Champions League knockout rounds: bracket, format, fixtures
The round of 16 of the new-look UEFA Champions League gets underway on March 4.
But how do the knockout rounds all knit together? And why were those final league phase positions so important?
Here’s how it all works.
The clubs that finished in the top eight went directly through to the round of 16.
The 16 teams that finished in positions nine to 24 entered the knockout playoff round, with eight advancing to the round of 16.
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Atlético Madrid
Barcelona
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich (KO-PO)
Benfica (KO-PO)
Borussia Dortmund (KO-PO)
Club Brugge (KO-PO)
Feyenoord Rotterdam (KO-PO)
Internazionale
Lille
Liverpool
Paris Saint-Germain (KO-PO)
PSV Eindhoven (KO-PO)
Real Madrid (KO-PO)
Clubs finishing 25th to 36th had already been eliminated.
The seeded teams, on the right, will be at home in the second leg.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal
Benfica vs. Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan
First legs: March 4-5
Second legs: March 11-12
Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
As of this season, there is no draw to create the quarterfinal and semifinal fixtures. It’s all been set by the final league positions (see more below), plus the limited draws to place teams into the bracket.
It means every team now knows their possibility opponents — and who they can’t come up against — right through to the final.
The top half of the knockout playoff round bracket looks stronger, with Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid in it.
Arsenal would play the winners of the Madrid derby in the quarterfinals,
The bottom half, on paper, appears much weaker with Barcelona the standout team.
Correct. Clubs from the same country can play each other from the knockout playoff round onward. That’s why we have a Madrid derby in the round of 16.
QUARTERFINALS
First legs: April 8-9
Second legs: April 15-16
SEMIFINALS
First legs: April 29-30
Second legs: May 6-7
FINAL
May 31, Allianz Arena, Munich
The tie listed first plays at home in the first leg.
QUARTERFINALS
Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool vs. Club Brugge or Aston Villa
PSV Eindhoven or Arsenal vs. Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid
Benfica or Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund or Lille
Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen vs. Feyenoord or Inter Milan
SEMIFINALS
PSV Eindhoven / Arsenal / Real Madrid / Atletico Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain / Liverpool / Club Brugge / Aston Villa
Benfica / Barcelona / Borussia Dortmund / Lille vs. Bayern Munich / Bayer Leverkusen / Feyenoord / Inter Milan
The league placings created the knockout bracket, and the new “seeding” system means the highest-placed teams can’t face each other until the latter stages of the knockout round.
For instance, if we look at the final table, Liverpool and Barcelona finished first and second and can’t play each other until the final. The teams in third and fourth — Arsenal and Internazionale — can’t play Liverpool or Barcelona until the semifinals.
However, the value of being placed high in the table has been complicated by poor European seasons for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, who unexpectedly became possible opponents earlier in the knockout rounds.
Indeed, with Man City finishing 22nd, it created a heavyweight tie in the knockout playoff round, as they had to face 11th-place Read Madrid.
PSG, meanwhile, have to come up against either Liverpool in the round of 16.
Ale Moreno criticises Real Madrid’s failure to put the game beyond Rayo Vallecano, as Carlo Ancelotti’s men hold on for a 2-1 win. (1:19)
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored in the first half to give Real Madrid an easy 2-1 win over neighbours Rayo Vallecano on Sunday that helped them draw level at the top of the table in the battle to retain their LaLiga crown.
Only one point separates Spain’s three biggest clubs in one of the closest title races in recent years with Barcelona leading the pack on 57 points, ahead of second-placed Real on goal difference with Atletico Madrid in third on 56 points after a 2-1 loss at Getafe earlier on Sunday.
Barca, who will face Atletico next Sunday, have a game in hand after their match against Osasuna on Saturday was postponed due to the sudden death of their team doctor.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several key starters including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Antonio Rudiger ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against rivals Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Yet Real were still the better side and dominated proceedings from early on at their Bernabeu stadium.
