These are the clashes for the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw

These are the clashes for the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw

On the left side:

- Brest vs. PSG

- Brugge vs Atalanta

- Manchester City v Real Madrid

- Juventus v. PSV

Right side:

- Monaco v Benfica

- Sporting Portugal vs. Borussia Dortmund

- Celtic vs. Bayern Munich

- Feyenoord vs. Milan

Brest, Brugge, City, and Juventus are on the left, and Monaco, Sporting, Celtic, and Feyenoord on the right.

Manchester City to the left, Celtic to the right

Manchester City and Celtic's balls come out. Guardiola's side go to the left, with Brugge (not their opponents, just the same side). Same for Celtic and Brugge.

Brugge and Sporting are drawn

The first team in the draw is Brugge (24th) who go to the left side of the draw. The 23rd, Sporting Portugal, go to the right side.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - Explanation of how the draw will work

As usual, UEFA has provided an infographic explaining how the draw will work. First, the unseeded teams will be drawn and placed on each side of the draw. Then, the seeded teams will do the same, already knowing their opponents in the play-offs.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - The 16 teams for this draw

Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Manchester City, Sporting Portugal and Club Brugge are the clubs who have qualified for the play-offs through the League Phase and who are in today's draw.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - UEFA's usual introduction of teams

As always, the ceremony begins with highlights from previous rounds for all the teams who will be involved in the draw. It also highlights how frenetic the final day of the League Phase was, with so much shuffling of positions in the table.

 

January 31, 2025

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - Waiting for the draw to begin!

We are ready to live this great day for the Champions League. Draw for the play off round for all those teams that finished between 9th and 24th position during the League Phase. It's about to kick off.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - 'Match overload'

There will be even less opportunity to rest for those clubs who must now come through a two-legged play-off tie in February to reach the last 16. But there will be plenty of excitement in the play-offs, the draw for which takes place today. The way the draw is organised means Real and Bayern Munich each know they will either face Manchester City or Celtic next. AC Milan could play Juventus.

Nevertheless, the new format ultimately produced the same end result. All of the top eight who progress straight to the last 16 hail from Europe's five biggest leagues, with three from England, two from Spain, and one each from Italy, Germany and France.

Only six clubs from other countries have reached the play-offs, all of a certain pedigree: former European Cup winners in PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Feyenoord and Celtic, former runners-up in Club Brugge, and Portuguese giants Sporting.

No club from east of Munich has progressed, and the only club who were probably expected to qualify but failed to do so were RB Leipzig, although they were hampered by injuries and had a difficult draw - their opponents amassed more points combined than those of any other team.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - 'Room for surprises'

Naturally, the new format has been enthusiastically welcomed by clubs that may have struggled under the previous system, especially Brest, who finished 18th and have reached the play-offs in their first European campaign. "I really like it, and I think tonight the people watching on television and in the stadiums must have really enjoyed it. There was a lot of suspense. It gives a chance to the smaller teams like us," said Brest coach Eric Roy.

Another French side, Lille, pulled off a remarkable performance to finish seventh and go directly into the last 16, beating Real and Atletico Madrid along the way. "I have really liked this format. There is room for surprises," said Lille's Thomas Meunier. In contrast, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti has not hidden his displeasure at the increase in the number of games in the league phase, to eight from six in the old format.

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw

The new format ultimately produced the same end result. All of the top eight who progress straight to the last 16 hail from Europe's five biggest leagues, with three from England, two from Spain, and one each from Italy, Germany and France.

 

January 31, 2025

Which teams will be in the draw pots?

Unseeded teams
17. Monaco (FRA)
18. Brest (FRA)
19. Feyenoord (NED)
20. Juventus (ITA)
21. Celtic (SCO)
22. Manchester City (ENG)
23. Sporting CP (POR)
24. Club Brugge (BEL)

Seeded teams
9. Atalanta (ITA)
10. Borussia Dortmund (GER)
11. Real Madrid (ESP)
12. Bayern München (GER)
13. Milan (ITA)
14. PSV (NED)
15. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
16. Benfica (POR)

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - Which teams will be in the draw pots?

The teams that finished the league phase between ninth and sixteenth place will be seeded in the first draw of the knockout phase, and will face a team placed between seventeenth and twenty-fourth place. In principle, the seeded team will play the second leg at home.

 

January 31, 2025

Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - Where and when will the Champions League knockout phase play-off draw be held?

The UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw will take place at the at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland and the proceedings will begin at 12.00 CET.

 Champions League knockout phase play-off draw - The countdown begins

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw. What will be the fate of the 24 teams that have made it through the league phase?