The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League group stage has concluded in dramatic fashion, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase play-off draw, scheduled for Friday, 31 January, at 12:00 CET, in Nyon, Switzerland.
With all group stage matches played simultaneously on Wednesday night, the list of teams advancing directly to the Round of 16, those set for the knockout play-offs, and those eliminated are now confirmed.
How the Knockout Phase Play-Off Works
This season marks the first under the new league format, where the top eight teams in the standings automatically qualify for the Round of 16.
However, teams finishing between ninth and 24th place must compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure a place in the last 16.
The format follows a structured seeding process:
Teams finishing 9th to 16th will be seeded.
They will face unseeded teams that finished 17th to 24th.
Seeded teams will play the return leg at home.
Teams in the Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw
Round of 16 (Confirmed Teams): Arsenal, Aston Villa, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Liverpool.
Knockout Phase Play-Off Teams: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Brest, Celtic, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, Juventus, Manchester City, Milan, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, PSV, Real Madrid, Sporting CP.
Eliminated Teams: Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Girona, GNK Dinamo, RB Leipzig, Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Praha, Sturm Graz, Stuttgart, Young Boys.
Matchday 8 Post-Match Review
The final round of group-stage matches delivered immense drama, with teams battling for survival and seeding in the knockout rounds.
Aston Villa & Lille Clinch Round of 16 Spots
Morgan Rogers stole the spotlight with a historic hat-trick in Villa’s 4-2 win over Celtic. Lille, meanwhile, edged past their rivals to book a direct berth in the last 16.
Manchester City’s Comeback Secures Play-Off Spot
Despite a first-half deficit, City turned the match around against Club Brugge. Mateo Kovačić orchestrated the fightback with a precise finish, an own goal followed, and Savinho sealed it with a stunning volley.
Ousmane Dembélé’s Hat-Trick Guides PSG to Play-Offs
A stellar performance from Dembélé, including two first-half goals, secured PSG’s play-off place with a dominant win over Stuttgart, eliminating the German club.
Rodrygo & Bellingham Shine as Real Madrid Advance
Rodrygo’s brace and Bellingham’s counterattack finish sealed a 3-0 win over Brest, pushing Madrid to 11th in the league phase.
Arsenal Close Out Group Stage with a Win
Jorginho’s penalty and Ethan Nwaneri’s solo stunner gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Girona, solidifying their spot in the last 16.
Atalanta Deny Barcelona Top Spot
Lamine Yamal’s early goal was cancelled out twice, forcing Barca to settle for a draw, meaning they missed out on finishing top.
Thomas Müller’s 56th UCL Goal Seals Bayern’s Win
Bayern finished their group stage campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory, with Müller, Harry Kane, and Kingsley Coman delivering.
Inter’s Defensive Brilliance Continue
A dominant display saw Lautaro Martínez net a hat-trick in a 3-0 win, Inter’s seventh clean sheet in the tournament so far.
PSV Edge Liverpool in Five-Goal Thriller
A dramatic 3-2 win over Liverpool secured PSV’s play-off place. Johan Bakayoko starred with a stunning equaliser.
Benfica Secure Knockout Play-Off Place with Juventus Victory
Benfica claimed a crucial away win, thanks to Alexander Bah’s assist for Vangelis Pavlidis and a commanding midfield display.
What’s Next?
With the knockout phase play-off draw set for Friday, 31 January, all eyes will be on the potential matchups.
The winners will progress to the Round of 16, where the competition truly heats up en route to the final on May 31, 2025 in Munich.
