The Champions League continues with a new format, but what do the teams need to qualify for the knockout rounds of the competition?
Instead of the traditional eight groups of four – with the top two from each group qualifying for the last 16 – a new 'Swiss' format of 36 competitions has been introduced this season, with clubs sure to look at the maths.
The top eight teams in the competition automatically qualify for the last 16, while the teams finishing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to join the top eight in that round of the competition. teams to add.
The bottom twelve teams – from 25th to 36th – are eliminated without access to the Europa League.
So to avoid early elimination: how many points do you need? And what about the number needed to skip the playoff round and finish in the top eight?
Champions League knockout qualification explained
The Opta supercomputer believes that 16 points out of a possible 24 – so five wins and a draw from eight matches or other combinations – would almost certainly be enough to finish in the top eight, guaranteeing you a place in the last 16 in the new year.
The data also assumes that 15 points – so five wins from eight games or other combinations – could be enough to sneak up to eighth place, with that number of points being sufficient in 73 percent of Opta's 50,000 simulations of the competition phase.
Fourteen points, so four wins and two draws, will probably not be enough for a place in the top eight. The race to five wins will therefore probably be the goal for the biggest teams.
Who will qualify for the Champions League play-offs?
To finish in the top 24, which at least guarantees you a spot in the play-offs, Opta believes that 10 points (i.e. three wins and a draw, or other combinations) will almost certainly guarantee you a place in that round.
Nine points (i.e. three wins from eight games or other combinations) can be enough to finish 24th, while that number is sufficient in 69 percent of simulations.
But only eight points (i.e. two wins and two draws, or other combinations) are at risk of elimination, with that number of points being sufficient in only 16 percent of simulations.
So teams will target at least three wins out of eight to give them the best possible chance of reaching the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Champions League standings 2024/25: Who is on course to qualify?
Arsenal fixtures and results
September 19: Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
October 1: Arsenal 2-0 PSG
October 22: Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
November 6: Inter Milan 1-0 Arsenal
November 26: Sporting Lisbon 1-5 Arsenal
December 11: Arsenal vs Monaco, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 8pm
January 22: Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 8pm
January 29: Girona vs Arsenal, Estadi Montilivi, kick-off 8pm
Aston Villa fixtures and results
September 17: Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
October 2: Aston Villa 1-0 Bayern Munich
October 22: Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna
November 6: Club Brugge 1-0 Aston Villa
November 27: Aston Villa 0-0 Juventus
December 10: RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa, Red Bull Arena, kick-off 8 p.m.
January 21: AS Monaco vs Aston Villa, Louis II Stadium, kick-off 5.45pm
January 29: Aston Villa vs Celtic, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
Liverpool fixtures and results
September 17: AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool
October 2: Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
October 23: RB Leipzig 0-1 Liverpool
November 5: Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
November 27: Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid
December 10: Girona vs Liverpool, Estadi Montilivi, kick-off 5.45pm
January 21: Liverpool vs Lille, Anfield, kick-off 8pm
January 29: PSV Eindhoven vs Liverpool, Philips Stadium, kick-off 8 p.m
Man City fixtures and results
September 18: Man City 0-0 Inter Milan
October 1: Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
October 23: Man City 5-0 Sparta Prague
November 5: Sporting CP 4-1 Man City
November 26: Man City 3-3 Feyenoord
December 11: Juventus vs Man City, Allianz Stadium, kick-off 8pm
January 22: Paris Saint-Germain vs Man City, Parc des Princes, kick-off 8 p.m.
January 29: Man City vs Club Brugge, Etihad Stadium, kick-off 8 p.m.
Celtic fixtures and results
September 18: Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava
October 1: Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic
October 23: Atalanta 0-0 Celtic
November 5: Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig
November 27: Celtic 1-1 Club Brugge
December 10: Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic, Maksimir Stadium, kick-off 5.45pm
January 22: Celtic vs Young Boys, Celtic Park, kick-off 8pm
January 29: Aston Villa vs Celtic, Villa Park, kick-off 8pm
When and where is the 2025 Champions League final?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will take place on May 31, 2025 in Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Comments