changing?'

It's the question which feels like it has been on the lips of football daft fans for quite some time. The sweeping changes from UEFA led by Aleksander Ceferin have long been whispered and now it's almost here. We are into our final season of the old way – the traditional 32-team format with eight groups of four has been in place for 20 years but now Celtic, Rangers or another Premiership side hell-bent on gatecrashing the party will experience a new frontier.

Those of a certain vintage will remember there used to be two group stage sections for teams to navigate. But multiple group stage hurdles appear straightforward compared to what clubs across Europe are going to be faced with as Ceferin's vision comes to life. And, make no mistake about it, the world's richest tournament's facelift comes with a risk, with some of the biggest clubs still itching to form a breakaway European Super League. The current landscape of mistrust is akin to the plot of a gripping HBO box set.

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And it's likely to be a game of moans for some, as the full list of changes, tweaks and new concepts have been revealed a year out from the big change over. Here are the key facts behind the rebrand. There is multiple shifts taking place but Record Sport looks at what it means for our teams in the coming years as Nyon's reworking of the Champions League loom into view with Brendan Rodgers and Michael Beale watching on.

Extra protection for world's best

The four extra places appear exciting news for clubs outwith the traditional big five leagues but a note of