The first UEFA Champions League tournament with the new format has concluded, revealing the eight teams that have qualified directly for the Round of 16 and the 16 teams that will fight in the playoffs to secure their place in Munich 2025.
Qualified Teams and Playoff Spots
Liverpool finished as the overall leader of the competition, with Barcelona in second, Arsenal third, Inter Milan fourth, Atlético de Madrid fifth, Bayer Leverkusen sixth, and the surprises of the top eight, LOSC Lille and Aston Villa, in seventh and eighth, respectively.
As for the playoff spots, Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan secured their places, followed by PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, and Celtic. Lastly, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, and Club Brugge complete the 16 playoff teams.
The teams eliminated from the competition due to goal difference include Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, Shakhtar, Bologna, Red Star, Sturm, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, and Young Boys.
Possible Playoff Matchups
Although teams await the draw to determine their rivals, speculation about potential matchups is already circulating.
Monaco and Brest may face PSG or Benfica, with the winner facing either Liverpool or Barcelona in the next round. Sporting and Brugge could meet Atalanta or Dortmund in the playoffs, with potential Round of 16 matchups against Lille or Aston Villa.
Celtic or Manchester City might go up against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, which could lead to one of the most exciting playoff matchups. Afterward, they could face Atlético de Madrid or Leverkusen in the Round of 16.
Finally, Feyenoord or Juventus could meet AC Milan or PSV, with potential Round of 16 clashes against Arsenal or Inter Milan.
