Champions League Playoff Battles: The Road to Glory Begins
The wait is finally over! The Champions League group stage has come to an end, and the picture for the final phase is now more clear than ever. A matchday filled with goals determined the final standings, confirming the best eight teams that advance directly to the Round of 16. Additionally, 16 teams will face the playoff round in search of a spot in the Round of 16. However, there are also 12 teams that, unfortunately, will no longer see action in the competition. Here, we tell you everything about how the tournament bracket looks and what to expect from the upcoming matchup
The eight teams that have qualified directly for the last 16 are the best and favorites of the season: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa. These teams avoid the tricky playoffs, but the others, who finished between 9th and 24th, have no choice but to fight for their place in the next round. Some of the big names that will be in the playoffs are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Milan, PSG, and, of course, Manchester City, who managed a miraculous victory after being behind against Club Brugge and seeing themselves on the brink of elimination.
As for the playoffs, the excitement is 100% guaranteed. The pairings, which will be drawn this Friday, January 31, promise epic clashes and good soccer. Among them, an intriguing duel will be between Real Madrid or Bayern Munich and Celtic Glasgow or Manchester City. Another amazing matchup is the clash between PSG or Benfica and Monaco or Brest. Without a doubt, the competition to reach the last 16 has never been more intense and amazing to watch!
Finally, while some teams have already said goodbye to the Champions League for this season, such as Dinamo Zagreb, Shakhtar Donetsk, and RB Leipzig, among others, the excitement remains at an all-time high with this new format that they have launched this season. The 2024/25 Champions League continues to be a battleground for the continent's biggest clubs, and the uncertainty over who will be crowned champion is still alive. Who do you think will claim the glory this season?
