2.5 billion euros in European Champions League bonuses

Today, Tuesday, a new era begins in the UEFA Champions League, as the expanded version of the tournament kicks off with its new format approved by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The Champions League is considered one of the most prominent club tournaments in the world, and the latest amendments come after a series of changes aimed at improving competitive balance and exciting fans. Since the launch of the first edition in 1955 under the name of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the tournament has witnessed many amendments to its system and name, as the name was changed to the Champions League in 1992. The new version for this season brings radical changes, most notably the increase in the number of teams from 32 to 36 teams. The new format of the tournament includes major changes to the way the teams play in a single large group system instead of the traditional four groups. Each team will play eight matches against teams from different levels, with four matches at home and four away. The top eight teams in the final standings will qualify directly to the round of 16, while the next 16 teams will compete in a play-off round to determine the qualifiers for the knockout stages. The changes are accompanied by a significant increase in the number of matches in the group stage, which will rise to 144 matches compared to 96 in the previous edition. The financial rewards will also increase significantly, as they are expected to reach around 2.5 billion euros, with a prize money of 86 million euros for the title winner, in addition to bonuses for points and revenue from television rights. The new system aims to provide better competitive balance, and reduce the frequency of confrontations between teams from the same league in the first stage. However, there are still concerns about the impact of the increase in the number of matches on performance, as it could lead to a lack of rest periods for players. The tournament begins with two exciting matches, as Real Madrid, the Spanish title holder, hosts Stuttgart, Germany, in a tough test. At the "San Siro" stadium, football fans will watch a heated match between Milan, Italy, and Liverpool, England, in a repeat of the 2005 and 2007 finals. "UEFA" hopes that these changes will contribute to enhancing the quality of the tournament and achieving greater competitive balance, but the challenges associated with the large number of matches remain a matter of concern for football fans.