Champions League 2024/25 draw: dates, format and what the five English clubs need to know

The 2024/25 Champions League league phase draw is set for Thursday from 5pm UK time, with all five English clubs — Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool — discovering the eight opponents they will face across the competition’s new-look format.

A new format for a new era

This season marks the first full campaign under the Champions League’s revamped structure. The old group stage has been replaced by a 36-team league phase in which every club plays eight matches against eight different opponents — two from each of the four seeding pots, one at home and one away.

The top eight sides in the standings at the end of those eight matchdays will advance automatically to the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged play-off round for the remaining spots, while those in 25th to 36th are eliminated.

League phase matchday schedule

The eight matchdays are spread across the autumn and winter: Matchday 1 falls on 8/10 September, followed by Matchday 2 on 13/14 October, Matchday 3 on 20/21 October, Matchday 4 on 3/4 November, Matchday 5 on 24/25 November, Matchday 6 on 8/9 December, Matchday 7 on 19/20 January 2025, and Matchday 8 on 27 January 2025.

Knockout stage dates

The play-off round is scheduled for 11/12 and 18/19 February 2025. The round of 16 follows on 4/5 and 11/12 March, with the quarter-finals on 8/9 and 15/16 April. The semi-finals are set for 29/30 April and 6/7 May, with the final taking place on 31 May 2025 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

What it means for the English clubs

All five Premier League representatives enter at the league phase. Manchester City and Arsenal come in as established Champions League regulars, while Liverpool return under new manager Arne Slot. Aston Villa make their first appearance in the competition since the 1982/83 season, and Manchester United are back after missing out last term.

The draw’s pot system means each club is guaranteed variety in their schedule — facing opponents of differing calibre from across Europe — before the knockout rounds begin to separate the contenders from the rest.