Photo: ReutersMonaco: UEFA announced significant changes to their flagship Champions League on Friday, saying they had managed to “keep it in the family” after staving off the threat of a breakaway league by Europe’s top clubs. From 2018/19 season, the top four European leagues—currently Spain, Germany, England and Italy—will each be guaranteed four places in the group stage, UEFA competitions director Giorgio Marchetti told reporters. UEFA uses a complicated coefficient to determine the rankings of the national leagues. Marchetti said the format itself would remain the same with a qualifying stage, followed by a 32-team group stage and then a knockout contest. Instead, they will now compete in a qualifying competition with national champions from all other European leagues for four places in a qualifying competition played in July and August.

Source: Mint August 26, 2016 11:01 UTC