NinetyHow the Champions League format works
Since the 2024/25 season the UEFA Champions League has used one league phase of 36 teams instead of eight groups of four. Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents, and the table decides who goes through.
The league phase
All 36 clubs go into a single table. Every club plays eight matches, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents drawn from four pots. A win is worth three points and a draw one. Not every club plays the same opponents, so the table is not a simple head-to-head.
Who goes through
- First to eighth: straight to the round of 16.
- Ninth to 24th: a two-leg knockout play-off for the other eight round-of-16 places. The teams ranked 9th to 16th are seeded and play the second leg at home.
- 25th to 36th: eliminated from Europe entirely, with no drop to the Europa League.
The knockout rounds
From the round of 16 the competition is two-legged ties, home and away, decided on aggregate goals. The away-goals rule was scrapped in 2021, so a level tie goes to extra time and then penalties. The final is one match at a neutral stadium.
Why UEFA changed it
The new format means more matches between big clubs earlier and fewer dead games, because a team can be fighting for the top eight or for a play-off place until the last matchday. It also gives more clubs a meaningful European run and more matches to broadcast.
Questions
How many teams are in the Champions League?
Thirty-six clubs play in the league phase.
How many matches does each team play in the league phase?
Eight: four at home and four away, against eight different opponents.
Do the bottom teams drop into the Europa League?
No. Teams that finish 25th to 36th are out of European competition for the season.
Is there still an away-goals rule?
No. UEFA abolished it in 2021. Ties level on aggregate go to extra time and penalties.
Last updated Sunday 1 November 2026. Written by the Ninety team; spot a mistake? [email protected].