The result of yesterday's Champions League final match of the 2023/24 season, in which Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0, has changed Shakhtar Donetsk's starting position in the Champions League next season.
It should be recalled that initially the Pitmen were supposed to start their performance in the Champions League with the play-off round, but now they got a direct ticket to the main stage of the tournament.
The fact is that Real Madrid, having become Spanish champions, qualified for the main stage of the Champions League in the 2024/25 season. But, the right to play there gets the winner of the Champions League of the previous season, and this is also "Real". According to UEFA regulations, in this case, in this case, the place in the main stage of the Champions League thus freed up is occupied by the team with the highest UEFA club coefficient among all the teams that start in the Champions League from the play-off round. And this team in this case turned out to be Shakhtar, whose UEFA club coefficient now stands at 63.000.
We would like to remind you that next season the Champions League main stage will be held in a new format: instead of the usual groups, there will be one league for 36 teams, and each of them will play 8 matches in the tournament against different opponents, which will be determined by the draw.
Before the draw for the Champions League main stage, which will take place on 29 August, all participants will be divided into four baskets, with nine teams in each - according to UEFA club coefficients. "Shakhtar will be placed in the second basket. The first round of the Champions League next season will take place from 17 to 19 September, while the final, eighth round - on 29 January.