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Facts About The New Champions League Rule

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By Ojomah Austin.

The draw has been revamped accordingly, with each team now set to play eight fixtures rather than being sorted into groups. From England, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have secured their spots, with Scottish champions Celtic also in the mix.

As usual, teams cannot face opponents from their own country, but this year’s format introduces the possibility of some blockbuster matchups.

Gone are the traditional group stages in the Champions League, replaced by a new league phase that UEFA hopes will inject more excitement into the competition’s early rounds.

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For the first time, clubs can face rivals from the same seeding pot, meaning last season’s champions Real Madrid could potentially clash with Manchester City. Madrid triumphed over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley last season to claim a record-extending 15th European title.

Highlights to note

New Format: The traditional group stages have been replaced with a league phase where each team will play eight matches.

Teams to Watch: From England, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have qualified, with Scottish champions Celtic also in the running.

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Potential Blockbuster Matches: Teams from the same pot can now face each other, raising the possibility of major matchups like Real Madrid vs. Manchester City early in the competition.

Aston Villa’s European Return: Aston Villa, a former European champion from 1982, makes a long-awaited return to the Champions League after 41 years. Under Unai Emery, the team clinched a top-four finish last season, including notable victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Villa also reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they were narrowly defeated by Olympiacos. Emery, with a record four Europa League titles, brings a wealth of experience to Villa’s Champions League campaign.

Fans at Villa Park can look forward to some electrifying European nights, though the team will need to find the right balance to avoid the pitfalls that hindered Newcastle’s campaign last season. The new format adds another layer of complexity to their journey.

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How the draw works
The draw is set to be a mix of manual and automated processes. All eight matches will be against different teams, with four at home and four away, determined by seeding. Teams will be seeded into four pots based on their club coefficient, and the draw will ensure that no team faces an opponent from their own country.

The draw will be conducted manually, with automated software randomly assigning each team’s opponents, revealing the matchups on screen during the draw ceremony.

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Osimhen shines in Galatasaray win, sets new goal-scoring record

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Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen netted twice as Galatasaray cruised to a 4-1 victory over Sivasspor in the Turkish Süper Lig on Saturday.

This marks a historic milestone in his career.

The 26-year-old’s first goal of the game, a clinical finish in the 32nd minute, pushed his season tally to 32 goals across all competitions, surpassing his previous record of 31 goals during his standout 2022/23 campaign with Napoli.

Osimhen added his second in the 31st minute, taking his total to 33 goals for the season, reinforcing his status as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.

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Speaking after the game, Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk praised the striker’s impact.

“Victor is a rare talent. He not only scores goals but also inspires the team with his work ethic and determination.

“We are fortunate to have him,” Buruk said during the post-match conference.

Since joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, Osimhen has been pivotal to the team’s success.

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His 24 league goals have powered the Istanbul-based club to the top of the league standings, as they aim for a third consecutive Süper Lig title.

Reflecting on his record-breaking season, Osimhen expressed gratitude and ambition.

“Breaking my own record is special, but I’m more focused on helping the team win trophies. The support from my teammates and fans has been incredible,” he told NTV Spor.

PUNCH Online reports that the five goals thriller all happened in the first half with Osimhen netting in the 15th and 31st minutes.

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Lucas Torreira and B.A Yilmaz are also on the score sheet for the home team, who are eight points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s 75 points with Fenerbahce with a game at hand.

According to multiple reports, this cements Osimhen’s place in Galatasaray’s history books as they continue their campaign for domestic and European glory.

As Galatasaray sets sights on their next fixtures, all eyes will be on Osimhen to see how far he can stretch his remarkable goal-scoring run.

The match was played at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park with Ozan Ergün as the referee.

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EPL: Arteta admits ‘Big Pain’ as Arsenal fall short in title race once again

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title once more as a “big pain,” after Liverpool clinched the championship with four games remaining.

Liverpool’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday secured their place at the top, putting them out of reach of second-placed Arsenal and ending the Gunners’ hopes of a first league title since 2004.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth, Arteta acknowledged Liverpool’s achievement and praised their consistency, but admitted the outcome has been tough to accept.

“It’s very painful,” Arteta said on Friday. “I have to congratulate Liverpool — they’ve been the better team, more consistent, with many key ingredients needed to win. They fully deserve it.”

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This marks the third consecutive season Arsenal have fallen short in a close title race, despite a strong campaign. The team’s ambitions have also been hindered by persistent injuries to key players, a challenge Arteta emphasized following their 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

Recalling the extent of the injury crisis, Arteta said: “Before the PSG game, I walked into the dressing room and saw Tomiyasu, Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Partey, Havertz, Jesus, and Jorginho all sitting together. I thought — that’s a starting XI. And we haven’t had them for months.”

Despite the setbacks, Arteta remained proud of his squad’s efforts and determined to finish the season strongly.

“We’re going to try again. Until then, we have to push to the end,” he added. “Now, our target is to secure second place.”

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Arsenal currently sit five points ahead of third-placed Newcastle, with the top five set to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

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Guardiola plans to take break from football after Manchester City exit

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Pep Guardiola has revealed he plans to take a break from football once his current spell at Manchester City comes to an end, though he remains uncertain about retirement.

The 54-year-old extended his contract with City in November, committing to the club until June 2027. By then, he will have completed 11 years at the Etihad — his longest managerial tenure, following four years at Barcelona and three with Bayern Munich.

During his time at City, Guardiola has overseen a historic period of success, guiding the club to six Premier League titles and their first-ever Champions League triumph as part of a treble in the 2022/23 season. However, this campaign has proven more challenging.

“After my contract with City, I’m going to stop. That’s for sure,” Guardiola told ESPN. “I don’t know if I’ll retire, but I will take a break. I don’t think much about how I’ll be remembered — all coaches want to win, but life moves on quickly.”

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He added: “I believe fans of Barcelona, Bayern, and City enjoyed the way my teams played. That’s what matters most to me.”

City, currently fourth in the Premier League, were expected to secure a fifth consecutive title this season. But after a sharp drop in form, they now trail league leaders Liverpool by 21 points with just four games remaining and are battling for a Champions League spot.

Despite reaching a third straight FA Cup final — where they will face Crystal Palace — Guardiola admitted this season has been a difficult one. “I knew we’d drop off at some point, but I didn’t expect it to be this much,” he said. “Still, what we’ve achieved over the last nine or ten years has been incredible.”

In previous comments, Guardiola suggested he wouldn’t take on another club role after City but left the door open to managing a national team in the future.

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