The revamped UEFA Champions League format has already provided shock, excitement, and unexpected results. With the group stage now complete, the tournament has narrowed from 36 teams to 24, as 12 clubs have been eliminated.
The final round of group matches saw dramatic moments, including Manchester City’s comeback victory to stay in contention. Lesser-fancied teams like Lille, PSV, Celtic, Brest, and others also made headlines with surprising wins, proving the new system’s unpredictability.
New format and playoff structure
Under the revised format, the top eight teams from the league stage earned a direct spot in the Round of 16. These teams, ranked in order of finish, are:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atlético Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
The remaining 16 teams will now compete in a two-legged playoff round. Teams ranked 9th to 16th are seeded and will face teams placed 17th to 24th. The winners will advance to the Round of 16, where they will meet one of the top eight teams.
UEFA Champions League playoff draw
Bracket 1
- Brest vs Paris Saint-Germain
- AS Monaco vs Benfica
(Winners will face Liverpool or Barcelona in the Round of 16)
Bracket 2
- Juventus vs PSV
- Feyenoord vs AC Milan
(Winners will face Arsenal or Inter Milan in the Round of 16)
Bracket 3
- Manchester City vs Real Madrid
- Bayern Munich vs Celtic
(Winners will face Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16)
Bracket 4
- Atalanta vs Club Brugge
- Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting CP
(Winners will face Lille or Aston Villa in the Round of 16)
The two-legged playoff ties will be played on 11/12 and 18/19 February.
They will determine the final eight teams joining the top-ranked sides in the next round setting the stage for more high-stakes encounters in the Champions League.
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