For the first time since the 1998/99 season, the Champions League proper will not begin with 32 clubs. This year, it has increased again to 36.
The two best-performing countries in European competition last term each received another spot. England had an unexpectedly poor season on the continent, leading to more spots for Italy and Germany.
Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund qualified despite finishing fifth in the Bundesliga. This exemplifies the new format's impact on club qualifications.
The fourth extra Champions League spot went to Europe's fifth-best league, Ligue 1, which indicates the expanding opportunities for clubs from a wider range of leagues.
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