What a twist. Winter is coming: Shakhtar will have to play in the European Cups in January

The contours of the next Euroseason are taking interesting shapes. If Shakhtar Donetsk advances to the main round Champions League 2024/25 or Europa League 2024/25, Then in January he will have to play matches that have never happened before.

UEFA has confirmed the dates for main round matches in the next European Cup season.

8 rounds will be played in the 2024/25 Champions League:

• 1st round: 17–19 September 2024
• 2nd round: 1–2 October 2024
• 3rd round: 22–23 October 2024
• 4th round: 5-6 November 2024
• 5th round: 26–27 November 2024
• 6th round: 10–11 December 2024
• 7th round: 21–22 January 2025
• 8th round: January 29 2025

A similar program awaits the teams. Europa League (8 rounds) and final rounds will be held on January 23 and 30.

But inside Conference League There will be 6 rounds left and the main round will finish in December 2024.

Shakhtar will need to change their training system because in January Ukrainian clubs usually return from vacation and start their pre-season winter training camps. The same puzzle awaits other Ukrainian clubs if they enter the autumn-winter phase of the Champions League or League of Legends.

36 teams will compete in the 2024/25 Champions League main round (four more than the current format). There will be no division into groups. In each of the 8 rounds, the opponents will be determined by draw according to the Swiss system. There will be one table for all 36 teams. The top 8 teams will advance to the 1/8 final, while clubs from 9 to 24 will play in the 1/16 final.

Interestingly, the miners have a good chance of taking advantage of the new “loophole” that UEFA has opened for highly rated clubs and advancing directly to the group stage of the Champions League.