The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League league phase draw took place in Monaco on Thursday, officially launching the tournament’s new 36-team format according to UEFA. Gone is the traditional group stage featuring eight groups of four. Instead, clubs compete in a single league table where every team plays eight matches against eight different opponents.
How the New Champions League League Phase Works
Under the revised format detailed by UEFA, the 36 participating clubs are divided into four seeding pots based on their individual club coefficients. Every team draws two opponents from each of the four pots, playing one match against each opponent at home and another away. Teams cannot face opponents from their own association, and they can be drawn against a maximum of two sides from any single country.
At the conclusion of the eight matchdays, the top eight teams in the unified league table automatically advance directly to the Round of 16. Clubs finishing from 9th to 24th enter a two-legged knockout playoff round to secure the remaining eight spots in the last 16. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated entirely from European competition, with no crossover into the UEFA Europa League.
Matchdays are spread across traditional mid-week slots, with the league phase concluding in January. UEFA announced that the specific match schedule and fixture dates will be finalized and published on Saturday to avoid calendar clashes with other European club competitions.
Pot 1 Heavyweights and Early Matchup Projections
Pot 1 features reigning champions Real Madrid alongside Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Barcelona. Because of the multi-pot pairing rules, every team in Pot 1 must play two other opponents from Pot 1.
According to the draw ceremony in Monaco, Manchester City’s league phase schedule includes home fixtures against Inter Milan and Club Brugge, alongside trips to face Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan at home, while traveling to play Liverpool and Atalanta.
Bayern Munich drew home matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica, paired with away fixtures at Barcelona and Feyenoord. Meanwhile, Barcelona plays home games against Bayern Munich and Atalanta, alongside away trips to Borussia Dortmund and Benfica.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Champions League league phase matches be played?
The six matchdays of the autumn schedule take place in September, October, November, and December, while the final two league phase matches will be played in January.
How many teams qualify for the knockout stage?
The top eight teams in the 36-team league table qualify automatically for the Round of 16. Teams finishing 9th through 24th compete in a two-legged knockout phase playoff in February to determine the other eight participants.
Can teams from the same country play each other in the league phase?
No, UEFA rules state that clubs cannot be drawn against opponents from their own national association during the league phase.
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