UEFA Confirms Champions League Seedings Change for 2015-16 Season

UEFA has reportedly confirmed it will change the format for Champions League seeding involving champions from the top seven leagues in Europe for next season's tournament.

Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News reports Pot 1 for determining the group-stage pairings will now include the title winners from the top seven leagues along with the club that raised the Champions League trophy the last term:

Previously, each club was assigned a UEFA club coefficient rating and then assigned to a pot based on that number. It was a system based on a club's performance in European play over the past five campaigns while also factoring in the relative strength of their league.

As a result, the best teams from the top leagues would often end up alongside each other in Pot 1. Real Madrid and Barcelona, for example. It also meant that certain league champions would be placed in other pots and therefore in greater danger of drawing a difficult group.

The new system will place a greater emphasis on winning either the domestic league title or the Champions League crown in order to guarantee one of those coveted Pot 1 spots.

Squawka Football notes which leagues are currently rated as the top seven:

While it's good news for the top contenders in the domestic leagues rated lower on that list, teams in the best leagues don't have as much margin for error moving forward.

That said, the decision is hard to argue. It's called the Champions League, after all. The champions from the most competitive leagues around Europe should be featured and given the added benefit of increased odds of better group placement.

The modification doesn't ensure an easier path. A champion from Russia could still draw Real Madrid or Barcelona depending on how everything plays out, but it's still better than ending up in a lower pot and being locked into a group with one of the highest-ranked sides.

It could also create some more interesting pairings for the group stage in the years ahead. As mentioned, the change will go into place for the 2015-16 season.