Little-known rule means English clubs can now face each other in Champions League first round

group stage format, where 32 clubs are divided into eight groups of four teams, will be replaced by a new 36-team league phase.

The draw at the start of the season will see 36 sides divided into four pots of nine. Pot 1 will featureEach club will then be drawn to play two teams from each pot - one home, one away. Thus, unlike the current format, a club in Pot 1 will play against two other sides from Pot 1. Generally, clubs from the same association will not be drawn against each other. Yet, to avoid a deadlock, a league with four or more clubs in the competition, such as theThe sides that finish in the top eight will go directly to the round of 16, while those positioned between ninth and 24th will enter a playoff to discern the remaining eight teams in the next phase of the competition.Moreover, positions 25 to 36 are eliminated from Europe.

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