They got a two-goal lead with quickfire strikes, as Mbappé finished a counter in the 30th minute and Vinícius extended their advantage with a fine individual goal four minutes later.
Vinícius also hit the post with a strike from just outside the box that could have extended their lead even further.
Rayo reduced the deficit in added time before the break with a tremendous shot from the edge of the area by Pedro Díaz, which hit the crossbar before bouncing over the goalline and then out again, with the VAR awarding the goal after it was not given by the referee.
Real did just enough to manage their lead after the break against a Rayo side that fought hard and created good chances but lacked firepower to pose a real threat to the LaLiga champions.
English Premier League
LALIGA
ESPN
Which clubs are in the round of 16?
EDITOR’S PICKS
Europa League knockouts: Find out the path to the final in Bilbao
3dDale Johnson
The battle for extra Champions League places: Premier League, LaLiga now firm favourites
3dDale Johnson
What was the round of 16 draw?
What are the round of 16 fixture dates?
How does the bracket work?
So there’s no country protection?
What dates are the other rounds?
Who gets home advantage in the quarterfinals and semifinals?
Why did it matter where you finished in the table?
Real Madrid
Rayo Vallecano
Champions League round of 16 scenarios: What Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barca, Arsenal and more need to advance
The round of 16 is officially underway in the UEFA Champions League with several teams halfway to a spot in the quarterfinals after first-leg action. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Real Madrid all carry advantages heading into next week’s second leg, though some leads are bigger than others. The Gunners beat PSV 7-1 on Tuesday and all but have a spot booked in the next round, while Real Madrid’s 2-1 lead over Atletico Madrid is no guarantee that they will win the tie. On Wednesday, four other teams earned first-leg advantages — Inter, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Liverpool.
Away goals no longer count in the Champions League, while the possibility of a penalty kick shootout looms for each team if the aggregate score is deadlocked after 120 minutes in the second leg.
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As the countdown to the second legs begins, here’s what each team needs heading into next week’s action.
First leg score: Feyenoord 0, Inter 2
Inter made the most of their business trip to Rotterdam, coming out with a two-goal win thanks to strikes from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez. The visitors could have had a third but Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther made a stop on Piotr Zielinski’s second-half penalty, a play that could prove crucial if the Dutch side are able to mount a comeback in Italy next week.
Feyenoord second-leg scenarios: Feyenoord will need a two-goal win to send the game to extra time and a three-goal win to advance outright.
Inter second-leg scenarios: Inter will advance with a win, draw or one-goal loss.
First leg score: Bayern Munich 3, Bayer Leverkusen 0
Harry Kane gave Bayern the advantage after just nine minutes, but the hosts were able to pad their lead in the second half after a series of mistakes from Leverkusen. Within the span of 20 minutes, Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Matej Kovar gifted Jamal Musiala a goal, Nordi Mukiele was sent off for going studs up on Kingsley Coman, and Edmond Tapsoba conceded a penalty just minutes after coming on.
Bayern Munich second-leg scenarios: Bayern Munich will advance with a win, draw or two-goal loss.
Bayer Leverkusen second-leg scenarios: Bayer Leverkusen need a three-goal win to send the game to extra time and a four-goal win to win the tie outright.
First leg score: Benfica 0, Barcelona 1
Barcelona went down to 10 after just 22 minutes through Pau Cubarsi’s red card, but survived a flurry of chances from Benfica and benefitted from Raphinha’s second-half goal to give them a narrow first leg advantage. In the end, Benfica outshot Barcelona 26 to 10 but the expected goal margin was narrower – Benfica had 1.9 expected goals, while Barcelona posted just 1.19.
Benfica second-leg scenarios: Benfica need a one-goal win to send the game to extra time and a two-goal win to advance outright.
Barcelona second-leg scenarios: Barcelona will advance with a win or a draw.
