Much has changed in this season's Champions League, the knockout play-off phase being one major new introduction

It's been a journey into the unknown, but the new-look 36-team Champions League is finally reaching the climax of the league phase.  While we're starting to get some kind of idea of who's going to go through,

While Liverpool narrowly missed clinching top spot with a game to spare in the Champions League despite a 2-1 defeat of French side Lille on Tuesday, manager Arne Slot said finishing in the top eight and avoiding two playoff games was the most important thing.

The key details you need to know on when and where the draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League knockout-round playoffs will take place.

Liverpool and Barcelona know they're in the Champions League last 16 with a host of other teams - including Arsenal and Aston Villa - ensuring they will play knockout football

Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Celtic feature in new Champions League format; 36 teams form a single league, with each entrant playing eight different clubs, four at home and four away;

Tim Spiers recaps the best talking points from Tuesday's Champions League action, as Liverpool and Barcelona secured spots in the last 16

Arne Engels says Celtic "belong" in the Champions League knockout stages as they look to secure a play-off spot with victory over Young Boys on Wednesday night. Celtic have not played knockout football in the Champions League since 2012-13 when they lost to Italian giants Juventus in the last 16.

Top eight advance directly to Round of 16. Teams ranked 9-24 will compete in knockout round play-offs to determine the remaining spots in the last 16.

Harvey Elliott's first Champions League goal in over two years secured a seventh successive Champions League victory but the guarantee of top spot was frustratingly denied them by a late Barcelona goal in Lisbon.

A year of unprecedented pressures on the global football calendar begins with a Champions League first, as two rounds of matches in Europe's elite club competition take place in January and some of the continent's biggest names face a scrap to avoid a humiliating exit.