- In the newly revamped Champions League format, only the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16
- Knockout rounds will follow the traditional home-and-away format until the final
- The final will take place on May 31 at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, concluding a revamped and more competitive tournament format
It is no longer news that the UEFA Champions League has entered a new era, and fans are adjusting to its dramatic format change for the 2024-25 season.
Gone is the familiar eight-group structure, where the top two teams advanced automatically to the round of 16. Instead, a league-style format was introduced earlier in the season, significantly altering how teams qualify for the knockout phase.
In this revamped system, only the top eight teams from the league phase qualify directly for the last 16. Meanwhile, those finishing between ninth and 24th must compete in an additional play-off round to secure their place.
Now that the league phase has been completed, fans are eager to know what to expect next. TheRadar has explained below how and when the knockout draws will take place.
How UCL knockout draws will work
There will be two crucial draws after the league phase:
First draw – Play-off matchups (Friday, January 31, 11 am GMT)
This draw will decide which specific opponent each team will face in the play-off round. For instance, a team finishing 13th will find out whether they are playing against the side finishing 19th or 20th.
The seeded teams (ninth-16th) will enjoy the advantage of playing the second leg at home in their play-off matches. These ties will be played over two legs on February 11/12 and February 18/19.
Second draw – Round of 16 matchups (Friday, February 21)
The top eight teams from the league phase will have to wait until this draw to find out their round of 16 opponents. This draw will not only set up the first knockout round but also map out each team’s full path to the final.
How UCL play-off round works
The play-off round will determine which eight teams join the top eight directly in the round of 16. Here’s how the pairings will be structured:
Teams finishing 9th to 16th will be seeded.
Teams finishing 17th to 24th will be unseeded.
Seeded teams will face an unseeded opponent and play the second leg at home.
Pairings will follow a structured approach, ensuring fair competition. For instance, the teams finishing 9th and 10th will face off against the 23rd or 24th-placed sides, while the 11th and 12th-ranked teams will meet either the 21st or 22nd-placed sides and so on.
The eight winners from the play-offs will then progress to the round of 16, where they will face the top-eight teams from the league phase.
Key dates for the Champions League knockout stages
Play-off round: February 11-12 (First leg) & February 18-19 (Second leg)
Round of 16: March 4-5 (First leg) & March 11-12 (Second leg)
Quarter-finals: April 8-9 (First leg) & April 15-16 (Second leg)
Semi-finals: April 29-30 (First leg) & May 6-7 (Second leg)
Final: May 31 at Allianz Arena, Munich
UEFA plans official honour for Cristiano Ronaldo as UCL all-time top scorer
Previously, TheRadar reported that Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League, is set to receive a prestigious honour from UEFA.
The award, which UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin will present, recognises Ronaldo’s unparalleled achievements in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
