🏆 Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw: Everything You Need to Know

🔖 How Does the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw Work?

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League has undergone a major transformation, with an expanded 36-team format and a brand-new ‘Swiss model’ league phase replacing the traditional group stage. The league phase concluded on January 31, and now 24 teams move forward, but their paths differ:

• ✨ Top 8 teams have qualified directly for the Round of 16.
• ⚡ Teams ranked 9th to 24th will compete in the Knockout Play-Off Round.
• ❌ Teams ranked 25th to 36th have been eliminated without dropping into the Europa League.

The knockout play-off matches are two-legged ties, and the eight winners will join the top 8 teams in the Round of 16.

🕒 When is the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw?

The Champions League Knockout Play-Off Draw will take place on Friday, January 31, at 11:00 GMT at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw will be seeded, meaning:

• Teams ranked 9th-16th will be seeded and drawn against
• Teams ranked 17th-24th, who will be unseeded.
• The draw follows a structured pairing: 9th & 10th play 23rd & 24th, 11th & 12th play 21st & 22nd, and so on.

🔮 Which Teams Are in the Champions League Knockout Play-Off Round?

These teams will face each other in two-legged knockout matches on:

• First leg: February 11/12
• Second leg: February 18/19

🚨 Teams Eliminated from the Champions League

The following 12 teams finished outside the top 24 and are now out of the competition:

• 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, these clubs will not drop into the UEFA Europa League.

🏆 Why Are Liverpool, Arsenal & Barcelona Not in the Draw?

Liverpool, Arsenal, and Barcelona finished in the top 8 and have automatically qualified for the Round of 16. These teams will be waiting to face one of the winners from the play-off round.

Here’s a reminder of the Top 8 teams that qualified directly:

• 💪 Liverpool (1st)
• 🔵 Barcelona (2nd)
• 💪 Arsenal (3rd)
• 🔵 Inter (4th)
• 🏆 Atletico Madrid (5th)
• 🌟 Bayer Leverkusen (6th)
• 🏆 Lille (7th)
• 🏆 Aston Villa (8th)

These clubs earned a rest before the Round of 16 kicks off in early March.

💨 What’s Next?

• Knockout Play-Off Matches: February 11/12 & 18/19
• Round of 16 Draw: February 21
• Round of 16 Matches: Early March

Which team do you think will win the Champions League this season? Drop your predictions in the comments! 🔥🏆