UEFA Announce Another Major Champions League Change

UEFA is set to introduce significant changes to the Champions League format starting from the 2024/25 season.

Among these changes, the most notable is the expansion of the league phase, which will now feature 36 clubs playing eight matches each instead of the traditional six.

Celtic, expected to be placed in pot 3 for the draw, will face a new set of challenges and opportunities with this expanded format. The additional games will provide Celtic and other clubs more exposure on the European stage, potentially leading to greater competitive experiences and financial benefits.

The draw process itself is also undergoing a major overhaul to accommodate the new league phase format. Moving away from the previous method that used nearly 1000 balls and 36 bowls, UEFA will now implement a fully technological draw using special software.

For each team, automated software will randomly select eight opponents from four pots, ensuring a balanced and entirely random selection process.

During the recent pre-season, Oluwayemi didn’t play a big part in Brendan Rodgers’ pre-season, indicating his current standing in the squad. In Celtic’s pre-season, Rodgers opted for Scott Bain, Ben Siegrist (who has since left the club), and Josh Clarke, suggesting Oluwayemi is not in the immediate plans for the first team.

With Celtic’s recent signings of goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel, Oluwayemi finds himself further down the pecking order, potentially as the fourth or fifth-choice keeper.

Dunfermline, competing in the Scottish Championship, could offer a competitive environment for Oluwayemi to hone his skills and regain confidence after a challenging season plagued by injuries. Such a move would be mutually beneficial, allowing Dunfermline to strengthen their squad while providing Oluwayemi the platform to showcase his potential and make significant strides in his professional growth.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who spent the previous season on loan at Admira Wacker, faced challenges with injuries that limited his playtime and development.