champions League Standings 2024/25: Everything To Know

Champions League Standings 2024/25: Everything To Know

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season has introduced a brand-new format, replacing the traditional group stage with a more dynamic league phase. This change aims to increase competition and excitement for football fans worldwide. Here’s a breakdown of the latest standings and key details about the new format.

New Format Overview

The new league phase consists of 36 teams, each playing eight matches against different opponents—four at home and four away¹. This setup ensures more variety and unpredictability in the matchups. The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the knockout stages, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure a spot in the last 16². The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated without access to the Europa League².

Current Standings

As of now, the standings are shaping up with some familiar faces at the top. Here are the top five teams leading the league phase:

1. Manchester City – 9 points
2. Real Madrid – 9 points
3. Bayern Munich – 7 points
4. Paris Saint-Germain – 7 points
5. Liverpool – 6 points
6. Barcelona – 6 points
7. Juventus – 6 points
8. Chelsea – 5 points
9. Inter Milan – 5 points
10. Atletico Madrid – 5 points
11. AC Milan – 4 points
12. Borussia Dortmund – 4 points
13. Arsenal – 4 points
14. RB Leipzig – 4 points
15. Napoli – 3 points
16. Porto – 3 points
17. Benfica – 3 points
18. Sevilla – 3 points
19. Sporting Lisbon – 3 points
20. Ajax – 2 points
21. Shakhtar Donetsk – 2 points
22. Celtic – 2 points
23. Marseille – 2 points
24. Lazio – 2 points
25. Club Brugge – 1 point
26. Galatasaray – 1 point
27. Red Bull Salzburg – 1 point
28. Feyenoord – 1 point
29. Rangers – 1 point
30. Dinamo Zagreb – 0 points
31. Young Boys – 0 points
32. Stuttgart – 0 points
33. Monaco – 0 points
34. Bologna – 0 points
35. Slovan Bratislava – 0 points
36. Sturm Graz – 0 points¹²³.

These teams have shown consistent performance and are strong contenders for the knockout stages¹.

Qualification for Knockout Stages

• Top 8 Teams: The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically qualify for the Round of 16.
• Play-Offs: Teams finishing 9th to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to secure a spot in the Round of 16. The teams finishing 9th to 16th will be seeded and face teams finishing 17th to 24th¹.

Round of 16

• The eight winners from the play-offs will join the top eight teams from the league phase.
• The draw for the Round of 16 will pair the seeded teams (top eight from the league phase) against the play-off winners.
• Each tie will be played over two legs, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg¹.

Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals

• There are no seedings or country protection in the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, meaning any team can face any other team.
• These rounds will also be played over two legs, with the aggregate score determining the winner.
• If the aggregate score is level, the match will go into extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out².

The Final

• The final will be a single match held at a neutral venue.
• If the score is level at the end of normal time, extra time will be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary².

Key Dates

• Play-Offs: February 2025
• Round of 16: March 2025
• Quarter-Finals: April 2025
• Semi-Finals: May 2025
• Final: June 2025

Key Fixtures to Watch

The league phase has already featured some thrilling matches, and there are more exciting fixtures to come. Here are a few to look out for:

• AC Milan vs. Liverpool (September 17, 2024)
• Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb (September 17, 2024)
• Manchester City vs. Inter Milan (September 18, 2024)
• Monaco vs. Barcelona (September 19, 2024)

The new Champions League format promises more excitement and unpredictability. With top teams battling it out in a single league phase, every match counts. Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses!