The draw for the knockout stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League play-offs is upon us, with numerous elite clubs across Europe keenly anticipating their next steps.
Top eight automatically advance to the last 16 and are seeded:
1. Liverpool – Round of 16 opponents: PSG (15th), Benfica (16th), Monaco (17th), or Brest (18th)
2. Barcelona – Round of 16 opponents: PSG (15th), Benfica (16th), Monaco (17th), or Brest (18th)
3. Arsenal – Round of 16 opponents: Feyenoord (19th), Juventus (20th), AC Milan (13th), or PSV (14th)
4. Inter Milan – Round of 16 opponents: Feyenoord (19th), Juventus (20th), AC Milan (13th), or PSV (14th)
5. Atletico Madrid – Round of 16 opponents: Celtic (21st), Manchester City (22nd), Real Madrid (11th), or Bayern Munich (12th)
6. Bayer Leverkusen – Round of 16 opponents: Celtic (21st), Manchester City (22nd), Real Madrid (11th), or Bayern Munich (12th)
7. Lille – Round of 16 opponents: Sporting (23rd), Club Brugge (24th), Dortmund (10th), or Atalanta (9th)
8. Aston Villa – Round of 16 opponents: Sporting (23rd), Club Brugge (24th), Dortmund (10th), or Atalanta (9th)
Play-off knockout draw for teams ranked 9th to 24th:
9. Atalanta vs Club Brugge (24th)
10. Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting CP (23rd)
11. Real Madrid vs Manchester City (22nd)
12. Bayern Munich vs Celtic (21st)
13. AC Milan vs Feyenoord (19th)
14. PSV vs Juventus (20th)
15. Paris Saint-Germain vs Brest (18th)
16. Benfica vs Monaco (17th)
Teams finishing in positions 17th to 24th in the league stage will be unseeded for the remainder of the tournament and will face the challenge of an away second leg during the play-offs.
New UCL 24/25 Draw Format: An Overview
This season, UEFA’s flagship tournament has undergone a significant transformation. The traditional 32-team group stage has been replaced by a 36-team league format. Each team plays eight matches, with the top eight automatically qualifying for the round of 16, while the bottom eight are eliminated without the option of competing in the Europa League.
Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round to determine which eight will progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. The round of 16 retains the old format, with seeded teams facing unseeded teams, leading up to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final match.
Upcoming UEFA Champions League Knockout Phase Play-offs
The two-legged ties are scheduled for February, with the first legs taking place on February 11th or 12th and the second legs occurring a week later.
Matches will kick off at either 18:45 CET or 21:00 CET, with specifics to be finalised after the draw.
The knockout phase will continue in a bracket format until the final. Teams that finish between ninth and 16th in the league standings will be seeded, facing off against teams that finished between 17th and 24th.
The seeded teams will host the second leg, with the exact details confirmed following the draw.
When are the Next UEFA Champions League Knockout Games?
Round of 16: March 4th/5th and March 11th/12th
Quarter-finals: April 8th/9th and April 15th/16th
Semi-finals: April 29th/30th and May 6th/7th
Final: May 31st in Munich
When is the Next Draw for the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, and Semi-finals of the 24/25 UEFA Champions League?
The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will be held on February 21st, following the conclusion of the play-off round.
When and Where is the 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League Final?
This season’s Champions League final is set for Saturday, May 31st at 21:00 CET in the Allianz Arena in Munich—the venue where Chelsea overcame Bayern Munich on penalties to secure the trophy in 2012.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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