Knockout playoffs of the UEFA Champions League begins today: How does the new format work?

UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs begin from tonight. (Image credits - CommonsWikipedia, License Details)

The knockout playoffs round of the UEFA Champions League will begin tonight, with the first leg fixtures set to be played over the course of the next two days, and the second leg fixtures scheduled for the next week.

For the first time ever, the fans are witnessing the new format of the Champions League, with the competition heading into its next phase, as the initial league stage of the competition drew to a close two weeks ago.

How will the Round of 16 be decided in the new Champions League format?

The top 8 teams in the league table, namely table toppers Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa, have already secured a place in the Round of 16 of the UCL. 

The remaining 16 teams, placed from the 9th spot to the 24th spot, will play in knockout playoff rounds, which are set to begin tonight. 

Teams placed below the 24th spot have been eliminated from the competition.

8 matches are scheduled for the first leg and the second leg each. The winners of these two-legged ties will advance and join the already qualified teams for the Round of 16, while the losers will be eliminated from the Champions League to the Europa League. 

The fixtures in the knockout playoffs

PSG vs. Brest 

First leg—Stade du Roudourou—11th February, 2025—11:15 pm IST (6:45 pm CET)

Second leg—Parc des Princes—20th February, 2025—1:30 am IST. (19 Feb at 9:00 pm CET) 

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City 

First leg—Etihad Stadium—12th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (11 Feb at 9:00 pm CET) 

Second leg—Santiago Bernabeu—20th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (19 Feb at 9:00 pm CET) 

Juventus vs. PSV 

First leg—Allianz Stadium—12th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (11 Feb at 9:00 pm CET) 

Second leg—Philips Stadion—20th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (19 Feb at 9:00 pm CET) 

Sporting Lisbon vs. Borussia Dortmund 

First leg—José Alvalade—12th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (11 Feb at 9:00 pm CET) 

Second leg—Signal Iduna Park—19th February, 2025—11:15 pm IST (6:45 pm CET)

Club Brugge vs. Atalanta 

First leg—Jan Breyedel—12th February, 2025—11:15 pm IST (9:00 pm CET)

Second leg—Gewiss Stadium—20th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (19 Feb at 9:00 pm CET)

Celtic vs. Bayern Munich 

First leg—Celtic Park—13th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (12 Feb at 9:00 pm CET)

Second leg—Allianz Arena—19th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (18 Feb at 9:00 pm CET)

Feyenoord vs. AC Milan 

First leg—De Kuip—13th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (12 Feb at 9:00 pm CET)

Second leg—San Siro—18th February, 2025—11:15 pm IST (6:45 pm CET)

AS Monaco vs. Benfica

First leg—Stade Louis II—13th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (12 Feb at 9:00 pm CET)

Second leg—Estadio da Luz—19th February, 2025—1:30 am IST (18 Feb at 9:00 pm CET)