The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is well underway, featuring the most significant format changes in over two decades.
The traditional group stage has been replaced with a single ‘League Phase,’ where all 36 teams are ranked in a unified table after playing eight matches against eight different opponents.
UEFA Champions League: For the knockout rounds, a new Knockout Phase Play-Off Round has been introduced before the Round of 16, adding another layer of competition for teams that finish between 9th and 24th in the League Phase standings.
Key Format Changes:
- No more group stages – All 36 teams compete in a single league table.
- Eight matches per team – Each club plays against eight different opponents.
- New Knockout Play-Off Round – Teams ranked 9th-24th battle for a spot in the Round of 16.
- No Europa League drop-offs – Eliminated teams exit the competition entirely.
2024/25 UEFA Champions League Schedule:
League Phase:
- Matchday 1: September 17-19, 2024
- Matchday 2: October 1-2, 2024
- Matchday 3: October 22-23, 2024
- Matchday 4: November 5-6, 2024
- Matchday 5: November 26-27, 2024
- Matchday 6: December 10-11, 2024
- Matchday 7: January 21-22, 2025
- Matchday 8 (all games played simultaneously): January 29, 2025
Knockout Phase Play-Offs:
- First Legs: February 11-12, 2025
- Second Legs: February 18-19, 2025
Round of 16:
- First Legs: March 4-5, 2025
- Second Legs: March 11-12, 2025
Quarterfinals:
- First Legs: April 8-9, 2025
- Second Legs: April 15-16, 2025
Semifinals:
- First Legs: April 29-30, 2025
- Second Legs: May 6-7, 2025
Final:
- May 31, 2025 (Single Leg)
Knockout Phase Play-Off Round Explained
UEFA Champions League: Teams finishing 9th to 24th in the League Phase will compete in this additional two-legged play-off round to earn a spot in the Round of 16.
- Seeded Teams (9th-16th place) will face Unseeded Teams (17th-24th place).
- Higher-ranked teams will play the decisive second leg at home.
Knockout Phase Play-Off Pairings:
- 9th/10th vs. 23rd/24th
- 11th/12th vs. 21st/22nd
- 13th/14th vs. 19th/20th
- 15th/16th vs. 17th/18th
The Knockout Play-Off Draw will take place on January 31, 2025, before the February fixtures.
With these structural changes, the Champions League promises even more intense and unpredictable action. Which teams will thrive in the new format?