The draw for the revamped 36-team Champions League competition was held in Monte Carlo, and it did not disappoint. Manchester City, reigning champions, will face Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase. Liverpool, last season's runner-up, will take on holders Real Madrid, while Arsenal will have to navigate through a challenging group including PSG and Inter. The new format sees all 36 teams forming a single league, with each team playing four home and four away games. The top eight teams will advance to the last 16, while a round of play-offs will determine the remaining eight spots.
Real Madrid Draws Liverpool in Revamped Champions League
The draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage took place in Monte Carlo on Thursday, August 25th, revealing intriguing matchups for all 36 participating teams. Real Madrid, the reigning European champions, were drawn into Group A alongside Liverpool, last season's runners-up.
New Format and Expanded Competition
This season marks the debut of a revamped Champions League format, expanding the competition to 36 teams from its previous 32. The new format features a single league stage, with each team playing four home and four away games.
The top eight teams from the league stage will automatically advance to the last 16, while eight additional teams will qualify for a playoff round to determine the remaining four spots in the knockout stage.
Group A: A Clash of European Giants
Group A promises to be one of the most competitive in the competition. Real Madrid and Liverpool, two of the most successful clubs in European history, will face off in a rematch of the 2022 final. Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, and Ajax, the Dutch champions, complete the group.
Other Notable Matchups
Other intriguing matchups include:
Top 5 FAQs on the Champions League
1. When is the Champions League played? The group stage runs from September 6th to November 2nd, 2023. The knockout stage begins in February 2024 and culminates in the final on June 10th, 2024.
2. Who are the defending champions? Real Madrid are the defending champions, having defeated Liverpool in the 2022 final.
3. How many teams qualify for the Champions League? 36 teams qualify for the Champions League based on their performance in their respective domestic leagues.
4. What is the format of the revamped Champions League? The competition now features a single league stage, followed by a playoff round and a knockout stage.
5. Who won the inaugural Champions League? Real Madrid won the inaugural European Cup, the precursor to the Champions League, in 1956.
Former Arsenal and England player Alan Smith has warned Ivan Toney that his England career may be over after the striker's move to the Saudi Pro League for a money-spinning deal worth more than £400,000-a-week. Toney, who had been hoping for a call-up for the national squad, was left out of the team's first games after his move. Smith believes Toney may never add to his six international caps following his move, and while it may be a financially rewarding decision, it may also signal the end of his prime as a player.
Para-athlete Navdeep Singh's silver medal was upgraded to gold after Iran's Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified in the men's javelin throw F41 final. India has achieved its best-ever return from the Para Games with Navdeep's gold and Simran Sharma's bronze in the women's 200m T12 race. Shot-putter Hokato Sema also secured a bronze in the men's F57 category final with a career-best throw. Fans celebrated the para-athletes' arrival at the Delhi airport with flower showers.
Nitish Reddy's incredible diving catch dismissed Mayank Agarwal and gave India B the initial breakthrough against India A in the final day of the Duleep Trophy opener. With Yash Dayal and Navdeep Saini picking up wickets in the morning session, India B is looking to secure all six points. However, the four-wicket collapse of India A has put them in danger of suffering a loss. The senior stars are in need of a big partnership to avoid a potential defeat in the final hours of the match.
Meet Shubman Gill, India's cricketing prodigy who has been setting new records and making waves in the sport at just 25 years of age. From his debut in the U-19 World Cup to becoming the captain of India C, Gill has been consistently delivering top performances. And now, with his impressive Test debut at the iconic MCG, he has truly cemented his place as a future cricket legend.
India's Navdeep Singh has won the gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category at the Paris Paralympics after initial winner Sadegh Beit Sayah of Iran was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag. This marks India's first-ever gold in the category and a personal best for Navdeep, who had previously finished fourth at the Tokyo Games. He beat out China's world record holder with a 47.32m throw to claim the top spot.
Shubman Gill, the young and talented cricketer, turns 25 today and his achievements in the sport are already making waves. From his consistent performances in international cricket to his memorable stints in the IPL, Gill has been showing immense potential as a top-order batsman. As he celebrates his birthday, let's take a look at his top 10 performances that have made him a key player in the Indian team.
The media is buzzing after interim dual-national England football manager Lee Carsley's comments about not singing the national anthem. In a press conference, Sir Keir Starmer was asked about Carsley's stance, causing backlash from the public. Having played for both England and Ireland, the Birmingham-born defensive midfielder's patriotism is being questioned as he prepares for his first match in charge.
In a thrilling college football game, Alabama's comeback in the fourth quarter secured a victory over South Florida after a tough start to the game. Meanwhile, in women's college basketball news, Angel Reese's record-setting rookie season has come to an unexpected end after only two weeks due to injury.
Australia cruised to victory in the third and final T20I against Scotland, completing a series cleansweep with a 70-run win. Travis Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh led the Australian charge, setting a record-breaking powerplay total and smashing 155 runs in just 58 balls. In the second match, Josh Inglis stole the show with a quick-fire century, leaving Scotland reeling. With the third match fast approaching, Scotland will need to find a way to halt Australia's powerful batting lineup if they want to avoid a humiliating series defeat. Fans can catch all the action live on ABP Live.
After initially winning silver, Navdeep Singh was awarded India's first-ever gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category at the Paris Paralympics. This was a result of Iran's Sadegh Beit Sayah being disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag during the competition. Navdeep, who competes in the classification meant for athletes of short stature, produced a personal best effort of 47.32m to claim the top position.