The UEFA Champions League's inaugural league phase concluded on January 29 with dozens of sides jockeying for their positions in the expanded knockout stages.In the new format for 2024/25, the 36-team ladder granted the top eight sides an automatic route to the Round of 16 as seeded teams.

The draw for the knockout playoff round of the new-look UEFA Champions League is upon us. Here's when it takes place and how it works.

The UEFA Champions League on Friday conducted the draw for the knockout stage, setting up the bracket for European soccer's biggest annual tournament. At the confederation's headquarters in Switzerland,

It will be Real Madrid vs. Manchester City yet again in the Champions League — but never as early as this, and for the first time with a Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland matchup. Two heavyweights who struggled in the new eight-game league phase were the standout pairing Friday in the draw for the new knockout playoffs round.

The field for the Champions League knockout playoff round is set after Friday's draw. This marks the first year of the new 36-club format in the league

Real Madrid will play Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoffs round in a standout clash of the past two title winners after the draw was made Friday. Man City, the 2023 champion, will host the first leg on Feb.

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne kicks the ball with Real Madrid's Toni Kroos during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester,