UEFA has published new regulations that will change the way Champions League seedings are awarded. The changes could seriously damage Arsenal’s European hopes.
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League champions in the seven highest ranked UEFA countries will now be the tournament’s top seeds along with the defending Champions League winner, according to The Guardian.
In the eventuality that the European Cup winner also won their national title, the eighth top seeded team would be PSV Eindhoven as the Netherlands is currently the next highest ranked nation in the UEFA co-efficients.
The new system would see the likes of Juventus, Zenit-St Petersburg and the champions of Ligue 1 join the top eight.
The regulations would therefore see the likes of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Porto lose their elite, top-seed status and make them more vulnerable to drawing more difficult opponents in the group stages of the competition.
Meanwhile favourites for the Premier League title Chelsea would retain their top-seeded status.
Real Madrid could face the threat of dropping down to the second-tier if Barcelona win the Champions League or La Liga this season.
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