The UEFA Champions League 2024/25 has introduced a new league phase format, replacing the traditional group stage. With the initial phase now completed, teams finishing 9th to 24th in the standings must compete in a playoff round to determine the final eight clubs advancing to the Round of 16. The draw for this playoff phase will take place on Friday, January 31, at 12:00 CET, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

How Does the Playoff Draw Work?

Unlike the previous system, where the Round of 16 was determined by an open draw, the new format follows a structured ranking-based system:

• Teams ranked 9th to 16th will be seeded and drawn against teams ranked 17th to 24th.
• The draw will determine specific matchups, but UEFA will maintain predefined seeding rules to ensure fairness.

Meanwhile, the top 8 teams from the league phase automatically qualify for the Round of 16, gaining a crucial advantage. In contrast, teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated from the competition entirely, with no possibility of dropping into the UEFA Europa League, as was the case in previous editions.

Key Dates and Playoff Format

The playoff round will be played over two legs, with the first leg on February 11-12 and the second leg on February 18-19. The team that finished higher in the league phase will play the second leg at home, ensuring a competitive balance.

Playoff matchups will follow this seeding structure:
✅ 9th & 10th vs. 23rd & 24th
✅ 11th & 12th vs. 21st & 22nd
✅ 13th & 14th vs. 19th & 20th
✅ 15th & 16th vs. 17th & 18th

Upcoming Draws and Path to the Final

Once the playoff round concludes, the Round of 16 draw will take place on February 21, where the top 8 teams will find out their opponents.

• Unlike previous editions, a "seeding system" will be used, ensuring that higher-ranked teams do not face each other until later rounds.
• On the same day, UEFA will map out the entire knockout stage, determining potential quarterfinal and semifinal matchups.
• There will be a final draw to decide which teams will host the second leg in the later rounds.