The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League knockout phase is where football’s elite clubs separate themselves from the rest, and the 2024-25 season has already delivered drama, shocks, and memorable moments.
The 2025-26 Champions League league phase started on 16 September 2025, with the final match scheduled for 28 January 2026. After the league phase, the 16 teams ranked 9–24 will advance to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage.
The knockout phase play-offs draw is set for 30 January 2026, with the first leg taking place on 17–18 February 2026 and the second leg scheduled for 24–25 February 2026. The final match of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League will be played on 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna, Budapest.
PSG is the defending champion of the tournaments, defeating Inter Milan 5–0 in the final on May 31, 2025, at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Here’s a comprehensive look at the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage predictions, key matchups, and the teams most likely to lift European football’s most prestigious trophy.
2025-26 UEFA Champions League New Format: How It Works
The 2024-25 season introduced a revolutionary format, replacing the traditional group stage with a single league phase. 2025-26 UEFA Champions League will follow the same structure for the tournaments. Here’s how it breaks down:
League Phase Structure:
- 36 teams compete in a single league table
- Each team plays 8 matches against different opponents (4 home, 4 away)
- The top 8 teams automatically advance to the Round of 16
- Teams finishing 9th-24th enter the knockout phase play-offs
- Teams 25th or lower are eliminated with no Europa League access
Knockout Phase Seeding:
The bracket structure utilizes predetermined pairings based on league phase standings, ensuring that higher-ranked teams face lower-ranked opponents in the earlier rounds. This means the top two teams cannot meet until the final.
- Sixteen teams ranked 9–24 from the league phase will advance to qualify for this round.
League Phase Final Standings
The inaugural league phase concluded with clear favorites emerging from the pack. (Table Update after Matchday 3)
Exciting Clash on Matchday 4 –
- Juventus vs Sporting CP
- Liverpool vs Real Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
- Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund
Exciting Clash on Matchday 5 –
- Chelsea vs Barcelona
- Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
- Atlético Madrid vs Inter Milan
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur
Top 8 (Automatic Round of 16 Qualification)
This is the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League League Phase Table, where the top 8 teams out of 32 will qualify for the Round of 16.
Play-off Qualifiers (9th-24th)
Seeded teams included
Unseeded teams featured
2025-26 UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage Predictions: Results and Surprises
The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage play-offs produced several stunning results that reshaped the tournament landscape.
Biggest Shocks of 2024/25 Knockout phase play-offs
- Real Madrid 6-3 Manchester City (aggregate)
- PSG 10-0 Brest (aggregate)
- Club Brugge 5-2 Atalanta (aggregate)
- Bayern Munich 3-2 Celtic (2-1 away, 1-1 home)
- Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Sporting CP (3-0 away, 0-0 home)
- PSV Eindhoven 4-3 Juventus (1-2 away, 3-1 home a.e.t.)
- Benfica 4-3 Monaco (1-0 away, 3-3 home)
- Feyenoord 2-1 Milan (1-0 away, 1-1 home)
The biggest casualties were Manchester City, Atalanta, Milan, Celtic, Juventus, Monaco, and Sporting CP – all eliminated before the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Round of 16: Matchups and Predictions
Here are some predicted teams likely to reach the Round of 16 in the 2025‑26 UEFA Champions League based on the supercomputer projections:
- Arsenal F.C.
- Liverpool F.C.
- Paris Saint‑Germain
- Barcelona
- Real Madrid C.F.
- Manchester City F.C.
- Chelsea F.C.
- Napoli
- Bayern Munich
- Inter Milan
- Atlético Madrid
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C
- Borussia Dortmund
- Borussia Dortmund
- Sporting CP
- Juventus
Following the play-off results and the Round of 16 draw.
- First leg – 10–11 March 2026
- Second leg – 17–18 March 2026
Quarter-Final Predictions
Based on Round of 16 projections, here’s how the quarterfinals could shape up:
- First leg – 7–8 April 2026
- Second leg – 14–15 April 2026
- Bayern Munich
- Barcelona
- PSG
- Arsenal
- Juventus
- Inter Milan
- Atlético Madrid
- Real Madrid
Semi-Final Predictions
The final four promises blockbuster matchups.
- First leg – 28–29 April 2026
- Second leg – 5–6 May 202
- Bayern Munich
- Barcelona
- PSG
- Real Madrid
Final Prediction: 30 May 2026
- Bayern Munich
- Real Madrid
- 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna, Budapest
Dark Horses and Surprise Packages
In the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage Predictions, here are the favorites to dominate. Predictions from several teams could cause upsets:
- Atlético Madrid
- Aston Villa
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Liverpool
- Borussia Dortmund
- Tottenham Hotspur
Tournament Favorites
Current Champions League favorites according to major bookmakers:
- Real Madrid
- Bayern Munich
- Inter Milan
- Barcelona
- Man City
- Chelsea
- Arsenal
- PSG
Key Players to Watch
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Erling Halland (Manchester City)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
Final Thoughts
The new Champions League format has already brought plenty of excitement, with Manchester City, Milan, and Atalanta falling short before the Round of 16 last season but aiming for improvement this time around. The knockout stage promises even more thrilling matchups, featuring the Madrid derby, PSG, Liverpool, Bayern, Chelsea, and Barcelona.
Real Madrid’s experience and Bayern’s home advantage might make them the favorites, but the unpredictable nature of knockout football means any team could claim the trophy at Puskás Aréna on 30 May 2026.
One thing is for sure: the journey to the final will be packed with unforgettable moments as Europe’s top clubs compete for glory.