Rabat – The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League has just hit a major turning point: the league phase is officially over, and we now know exactly who’s heading to the knockouts. Under the new expanded format, there are no more traditional groups, it was one massive 36-team league table.
When all was said and done, the top eight teams automatically punched their tickets straight to the Round of 16, skipping the playoffs entirely, while the next 16 clubs will have to battle it out in a play-off round for those final spots in the last 16.
The clubs that finished in the top eight and qualified directly for the Round of 16 represent some of the biggest names in European football.
Top 8:
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Liverpool
- Tottenham Hotspur
- FC Barcelona
- Chelsea
- Sporting CP
- Manchester City
Their strong performances throughout the league phase means they will completely bypassed the stress of the play-off round. They’re heading straight into the main knockout stage action come March.
Sitting just outside that elite group, 16 other clubs finished between ninth and 24th place, earning a spot in the Champions League knockout play-offs. These sides didn’t get the golden ticket, but they’re still in the mix. They now face a two-legged ties in February to determine which eight of them will make it into the Round of 16. The teams battling it out include a real mix of historic giants and exciting challengers from across Europe.
Top 9–24:
- Real Madrid
- Inter Milan
- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
- Newcastle United
- Juventus
- Atlético de Madrid
- Atalanta Bergame
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Borussia Dortmund
- Olympiakos
- Club Bruges
- Galatasaray
- AS Monaco
- Qarabağ
- Bodø/Glimt
- Benfica
This format adds a whole new layer of excitement and unpredictability. Elite clubs that once just expected to cruise through are now facing a new sort of hurdle just to reach the last 16.
The play-offs are scheduled for mid-to-late February, with the winning sides joining the direct qualifiers for March’s Round of 16 matchups. From that point on, it’s back to the traditional knockout format all the way to the final next May.
