2024-25 Champions League draw, bracket, format, explained: Manchester City land Bayern Munich or Real Madrid

Published on Jan 30, 2025

The UEFA Champions League's first-ever league phase is over, and the knockout stage outlook is now much clearer. Manchester City avoided disaster, Liverpool topped the league-phase table, and we will get Manchester City against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoffs.

Friday's draw, set for 6 a.m. ET on The Golazo Network and Paramount+, will detail the path to the Champions League final at Munich's Allianz Arena on May 31 as who will play who still in the round of 16 remains unsettled.

Here's what to know:

Manchester City saved by Savinho in Champions League, overturn one goal deficit to win 3-1 and advance

James Benge

UEFA Champions League Bracket

Who will make it all the way to Munich? 💬#UCL pic.twitter.com/G6LlEYn1Q4

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025

Knockout round playoffs: Possible fixtures

CBS Sports Round of 16: Possible fixtures

CBS Sports Who advanced to round of 16 with top-eight finish?

Liverpool's possible opponents in round of 16: PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest
Barcelona's possible opponents in round of 16: PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest
Arsenal's possible opponents in round of 16: Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, Juventus2
Inter's possible opponents in round of 16: Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, Juventus
Atletico Madrid's possible opponents in round of 16: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Manchester City
Bayer Leverkusen's possible opponents in round of 16: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Manchester City
Lille's possible opponents in round of 16: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, Club Brugge
Aston Villa's possible opponents in round of 16: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, Club Brugge

How do the knockout phase playoffs work?

Teams ranked ninth through 16th at the end of the league phase will be seeded and will be drawn against one of the unseeded teams. Each seeded team will have four potential opponents and will find out their actual foe in Friday's draw before participating in a two-legged series.

The seeded team will host the second leg and the team with the greater aggregate score will advance to the round of 16, with extra time and penalties looming if the aggregate score is tied.

Here are the predetermined pairings for the teams that will play in the knockout phase playoffs.

Atalanta's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Sporting, Club Brugge
Borussia Dortmund's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Sporting, Club Brugge
Real Madrid's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Celtic, Manchester City
Bayern Munich's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Celtic, Manchester City
Milan's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Feyenoord, Juventus
PSV's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Feyenoord, Juventus
PSG's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Monaco, Brest
Benfica's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Monaco, Brest
Monaco's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: PSG, Benfica
Brest's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: PSG, Benfica
Feyenoord's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Milan, PSV
Juventus' possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Milan, PSV
Celtic's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
Manchester City's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
Sporting's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund
Club Brugge's possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund

How do teams qualify for the knockouts?

In the 36-team league phase, the teams that finish in the top eight will earn a bye and qualify directly for the round of 16. Those ranked ninth through 24th will enter the first-ever knockout phase playoffs, while the teams ranked 25th or lower will be eliminated. Unlike previous editions of the Champions League, no teams will drop down to the UEFA Europa League.

Are there away goals, and can teams from same country meet?

The away goals rule will not apply, and there will be no restriction on teams from the same country playing each other.

How does the round of 16 work?

Teams that finished the league phase ranked first through eighth will be seeded in this round, while the teams that advanced through the knockout phase playoffs will be unseeded. The rules of the previous round apply and there will also be predetermined pairings that will create the bracket. There is an added reward for the teams that finished the league phase in the top four, though – they will essentially have their own quadrants of the bracket and would not face each other until the latter stages of the competition.

Here are the predetermined pairings for the round of 16.