Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona are among the teams watching the Champions League knockout phase playoff stage with interest.
In the new league phase format, the top eight teams have progressed straight through to the last 16 and avoided a two-legged knockout play-off tie in the process.
Meanwhile the teams that finished between ninth and 24th have been in action this week.
As Brest, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Juventus, Club Brugge, Celtic, Feyenoord, and Monaco finished the league phase in 17th to 24th, they were at home for the first-legs.
However, of the eight teams, only Juventus, Club Brugge and Feyenoord managed to secure positive results heading into the second leg meetings.
The blockbuster tie of the round certainly didn’t disappoint as Real Madrid twice came from behind to beat Manchester City 3-2, though it’s all to play for at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday night.
Champions League knockout phase playoff first-leg results
Brest 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Sporting CP 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Man City 2-3 Real Madrid
Juventus 2-1 PSV Eindhoven
Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta
Celtic 1-2 Bayern Munich
Feyenoord 1-0 AC Milan
Monaco 0-1 Benfica
When is the Champions League last-16 draw?
The top eight from the league phase of the competition will face the eight winners of the knockout play-off ties in the last 16. The draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday February 21, 2025.
On paper at least, the higher you finish in the league phase, the easier your last-16 tie should be.
The teams finishing first or second will be handed a last-16 clash against the winners of the play-off tie between the 15th/16th and 17th/18th seeds.
Who can Arsenal and Liverpool face?
Because of the newly introduced pairing system, Arsenal and Liverpool already know their four potential opponents in the last-16 draw.
As a result of finishing third in the league phase, the Gunners will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 13th and 14th seeds, or the 19th and 20th seeds; AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord or Juventus.
Liverpool topped the standings and will therefore either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 15th/16th and 17th/18th seeds; PSG, Benfica, Brest or Monaco
Who is guaranteed a Champions League last-16 place?
Liverpool
Arsenal
Inter Milan
Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Lille
Aston Villa
Champions League last-16 dates
The first legs will be played on either March 4 or March 5, with the return fixtures a week later.
