The2024–25 UEFA Youth League UEFA Champions League Path (league phase) began on 17 September and ended on 11 December 2024. A total of 36 teams competed in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League Path to decide 22 of the 36 places in the knockout phase of the2024–25 UEFA Youth League.[1]
Each team played six matches, three at home and three away, against six different opponents, with all 36 teams ranked in a single league table. The top 22 ranked teams qualified for the round of 32 of the knockout stage, where they were joined by ten winners of theDomestic Champions Path. Teams ranked from 23rd to 36th were eliminated from the competition.
Teams were ranked according topoints (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If two or more teams were equal on points upon completion of the league phase, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine their rankings:[2]
Goal difference;
Goals scored;
Away goals scored;
Wins;
Away wins;
Higher number of points obtained collectively by league phase opponents;
Superior collective goal difference of league phase opponents;
Higher number of goals scored collectively by league phase opponents;
Lower disciplinary points total (direct red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
Drawing of lots.
During the league phase, criteria 1 to 5 were used to rank teams who have equal number of points. Should any teams be equal on points and tied on the first five criteria, they were considered equal in position and sorted alphabetically. Criteria 6 to 10 would only be used to break ties upon completion of all matches.[3]
The schedule was identical to the first six matchdays of the UEFA Champions League league phase, the fixture list for which was announced on 31 August 2024.[4]
In principle, the matches were played on the same day as the corresponding matches in the Champions League, unless the clubs and UEFA agree otherwise.[5] The matches were played on 17–19 September, 1–2 October, 22–23 October, 5–6 November, 26–27 November and 10–11 December 2024.[1]
Times areCET orCEST,[note 1] (local times, if different, are in parentheses).
^CEST (UTC+2) for dates up to 26 October 2024 (matchdays 1–3), andCET (UTC+1) for dates thereafter (matchdays 4–6).
^abThe Bologna v Shakhtar Donetsk match, that was originally played at Crespellano Training Center,[12] was suspended after seven minutes due to adverse weather conditions with the score 0–0 at the time. It was resumed on 19 September 2024, 16:00, at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.[13]
^abcDue to theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian teams were required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice.[35]
Inter Milan
Sporting CP
Red Bull Salzburg
Barcelona
VfB Stuttgart
Manchester City
Shakhtar Donetsk
Celtic
Lille
Dinamo Zagreb
PSV Eindhoven
Red Star Belgrade
Young Boys
Club Brugge
Slovan Bratislava
Sparta Prague