Now five matches into the new UEFA Champions League format, the table has been flushed out to show where each side stands amongst their peers across the European continent.
Thanks to the new competition format, which features a full league-phase table, teams have a better understanding of how they fit amongst the rest of the field. Yet compared to the old group-stage format, where teams only had to finish above two other clubs in a four-team group, sorting out the qualifying scenarios is a much more daunting prospect in the new model.
Some big clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona have put themselves in a strong qualifying position to this point and are in line to advance with aplomb. Meanwhile, others like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain find themselves with a surprising amount of doubt as to their knockout-stage prospects.
Less heralded clubs like Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Monaco have thrown a wrench in the works with their own strong performances, which leave the top sides scratching their heads.
The Sporting News runs through what each prominent team in the competition must do to find themselves into the knockout round, whether it be with a coveted bye to the Round of 16 or a trepidatious playoff matchup to navigate.
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How many teams go through to Champions League knockouts in 2024/25?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season features a knockout qualification format that will be new to fans.
The European competition now utilizes a “Swiss Model” that boasts a league phase with a full 36-team table to replace the old group stage.
Qualification from that is simple: teams that finish in the top eight positions qualify directly to the Round of 16, bypassing the playoff round. Meanwhile, teams in position 11 through 16 will qualify for the knockout-stage playoffs — two-legged matches to determine the final eight sides in the Round of 16 — and are given seeding in that draw. Teams finishing 17-24 in the standings are also through to the playoff round but will be unseeded, and will therefore be drawn against a higher-ranking seeded team.
Finally, teams that finish 25-36 in the table are eliminated from European play outright, with no possibility of dropping down into lower competitions.
| League Phase finish | Qualify for |
| Pos. 1-8 | Round of 16 |
| Pos. 9-16 | Knockout Playoff (seeded) |
| Pos. 17-24 | Knockout Playoff (unseeded) |
| Pos. 25-36 | Eliminated |
Who has qualified for the Champions League knockout stage?
With three matches remaining in the league phase, table-toppers Liverpool are the only club to have mathematically confirmed their place in at least the knockout-round playoffs. Sitting first on a perfect 15 points, the Reds will definitely finish in the top 24 places in the table regardless of results from here on in.
Depending on results this week, it’s possible that Liverpool could finish Matchweek 6 with a Round of 16 bye mathematically in hand, should they beat Girona and get enough help elsewhere.
MORE: Up-to-date Champions League standings, table for league phase (use drop-down menu to select UCL)
Teams qualified for the Champions League knockout stage
Liverpool is the first and currently only club to have mathematically secured a knockout stage spot. Thanks to their perfect six-from-six record, the Reds have not only confirmed their place at least amongst the top 24, but also amongst the top 16, meaning they cannot do worse than a seeded playoff position. In all likelihood, however, they will go straight through to the Round of 16 in the end.
| Club | Nation | Qualified for |
| Liverpool | England | TBD* |
*Guaranteed at least a top 16 (seeded playoff) spot but can still qualify for the Round of 16 automatically
Teams eliminated from the Champions League
RB Leipzig became the first club eliminated from knockout stage contention when they were beaten 3-2 by Aston Villa in Matchweek 6.
One club, Bologna, is eliminated from Round of 16 contention and can only advance via the playoff, while Slovan Bratislava and BSC Young Boys can only reach an unseeded playoff spot.
| Club | Nation | Eliminated on |
| RB Leipzig | Germany | Dec. 10, 2024 (Matchweek 6) |
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 permutations, scenarios
Liverpool
A win against Girona has put Liverpool on the verge of being confirmed as the first Round of 16 participant, but they’re not quite there yet. It did do the job of confirming the Reds cannot finish lower than a seeded playoff spot.
If Arsenal or Monaco draw on Wednesday, Liverpool will be mathematically into the Round of 16. If either pick up three points, Liverpool will be forced to wait for official confirmation. The reality, however, is that they’re almost certainly in.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa have hit a rough patch, but still maintain a very strong position in the Champions League standings. Victory over RB Leipzig on the road pushed them into a strong top eight position, level on 13 points with three other clubs and only short of leaders Liverpool in that regard.
With two matches to go, Villa are just shy of mathematical security, but can leave no doubts next time out with points or a good slate of outside results. They’re almost there.
Barcelona
With 12 points through five games, Barcelona can confirm a place in at least the knockout playoffs by simply defeating Borussia Dortmund in Germany. It’s also possible to get into such a position with a draw and some help elsewhere, needing to find themselves seven points clear of the team in 24th at the end of the matchweek.
At this point, it’s not possible for them to ensure a Round of 16 bye, but they could put themselves in pole position with a win.
Arsenal
Arsenal sit seventh in the table heading into Matchweek 6, level with a long list of six other clubs on 10 points through five games. One of those teams are this week’s opponents Monaco, and thus a win at Emirates Stadium would be massive towards claiming a playoff spot, which they could do by securing three points and getting enough help down the bottom of the standings.
At this point, they cannot nail down a top-eight spot, with work still to do in that regard.
Bayern Munich
A thumping win over Shakhtar Donetsk put Bayern Munich briefly into the top eight on 12 points through six games, and whether that stands or not after Wednesday’s results, they are in a strong qualifying position regardless.
What the final two games will be about for Vincent Kompany is to push them into a Round of 16 bye, which is a tight battle. With a crowded top of the table, Bayern know their place in the top eight will be down to, simply, picking up wins over Feyenoord and Slovan Bratislava. The rest will likely fall into place after that.
Real Madrid
It was a code red situation for Real Madrid, who sat in 24th — the final qualifying position — heading into a daunting road match at Atalanta. Yet Los Blancos emerged with a hard-fought win, easing the pressure slightly as they climbed, for now, to 18th.
Unlike Man City, Madrid have a soft finish to the schedule, which gives them a good chance of qualifying for a knockout spot, especially now with those big three points in hand. Games against RB Salzburg at home and Brest on the road to close out the league phase leave Madrid fans nervy but hopeful. Even a seeded spot in the playoffs, or a Round of 16 bye, isn’t so farfetched, sitting three points off eighth at the close of the Tuesday matches. Can they really make such a run, even given their long injury list?
Man City
Pep Guardiola’s side are in the midst of an historic slump, which has affected their Champions League position as well as their league standing, but they still remain on track to secure a playoff position. The problem is their remaining schedule: they have matches against Juventus and PSG left along with a finale against Club Brugge, with all three opponents also fighting for one of the final spots in the knockouts.
With eight points through five matches leaving Man City 17th entering Matchweek 6, occupying the first unseeded playoff place, it will be a fight to the finish. Confirmation of a place in the knockout round or shock elimination will probably be left to the final matchday.
Paris Saint-Germain
Of all the big clubs in the Champions League, PSG face the most perilous situation heading into Matchweek 6. Through five games, their measly four points left the French side in 25th position, the first elimination spot — a stark reminder that while the new Champions League format is meant to increase the room for error at a big club’s disposal, it does not leave the giants infallible.
An emphatic 3-0 win over RB Salzburg gave them new life, but they only gained one place in the table with the victory and still the Wednesday matches to be played, proving just how dire the situation is. Games against Man City and Stuttgart remain, and points are likely needed from both to feel truly comfortable about avoiding the boot.
