The eighth and final competition day of the new Format Champions League group phase is planned for Wednesday.
We are on the last part of the first edition ever of the 'Swiss model' Champions League group phase with a single competition with 36 sides.
Despite early skepticism around the format, most people would agree that the switch was a success with many scenarios and potentially drama that we go in the eighth and final matchday.
The moment of truth will arrive on Wednesday and the deployment cannot be higher for most parties.
On Wednesday, January 29, all 18 games start at 3 p.m. (ET) at the same time and promise a high drama night because each goal can reform the last classification and fate of the teams involved.
Under the new structure, the top eight teams will go directly to the round of 16 and those parties on the 9th to the 24th will enter a play-off round, while they are eliminated from the competition in the 25th or lower.
Friday's draw
The Play-Off Trekking takes place on Friday, January 31 and will be performed at 6 am (ET). The draw determines matchups for the play -off round and bracket -seedings until the final on 31 May in Munich.
Higher placed teams (9th-16th) will organize the second stage, with competitions planned for 11-12 February (first stage) and 18-19 February (second stage).
The sides that go further from the play-off then meet the top eight already qualified parties for the round of 16 and the competition then takes a conventional knockout format until the final.
How to follow the play -off draw
The draw can be followed via the UEFA YouTube channel with a procedure set up to start shortly before 6:00 am (et) on Friday 31 January (2025.
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