As the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 league phase is nearing its end and the knockout phase is shaping up.
Under the new format of Champions League, eight of the 36 teams progress straight to the round of 16, while those placed between ninth and 24th head to the knockout phase play-offs.
Premier League leaders Liverpool were the first team to book their spot in the round of 16, registering a 100% win record after seven of the eight group games.
Spanish giants Barcelona have joined them owing to their goal-scoring prowess with 26 goals- more than any other team.
The league phase concludes with matchday eight on 29 January 2025, where six more sides will confirm direct qualification before the knockout round play-off draw takes place two days later.
Champions League 2024-25 Format: A quick glance
- Top eight spots qualify directly for knockout rounds
- Positions 9-24 play in two-legged playoff ties
- Positions 25-36 are eliminated from all European competitions
Champions League 2024-25: Knockout fixtures
- Knockout round play-offs: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025
- Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
- Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
- Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025
- Final: May 31, 2025
Also Read: Mastering the basics: How to kick a football
Champions League 2024-25: Standings after matchday 7
| Team | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | Goals F/A | GD | Points | |
| 1 | Liverpool | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 15-2 | +13 | 21 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 26-11 | +15 | 18 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14-2 | +12 | 16 |
| 4 | Inter Milan | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8-1 | +7 | 16 |
| 5 | Atletico Madrid | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16-11 | +5 | 15 |
| 6 | AC Milan | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 13-9 | +4 | 15 |
| 7 | Atalanta | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18-4 | +14 | 14 |
| 8 | Bayer Leverkusen | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13-7 | +6 | 13 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9-4 | +5 | 13 |
| 10 | Monaco | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13-10 | +3 | 13 |
| 11 | Feyenoord | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 17-15 | +2 | 13 |
| 12 | Lille | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11-9 | +2 | 13 |
| 13 | Brest | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10-8 | +2 | 13 |
| 14 | Borussia Dortmund | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 19-11 | +8 | 12 |
| 15 | Bayern Munich | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17-11 | +6 | 12 |
| 16 | Real Madrid | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17-12 | +5 | 12 |
| 17 | Juventus | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9-5 | +4 | 12 |
| 18 | Celtic | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11-10 | +1 | 12 |
| 19 | PSV | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13-10 | +3 | 11 |
| 20 | Club Brugge | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6-8 | -2 | 11 |
| 21 | Benfica | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 14-12 | +2 | 10 |
| 22 | PSG | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10-8 | +2 | 10 |
| 23 | Sporting Lisbon | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12-11 | +1 | 10 |
| 24 | VfB Stuttgart | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12-13 | -1 | 10 |
| 25 | Manchester City | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15-13 | +2 | 8 |
| 26 | Dinamo Zagreb | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10-18 | -8 | 8 |
| 27 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7-13 | -6 | 7 |
| 28 | Bologna | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3-8 | -5 | 5 |
| 29 | Sparta Prague | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7-19 | -12 | 4 |
| 30 | RB Leipzig | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4-11 | -7 | 3 |
| 31 | Girona | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10-19 | -9 | 3 |
| 32 | Red Star Belgrade | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 12-22 | -10 | 3 |
| 33 | Sturm Graz | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4-14 | -10 | 3 |
| 34 | RB Salzburg | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4-23 | -19 | 3 |
| 35 | Slovan Bratislava | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6-24 | -18 | 0 |
| 36 | Young Boys | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3-23 | -20 | 0 |
