Swiss women benefit: Champions League revolution after favorites die

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Revolution in European competitions. After Arsenal, Manchester United and Juventus failed to qualify for the Champions League this year, the Premier League system is being revised. A second European competition for women will also be introduced from the 2024/2025 season, similar to the Europa League. Switzerland will have a permanent starting place for this competition.

This year the favorites were killed in the qualification for the premier class. For example, last year’s finalist Wolfsburg is currently not playing in any European competition. This caused a lot of commotion and much criticism. The qualification process was challenged. Now UEFA is responding.

The current mode

Since 2021, there has been a group stage in the women’s premier class. The four champions of the top competitions receive a direct starting place. Currently these are Bayern Munich, Olympique Lyon, Chelsea and Barcelona. However, the second and third placed teams from the top competitions must compete for five more starting places. This year, several title candidates were eliminated from qualifying because they had to play against each other.

If you become champion in your country, you will be given preference. For example, Serbian champion Spartak Subotica met Swedish champion Rosengard in the final qualifying round. FC Zurich also benefited from this rule. They played against the national champions Ajax Amsterdam instead of, for example, PSG or Real Madrid. However, it was not enough to qualify.

The new mode from 2024/2025

Now UEFA has presented significant changes compared to the 2024/2025 season. The biggest is the introduction of a second European competition. The runner-up from Switzerland qualifies directly for the equivalent of the Europa League. Teams that do not qualify for the Champions League will also be given a second chance to participate in this new competition. The second competition will take place exclusively in knockout format.

In the Champions League, just like for the men, there will be no group stage from the 2024/2025 season. The main round now features 18 clubs instead of 16, who continue to play six matches, but against different opponents. The first four teams qualify for the quarter-finals. The teams in fifth through twelfth places will play in play-offs for the remaining four quarter-final tickets.

There will also now be more permanent places in the Champions League. Not only the champions from the four, but also from the six top competitions qualify directly. These would currently be the champions from Sweden and Italy. The runners-up of the two highest ranked associations in the UEFA rankings, currently occupied by France and Germany, will also be given a permanent place.

This should prevent title contenders like Arsenal from failing in qualification. The team with the Swiss national players Lia Wälti and Noelle Maritz has by far the highest average attendance in England. The aim is to make the Champions League more attractive to advertising and streaming partners in the future.

Source : Blick