New format for Champions League draw on Thursday: All you need to know

The draw for the new-look Champions League takes place in Monaco on Thursday.

Here, we explain how it works and the differences from the old format.

So what's new?

Quite a bit. The long-established group-stage format, featuring eight pools of four teams, has been scrapped.

In its place comes a 36-team league phase. Instead of six games each in the old format, teams will now play eight matches – four at home, four away – against two opponents from each of the four seeding pots.

The top eight teams will qualify automatically for the last 16 – more on that later – while the teams placed ninth to 24th will enter a new knockout phase play-off round to decide the final eight last-16 berths. Teams finishing 25th and lower will be out – teams do not drop down to the Europa League any more.

The same format will be used in the Europa League, with the Conference League the same too, except teams will only play six initial matches instead of eight.

How will this be an improvement?

UEFA believes this format will provide a more compelling spectacle, with more match-ups between the big sides at an earlier stage than in the old format. League placing will also have a bearing on a team’s route through the knockout phase, placing extra significance on matches even if qualification is already assured – again, more on that later.

Clubs will benefit from additional matchday revenue, with at least two extra games and the possibility of a further two if they end up in the knockout phase play-offs.

The hope is that the new format will be a hit with clubs and fans, and keep any threat of a revived European Super League at bay.

How will the draw work?

Rather than the manual draw we have become used to, UEFA will now operate a hybrid draw. Each of the