The UEFA Champions League is a yearly soccer tournament that features the best of the best soccer teams in Europe. The top teams from each league (La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Premier League, Ligue 1, etc.) are chosen to participate in the group stage of this event. From there, the tournament is played on. The Champions League usually occurs from September to May, being one of, if not the largest sporting event in the world during these months.

This season happens to have a new format for the qualifying rounds of the UCL. Previously, they had a group stage qualification process, but newly adapted would be a league system. Each team plays a total of 8 teams, those in the top 8 after these said games will automatically be seeded in the round of 16. The 9th-24th teams will be in a knockout bracket. The remaining teams 25th and below, are eliminated from the tournament. From there, the event proceeds as a usual tournament.

Currently, the teams are currently nearing the end of the league system segment of the UCL. They have one more matchday to decide the final standings for this part. Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atlético Madrid, Milan, Atalanta, and Leverkusen are positioned in the top 8 positions. Liverpool is leading, having not lost a single game, going 7 for 7 so far. Barcelona is trailing behind, with one loss against Monaco back at the start of the league in mid september. The defending champions, Real Madrid, look as if they are finally getting it together and are moving their ways up throughout the top 20. Not just Madrid, but teams like Bayern and Feyenoord are working hard to climb up the ranks, both teams having winning streaks.

Matchday 8 is this Wednesday, January 29th. This day will determine those who will advance in the UEFA Champions League. We won’t know much more until then. Hopefully you are out there rooting for your team, even if they make you angry and have you yelling at a TV. It’s all good and fun, but the competition is one of a kind in the end.