2024/25 UEFA Champions League: Match formats, dates, draw, final

As usual, the UEFA Champions League will be played yet again this season by certain clubs with the competition taking a different route.

As usual, the UEFA Champions League will be played yet again this season by certain clubs. However, the competition will take a different route this time as it will be played via a format totally different from the past ones.

This is how it will work; The group stage will become a single 36-team league stage. Eight separate teams will be pitted against each team—four at home and four away. The top eight seeds proceed directly to the round of 16, while the teams that place ninth through twenty-four go to the knockout round play-offs, where the winners advance to the round of sixteen. From thereon, it will be a straight knockout till the final.

Now, UEFA has released the schedule for the competition. The group stage matches (now phase matches) will be as follows;

Matchday 1: 17–19 September 2024

Matchday 2: 1/2 October 2024

Matchday 3: 22/23 October 2024

Matchday 4: 5/6 November 2024

Matchday 5: 26/27 November 2024

Matchday 6: 10/11 December 2024

Matchday 7: 21/22 January 2025

Matchday 8: 29 January 2025

The knockout matches will be as follows;

Knockout round play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February 2025

Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March 2025

Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April 2025

Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May 2025

Final: 31 May 2025

Champions League Draws

The draws for the Phase Matches will take place on the 29th of August. Draws for knockout round play-offs will be held on the 31st of January while the draws for round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will hold on the 21st of February.