The top eight from the league phase of the competition will face the eight winners of the knockout play-off ties in the last 16. The draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday February 21, 2025. On paper at least, the higher you finish in the league phase, the easier your last-16 tie should be.

Seven different clubs are represented in the all-star team of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs first legs picked by UEFA's technical observers.

The UEFA Champions League returns Tuesday, Feb. 11 with the first set of knockout stage playoff games. The first legs will wrap up Wednesday, Feb. 12 with the return fixtures taking place a week later.

The first-ever edition of the UEFA Champions League's knockout phase playoffs begins this week when several European heavyweights will compete for a spot in the round of 16. The headlining act of the two-legged series is Manchester City's clash with Real Madrid,

The match is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. EST and will be broadcast exclusively on Paramount+. Fans looking to watch can do so through Paramount+, which offers exclusive live streams and on-demand replays of all UEFA Champions League matches along with a free trial when you sign up.

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League final will be played on Saturday, May. 31. All of Europe's top 5 league will have concluded by then, with the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga the last ones to finish on May 25.

Friday morning, UEFA conducted the draw for the Champion League's new playoff phase, which essentially adds one more round to the previous format's knockout stage. 16 teams were sorted, with pairings influenced (but not entirely determined) by order of finish in the group stage.

The teams that finished the new group stage format of the Champions League in standings places #9 through #24 have their knockout stage ties over the next two weeks, with the first four ties played on Tuesday,