The new season of UEFA Champions League, Europe's prestigious club football competition, is starting today from Tuesday.
But the two superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who ruled the world football in the last decade will not be in the Champions League this time.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle who play in the English Premier League along with Manchester City, who won the Champions League title for the first time last season, are playing in the Champions League this season.
Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League after 20 years. Manchester City is on a mission to defend the title.
Which Champions League group is difficult?
Newcastle are in Group F as Group of the Death. This group includes French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Italian giants AC Milan and former Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund.
For former champions City, the group stage is a bit easier. City will face RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys in Group G.
United in Group A will play against FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray along with German champions Bayern Munich.
Arsenal will play PSV Eindhoven and Lens in the group stage along with Europa League winners Sevilla.
Similarly, Scottish club Celtic will play against Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord and Lazio in Group E.
Who will not be seen?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two superstars who ruled the world football recently, will not be seen in this season's Champions League.
Ronaldo is the first star to go to the league of Saudi Arabia, which has been in the news lately. He has been playing for Al Nasser.
Messi went to the American club Inter Miami this season.
Not only that. Brazilian forward Neymar and French striker Karim Benzema also joined the Saudi league where Ronaldo is present. Neymar is playing with Al Hilal and Benzema is playing with Al Ittehad.
However, French striker Kylian Mbappe, who is still a star of the present time and the future, will be in the Champions League. He will play for PSG. Erling Haaland, the goal machine of the same season, is in line to break more records.
Barcelona's young star Lamin Yamal is a player worth watching. 16-year-old Yamal became Barcelona's youngest player and also became the youngest player to debut and score for Spain.
Who is the title contender team?
Former champions City are the most contenders to win the Champions League title. According to Gracenote's Euro Club Index, City is seen as more contender than Spanish Real Madrid and German Bayern.
City's chance of winning the title is 37 percent, while Real's is 13 percent and Bayern's is 11 percent. There is a 19 percent chance that other clubs will win.
There is at least a 90 percent chance that Barcelona will reach the knockout stage along with City, Real and Bayern.
When will the Champions League format change?
This will be the last season of the current 32-club Champions League. Where there are 8 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the last 16.
There will be some changes in the Champions League from the 2024-25 season. 36 clubs will participate in the new format.
2 out of 4 additional places will be given to the club from the best performing country in the previous season.
