Champions League Knockout Stage: Who's Through, Playoff Battles & What's Next?

Discover which teams have advanced in the Champions League knockout phase, the latest matchups, and key storylines. Find out who faces tough play-off battles and what’s next for Europe’s elite clubs.

Jan 31, 2025 - 00:40
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Champions League Knockout Stage: Who's Through, Playoff Battles & What's Next?
Champions League Knockout Stage

At last, the UEFA Champions League group stages are over, and my, what a stage it is setting for the knockout phase: comebacks, late heroics, thrilling clashes-what the world's football fans have waited long enough for is the outcome in the round of sixteen of these elite European sides.

Read also: Comprehensive Schedule of the European Champions League 2025

Which teams have made smooth passage into the knockout phase in this new league-phase format for the first time and which have to negotiate a hazardous playoff route if their European hopes are to survive, is crystal clear now. It has been battle royale so far with even more drama in store in the next few rounds. So here comes your question.

Which Teams Have Qualified for the Champions League Knockout Stage?

This is because of the rejigged Champions League format, where some of the topmost clubs in Europe made their way through to the last 16 lots, while others were forced to go the route into knockout phase playoffs.

Teams which would surely have a direct qualification into Round of 16 would be-

  • Liverpool
  • Barcelona
  • Arsenal
  • Inter Milan
  • Atletico Madrid
  • Bayer Leverkusen
  • Lille
  • Aston Villa

While those that will have to make way for knockout play-offs so that their chance to join the last 16 include:

  • Atalanta
  • Borussia Dortmund
  • Real Madrid
  • Bayern Munich
  • AC Milan
  • PSV Eindhoven
  • Paris Saint-Germain
  • Benfica
  • Monaco
  • Brest
  • Feyenoord
  • Juventus
  • Celtic
  • Manchester City
  • Sporting CP
  • Club Brugge

It was easy, but it took determinism and resilience, plus a few last-gasp moments for other teams that will see their Champions League aspirations alive.

Manchester City's Late Comeback to Keep Their Title Defense Alive

But probably the most thrilling of all in this round-robin stage was how Manchester City survived their salvo of nerves jangling into playoffs, coming from a goal behind against Club Brugge when it was pretty much a must-win game, where an amazing comeback came into effect. It's that kind of resilience which has kept Pep Guardiola's men in the hunt for Champions League titles in back-to-back seasons.

Though City did not win the group and thus automatic qualification to the last 16, they will nevertheless be among those teams who will be favored for going through the playoffs. But once again they would have to face a strong examination from either the Celts or some other potent team to make further progress.

Arsenal's Resurgence in Europe

The confidence with which Arsenal qualified this season for the last 16 was quite sensational, real contenders even in the first instance of group events, making sure to press domination, gifted in talent throughout-from the top, Mikel Arteta's squad will eventually leave opponents scuffed in knockouts but need at least Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard to set everything on high alert.

Inter Milan might probably be one of the most difficult teams to have been pitted against Arsenal in this next round, in terms of European football. Added to that, because this is one of the possible matches, that also places an added layer of charge on this year's tournament.

Dominance and Title Ambition for Liverpool

First into the last 16 was confirmed Liverpool, and with them, they showed just how strong and consistent they had been under Jürgen Klopp. Dominant in Europe these last few years, it would not be different this season, with Mohamed Salah in red shot form-a revitalized middle field saw Liverpool surely one of the favorites for the title.

Barça might emerge in the next round for Liverpool, which is the classic rivalry that seems to be written fate in Champions League matches, indeed such a match creates moments that may be remembered. Clashing between European heavyweights will be thrilling.

Aston Villa Surprise Entry to Last 16

What a display of football, and among the surprise packages this season, it is Aston Villa that rocks. Guided by Unai Emery, Villa had done it by beating the analysis of bookies with an assurance of historic place confirmation in the last 16, ensuring automatic qualification without going into playoffs following their win in the final group match against Celtic 4-2.

This now presents a good opportunity that they could play against Lille in the round of 16. This would be one fine encounter since these two represent overachievers above expectations for now in this competition.

Difficult Playoff Ties Awaiting Leading Clubs

It wasn't until later that top teams such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germany slumped their way through to the playoffs, each failing in efforts to gain automatic qualification straight into the last 16.

With such rich history in the competition, Real Madrid would not want an early exit in this competition and will probably fight Bayern Munich. A tie between these two European powerhouses in playoff stages is a final that would have been worth showcasing.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain will be at home to either Benfica or any other half-decent team in their quest to stay in the Champions League. While it has at times been labored so far this season for the French outfit, at least on paper they have the firepower that can see them through deep into this competition.

Who Could Face Whom in Next Rounds?

That would leave a significant Round of 16 knockout bracket, with the remaining eight to be rounded out via play-offs. For now, here is how those potential match-ups might look:

Knockout Playoffs:

  • Monaco vs. Brest
  • Paris Saint-Germain vs. Benfica
  • Sporting CP vs. Club Brugge
  • Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund
  • Celtic vs. Manchester City
  • Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich
  • Feyenoord vs. Juventus
  • AC Milan vs. PSV Eindhoven

Last 16 Possible Fixtures:

  • Liverpool vs. Barcelona
  • Lille vs. Aston Villa
  • Atletico Madrid vs. Bayer Leverkusen
  • Arsenal vs. Inter Milan

What's Next in the Champions League?

Finally, the knockout rounds are set and with it, the next stage of the competition one expects with bated breaths. The playoff ties shall go down this coming February, but the matches at the Round of 16 take all the center stage this March.

That has placed extra spice in the format - true to all cross-border events - more competitive and less predictable battles without too much pre-match decision. The final usually follows, and it is surely will be paved through the frenetic battling, tactical mastery, splintered fragments of magic comprising most of the Champions League.

Prepare for nail-biting encounters, plot twists leaving the nation's fans gasping in astonishment, and moments that would go in the history books as teams get down to the crucial upcoming fixtures. For 16, there is just one dream: to hold aloft the famous Champions League trophy at Wembley Stadium in June 2025, but there can be only one winner.

That is where the knockout stage is going to show who among them is a mere pretender and who really wants to win this title, as the Champions League is surely set for yet another unbelievable chapter with so many world-class sides still remaining.