UEFA Champions League, 2025 (2024-25)

UEFA Champions League: league phase

A new format was introduced to the UEFA Champions League in 2024-25. Following the qualification stage, a league phase replaced the group stage.

The league phase consisted of 36 teams competing in a single league structure.

Teams were seeded into four pots based on their UEFA coefficients and domestic league performance. The top-seeded teams were placed in Pot 1, and so on.

Each team would face two opponents from each of the four pots, one at home and one away.

Teams could not face opponents from their own association and could be drawn against a maximum of two teams from the same association.

Due to the complexity of the possible fixtures, automated software digitally drew the eight different opponents at random.

Three points were awarded for a win and one for a draw.

The league ranking was based on total points, then in order, goal difference, goals scored and the head-to-head results. If still tied, additional criteria such as away goals or fair play would be applied.

Games would be played on eight matchdays between September and January.

The teams finishing in the top eight positions advanced directly to the Round of 16 in the knockout stage, so avoiding the Play-off round.

Teams finishing in positions 9th to 16th advanced to the Play-off and were seeded.

Those finishing 17th to 24th also qualified for the Play-off round but were unseeded.

The remaining 12 teams are eliminated and, unlike previous editions of the UEFA Champions League, do not continue in the UEFA Europa League.