The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage has concluded thrillingly, paving the way for an eagerly anticipated knockout phase play-off draw on Friday, January 31, at noon CET in Nyon, Switzerland.
Following the simultaneous group-stage matches on Wednesday night, the lineup of teams advancing to the Round of 16, those entering the knockout play-offs, and those eliminated has been finalized.
How the Knockout Phase Play-Off Works
This season debuts the new league format, where:
- The top eight teams in the standings automatically qualify for the Round of 16.
- Teams placed 9th to 24th compete in a two-legged knockout play-off to secure their spot in the last 16.
Key Play-Off Format Details:
- Teams finishing 9th to 16th are seeded.
- Seeded teams will face unseeded opponents (17th to 24th).
- Seeded teams play the second leg at home.
Teams in the Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw
Round of 16 (Confirmed Teams):
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan, Lille, Liverpool.
Knockout Phase Play-Off Teams:
Atalanta, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Brest, Celtic, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, Juventus, Manchester City, Milan, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV, Real Madrid, Sporting CP.
Eliminated Teams:
Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Girona, GNK Dinamo, RB Leipzig, Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Praha, Sturm Graz, Stuttgart, Young Boys.
Matchday 8 Highlights
The final round of matches offered intense battles as teams fought for survival and favorable seeding in the knockout rounds.
Aston Villa & Lille Secure Round of 16 Spots
Morgan Rogers delivered a historic hat-trick in Villa’s 4-2 win over Celtic, while Lille edged past their rivals to claim a direct berth.
Manchester City’s Comeback
City rallied to a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge, with Mateo Kovačić, an own goal, and Savinho’s spectacular volley sealing their play-off spot.
Dembélé Stars as PSG Progress
Ousmane Dembélé’s hat-trick powered PSG to a dominant win over Stuttgart, eliminating the German club.
Real Madrid’s Dynamic Duo
Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham starred in Madrid’s 3-0 win over Brest, securing 11th place in the league phase.
Arsenal Close Strong
Jorginho’s penalty and Ethan Nwaneri’s dazzling solo goal secured Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Girona, confirming their Round of 16 spot.
Atalanta Hold Barcelona
Atalanta denied Barcelona top spot in a dramatic draw, as Lamine Yamal’s opener was canceled out twice.
Müller Shines for Bayern
Thomas Müller scored his 56th UCL goal in Bayern’s commanding 3-1 victory, supported by Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman.
PSV Triumph Over Liverpool
PSV edged Liverpool 3-2 in a thrilling encounter, with Johan Bakayoko delivering a spectacular equalizer.
Benfica Edges Juventus
Benfica’s 2-1 win, highlighted by Alexander Bah’s assist and a commanding midfield performance, secured their play-off spot.
What’s Next?
The knockout phase play-off draw on January 31 promises exciting matchups as teams vie for a place in the Round of 16. Winners will advance, where the competition heats up en route to the grand final on May 31, 2025, in Munich.