At least 15 teams have secured their spots in the Round of 16 and knockout stages of this season’s Champions League, as the league phase of the revamped 36-team format edges closer to completion.
Two clubs, Liverpool and Barcelona, have confirmed their places among the top eight, ensuring direct entry into the Round of 16. Liverpool’s commanding performances guarantee them a top-seeded position in the knockout bracket. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s dramatic 5-4 comeback victory against Benfica solidified their place in the upper echelon.
The competition’s structure allows 16 teams, ranked 9th to 24th in the league standings, to participate in the knockout play-off round next month. Teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated, with three clubs already out and nine more set to follow after the final league phase matches next week. Notably, in a departure from previous years, eliminated teams will no longer drop into the Europa League.
Among the teams confirmed for at least the knockout playoff round are Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Internazionale, Aston Villa, Brest, AS Monaco, Lille, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Juventus.
With the stakes rising, the Champions League’s new format has introduced added drama as clubs battle to secure their positions in the next stages. The knockout rounds are set to begin in February, promising intense action as Europe’s elite clubs vie for the coveted trophy.
This season’s competition has already delivered surprises, comebacks, and thrilling encounters, with fans eagerly anticipating the final matchups in the league phase to complete the lineup for the knockout stages.
