The first ever league phase of the Champions League has concluded in dramatic style with all five British clubs making it through to at least the knockout play-off round.
Liverpool and Arsenal will be joined by Aston Villa in the last 16 after Unai Emery’s men secured their place in the top eight with a 4-2 victory over Celtic on Matchday 8.
The Hoops, who finished 21st, will enter the knockout play-off round alongside Man City, who snuck into the top 24 with a 3-1 comeback win over Club Brugge.
With each club’s next opponent determined by the position they finished in the 36-team league, we now have a clear idea of who the clubs could get drawn against in the knockout phase, as well as their potential last-16 opponents.
The league phase is complete ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/8Ix7MvcqI4
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025
📰 Table Of Contents
Who faces who in the Champions League knockout stage?
The consequence of Manchester City finishing a lowly 22nd in the standings means they, or indeed Celtic, will face a blockbuster tie with one of either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Should either the 2023 Treble winners or the Hoops navigate a victory over two legs, they face two more potentially difficult opponents in the form of Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool, who sealed top spot in the league phase, could face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, as well as either Benfica, Monaco or Brest.
Third-placed Arsenal’s potential opponents in the last 16 are either AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord or Juventus.
Aston Villa, who will also head automatically into the last 16 of the competition, will be potted against either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting or Club Brugge.
A top-eight finish means we will see you in the Champions League Round of 16, Villans 💜 pic.twitter.com/veTwbduOPp
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 29, 2025
Who will British teams face in the play-off round and last 16?
Liverpool (Ranked No 1)
Last 16: vs PSG (15th), Benfica (16th), Monaco (17th) or Brest (18th).
Arsenal (Ranked No 3)
Last 16: vs AC Milan (13th), PSV (14th), Feyenoord (19th) or Juventus (20th).
Aston Villa (Ranked No 8)
Last 16: vs Atalanta (9th), Borussia Dortmund (10th), Sporting (23rd) or Club Brugge (24th).
Celtic (Ranked No 21)
Knockout playoffs: vs Bayern Munich (11th) or Real Madrid (12th).
Last 16: vs Atletico Madrid (5th) or Bayer Leverkusen (6th).
Manchester City (Ranked No 22)
Knockout playoffs: vs Bayern Munich (11th) or Real Madrid (12th).
Last 16: vs Atletico Madrid (5th) or Bayer Leverkusen (6th).
When is the play-0ff round draw?
The draw to determine who will face who in the play-off round takes place on Friday, January 31.
Who are all the teams through to the knockouts?
Confirmed in last 16
Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa.
Confirmed in knockout phase play-offs
Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, AC Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Man City, Sporting, Club Brugge.
Eliminated
Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Sturm Graz, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys.
Champions League knockout schedule key dates
- January 31: Play-off round draw
- February 11-12 and 18-19: Play-off first and second legs
- February 21: Last-16 draw
- March 4-5 and 11-12: Last 16 first and second legs
- April 8-9 and 15-16: Quarter-final first and second legs
- April 29-30 and May 6-7: Semi-final first and second legs
- May 31: Champions League final at Allianz Arena
