Champions League Format Explained: How the League Phase Works
36 teams, one table, eight opponents each. How the Champions League format introduced in 2024/25 works — and why the finish line is so crowded.
Since the 2024/25 season, the UEFA Champions League no longer starts with groups of four. All 36 clubs play in a single league phase with one shared table.
Eight different opponents
Each club plays eight matches — four at home, four away — against eight different opponents. The draw puts teams into four seeding pots, and every club meets two opponents from each pot. Nobody plays the same team twice in the league phase.
What the table decides
| Final position | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1st – 8th | Straight into the round of 16 |
| 9th – 24th | Two-legged knockout play-off for the remaining eight places |
| 25th – 36th | Eliminated from Europe for the season |
Unlike the old format, teams knocked out in the league phase do not drop into the Europa League.
After the league phase
From the round of 16 onwards, the competition is a classic knockout: two-legged ties until a single-match final. Higher-ranked league-phase teams get advantages in the bracket, such as playing the second leg at home.
Why it matters
With 36 teams in one table, the final matchday is packed with games that matter at the same time — the race for the top eight and for 24th place can change with every goal.
