The road to the 2025 UEFA Champions League final is taking shape, with the knockout stages set to begin soon. The new tournament format means an extra round of play-offs before the last 16, adding even more excitement. Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League Knockout Draw, key dates, and how to watch the action unfold.
When is the Champions League Knockout Draw?
The play-off round draw takes place on January 31, 2025, at 11 am GMT at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The draw for the last 16 and quarter-finals will be held on February 21, 2025, after the play-offs conclude.
How to Watch the Champions League Knockout Draw
Fans can watch the draw live on UEFA.com, where it will be streamed directly from the House of European Football in Nyon.
How Does the New Champions League Format Work?
For the first time, teams finishing between 9th and 24th in the league-phase table will compete in a knockout play-off round. The winners of these ties will join the top eight teams in the last 16.
- Teams placed 9th to 16th will be seeded and drawn against teams finishing 17th to 24th.
- Seeded teams will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.
- The eight winners will progress to the last 16.
Who Has Qualified Directly for the Last 16?
The top eight teams from the league phase have already booked their spot in the round of 16:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
Potential Play-off Draw Matchups
Based on finishing positions, these could be the possible play-off ties:
- Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting/Club Brugge
- Real Madrid/Bayern Munich vs Celtic/Manchester City
- AC Milan/PSV vs Feyenoord/Juventus
- PSG/Benfica vs Monaco/Brest
The eight play-off winners will then be paired with the eight teams already in the last 16.
Champions League Knockout Round Schedule
- Play-off round: February 11/12 & 18/19, 2025
- Last 16: March 4/5 & 11/12, 2025
- Quarter-finals: April 8/9 & 15/16, 2025
- Semi-finals: April 29/30 & May 6/7, 2025
- Final: May 31, 2025 (Allianz Arena, Munich)
Where is the 2025 Champions League Final?
The grand final will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on May 31, 2025.
What’s Next?
With the play-off draw just around the corner, teams will be preparing for a tough battle to reach the last 16. The new format adds extra drama, and fans can expect thrilling encounters leading up to the final in Munich
