Soccer: Champions League changes

Three English, Italian and Spanish clubs will qualify automatically for the Champions League starting in 2009.

Under the current format, only the top two teams from the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga are guaranteed a spot in the group stage.

In another change, the Champions League final will be played on a Saturday starting in 2010 rather than its traditional Wednesday.

UEFA's executive committee said five of the 32 places in the group stage would be reserved for teams from Europe's less competitive leagues, to bring more countries into its top club competition.