First leg score: Paris Saint-Germain 0, Liverpool 1
Paris Saint-Germain outperformed Liverpool in an impressive showing for the youth-focused side, taking 27 shots to the Reds’ two. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson made nine saves, though, to keep PSG at bay and then Harvey Elliott gave the visitors the win with a goal in the 87th minute – and through the team’s only shot on target.
Paris Saint-Germain second-leg scenarios: Paris Saint-Germain need a one-goal win to send the game to extra time and a two-goal win to advance outright.
Liverpool second-leg scenarios: Liverpool need a win or draw to advance.
First-leg result: Club Brugge 1, Aston Villa 3
Club Brugge may have an argument for being the better team in Tuesday’s first leg after outshooting Aston Villa 11 to seven, but the visitors benefitted from an own goal from Brandon Mechele and a penalty scored by Marco Asensio to carry a healthy lead into the second leg. Villa remain the favorites to advance out of this tie and make their first Champions League campaign in four decades a special one by reaching the quarterfinals.
Club Brugge second-leg scenarios: Club Brugge will need a two-goal win to send the game to extra time, and a three-goal win to advance outright.
Aston Villa second leg scenarios: Aston Villa can advance with a win, draw or a one-goal loss.
First-leg result: Real Madrid 2, Atletico Madrid 1
The two Madrid teams traded opportunities throughout the first half, with the teams going into the break with a goal each thanks to strong individual efforts from Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. Los Blancos’ Brahim Diaz, though, scored the game-winner shortly after the break and the reigning champions steadily closed the game out.
Real Madrid second leg scenarios: Real Madrid will advance with a win or a draw.
Atletico Madrid second leg scenarios: Atletico Madrid need a one-goal win to send the game to extra time and a two-goal win to advance outright.
First leg score: PSV 1, Arsenal 7
Arsenal were as efficient as it gets in front of goal in Eindhoven, putting seven past the hosts and taking all the pressure off them in the second half. The Gunners managed the high-scoring game despite generating just 1.96 expected goals, and Martin Odegaard was a standout with two goals and an assist.
PSV second leg scenarios: PSV need a six-goal win to send the game to extra time, and a seven-goal win to advance outright.
Arsenal second leg scenarios: Arsenal will advance with a win, draw or even a loss by as many as five goals.
First leg score: Borussia Dortmund 1, Lille 1
In the only deadlocked first-leg result from Tuesday, last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund were unable to preserve their first half over Lille, who were one of the surprise teams to earn a spot in the league phase’s top eight. Both sides will have all to play for next week when Lille will host as they aim for their deepest-ever run in the Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund second leg scenarios: Borussia Dortmund need to win in order to advance outright.
Lille second leg scenarios: Lille need to win in order to advance outright.
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Second-leg matches will take place on March 11 and 12
Feyenoord vs. Inter
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Benfica vs. Barcelona
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
PSV vs. Arsenal
Borussia Dortmund vs. Lille
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Match at a glance
Watch: Declan Rice, Nicolò Barella and Michael Olise feature in our compilation of this week’s best UEFA Champions League assists.
Listen to the official UEFA Champions League podcast as the Matchday Live team reviews last night’s action.
Watch: Rodrygo on why practice makes perfect and how Atleti surprised Real Madrid.
More from Ancelotti: “That late chance to score between Mbappé and Vinícius [Júnior] would have given us a little more tranquility if it had made it 3-1, but I think a little bit of tiredness got in the way. We’ve got time now to prepare well for the second leg.”
Ancelotti on Federico Valverde: “I’m running out of words to describe him. He put in a huge, gigantic effort for us. He went off because of tiredness, but nothing more than that.”
Ancelotti on Brahim Díaz: “Who says he’ll be on the bench when [Jude] Bellingham [returns from suspension] next week? Not me. You can’t say [Brahim Díaz] is a ‘fixed’ starter, but he’s had lots of minutes this season and it’s clear that he keeps making the most of his chances.”
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Madrid (ESP)
Nicolas Danos FRA
Benjamin Pages FRA
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