The Champions League knockout play-offs begin on Tuesday, with 16 teams fighting for a place in the last 16.
The new format sends the top eight group-stage finishers straight to the next round, while teams ranked 9-24 must battle it out in two-legged play-offs for the remaining spots.
Three Premier League clubs—Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa—secured direct qualification, while Manchester City faces a tough test against Real Madrid in the play-offs.
With the new structure, the top eight teams already know their potential opponents. Each has four possible matchups, making some play-off ties crucial for their future.
Arsenal finished third in the group stage with six wins, one draw, and a single defeat. Their last-16 opponents will be one of AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, or Juventus. Juventus hosts PSV on Tuesday, while Milan visits Feyenoord on Wednesday.
Aston Villa clinched the eighth and final direct qualification spot with a crucial win over Celtic. Their reward? A last-16 showdown against Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon, or Club Brugge. Sporting faces Dortmund on Tuesday, while Atalanta travels to Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Manchester City must overcome Real Madrid in the play-off round. If they succeed, they’ll face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next stage.
- Knockout Play-off First Legs: February 11 & 12
- Return Legs: February 18 & 19
- Round of 16 Draw: February 21 (along with quarter-final & semi-final draws)
With high-stakes matches on the horizon, every club will be watching closely as the road to Champions League glory continues.