
How Does the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw Work?
The 2024/25 Champions League has undergone significant changes following UEFA’s decision to revamp the competition. The tournament has expanded to 36 teams, replacing the traditional group stage with the Swiss model league phase.
Following the conclusion of this inaugural league phase, 24 teams have progressed to the knockout phase. However, the path to the final is not straightforward. While the top eight teams have automatically advanced to the last 16, the remaining 16 teams must battle through a knockout play-off round to secure their place.
These teams will compete in a two-legged tie, with the eight winners advancing to the round of 16, where the top eight teams from the league phase are waiting. The stakes are high, making this a crucial stage of the tournament.
When is the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw?

With the league phase now concluded, the draw for the Champions League knockout play-off round will take place on Friday, 31 January at 11:00 GMT. The event will be held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draw will determine the fixtures for this round, and with many top clubs involved, it promises to be an exciting moment for fans and teams alike.
How is the Draw Structured?
The draw will be seeded, ensuring that teams finishing higher in the league phase have an advantage.
- Teams ranked 9th to 16th will be seeded.
- Teams ranked 17th to 24th will be unseeded.
- Each seeded team will face an unseeded team.
- Fixtures will be decided based on ranking pairings:
- 9th & 10th vs. 23rd & 24th
- 11th & 12th vs. 21st & 22nd
- 13th & 14th vs. 19th & 20th
- 15th & 16th vs. 17th & 18th
This means each club involved already knows they will be facing one of two possible teams.
Which Teams are in the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw?

Here are the clubs set to compete in the play-off round:
Club | Final League Phase Position |
---|---|
Atalanta | 9th |
Borussia Dortmund | 10th |
Real Madrid | 11th |
Bayern Munich | 12th |
AC Milan | 13th |
PSV Eindhoven | 14th |
Paris Saint-Germain | 15th |
Benfica | 16th |
Monaco | 17th |
Brest | 18th |
Feyenoord | 19th |
Juventus | 20th |
Celtic | 21st |
Manchester City | 22nd |
Sporting CP | 23rd |
Club Brugge | 24th |
Teams Eliminated After the League Phase
The following teams failed to qualify and have been eliminated from the Champions League:
- Dinamo Zagreb
- VfB Stuttgart
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Bologna
- Crvena zvezda
- Sturm Graz
- Sparta Prague
- RB Leipzig
- Girona
- RB Salzburg
- Slovan Bratislava
- Young Boys
Unlike previous seasons, eliminated teams will not drop into the Europa League. Their European campaign ends here.
Why Are Liverpool, Arsenal, and Barcelona Not in the Draw?

Liverpool, Arsenal, and Barcelona secured automatic qualification to the last 16 by finishing in the top eight of the league phase. These clubs performed exceptionally well and now benefit from extra preparation time ahead of their last-16 clashes in early March.
The top eight teams automatically advancing are:
- Liverpool
- Arsenal
- Barcelona
- Inter Milan
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Manchester United
- Real Sociedad
- Atlético Madrid
They will await the winners of the knockout play-off round, with the draw for the round of 16 taking place on Friday, 21 February.
When Will the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Matches Be Played?
The knockout play-off matches will take place over two weeks:
- First legs: 11/12 February
- Second legs: 18/19 February
Each team will play one match on a Tuesday and one on a Wednesday.
What Happens Next?
Following the knockout play-off round, the eight victorious teams will join the eight pre-qualified clubs in the round of 16. The draw for the next stage will be held on 21 February, after which the competition resumes in March.
With some of Europe’s biggest clubs fighting for a place in the next round, the Champions League knockout play-off round promises intense action, high stakes, and unmissable drama. Stay tuned for the draw results and match fixtures!