Champions League League Phase Explained: How It Works
36 teams, one table, eight matches each. How the Champions League league phase works in 2026/27: the draw, the points, who goes through, who goes out, and every key date.
The Champions League no longer has groups. Since 2024/25 all 36 clubs sit in one table, called the league phase, and each club plays eight matches. Here is how it works in 2026/27: who plays whom, who goes through, who goes out, and the dates that matter.
The short version
36 teams in a single table.
Eight matches each: four at home and four away, against eight different opponents.
Three points for a win, one for a draw.
The top eight go straight to the round of 16.
Teams from 9th to 24th play a two-legged play-off to join them.
Teams from 25th to 36th are out, with no drop into the Europa League.
How opponents are decided
Before the season, the 36 clubs are split into four pots of nine. The holders, Paris Saint-Germain, are the top seed in Pot 1, and every other club is placed by its UEFA club coefficient. Each club is then drawn against two teams from every pot, including its own, and plays one of them at home and one away.
That means no two clubs have the same fixture list, but each one gets a similar mix of stronger and weaker opponents. This season's draw was held in Monaco on 27 August 2026. In total the league phase has 144 matches.
What each finishing position means
Final position | What happens |
|---|---|
1st to 8th | Straight to the round of 16 |
9th to 16th | Knockout play-offs, seeded |
17th to 24th | Knockout play-offs, unseeded |
25th to 36th | Eliminated from Europe |
In the play-offs, a seeded team is drawn against an unseeded team and they play over two legs. The eight winners join the top eight in the round of 16. Finishing in the top eight therefore means two fewer matches in February.
How ties in the table are broken
Teams level on points are separated in this order:
Goal difference
Goals scored
Away goals scored
Wins
Away wins
If teams are still level after the final matchday, UEFA looks at how their eight opponents performed, then at disciplinary records, and finally at club coefficient.
League phase dates for 2026/27
Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|
Matchday 1 | 8–10 September 2026 |
Matchday 2 | 13–14 October 2026 |
Matchday 3 | 20–21 October 2026 |
Matchday 4 | 3–4 November 2026 |
Matchday 5 | 24–25 November 2026 |
Matchday 6 | 8–9 December 2026 |
Matchday 7 | 19–20 January 2027 |
Matchday 8 | 27 January 2027 |
The last matchday is different from the rest: all 18 matches are played on the same day, Wednesday 27 January.
Knockout round dates
Round | Dates |
|---|---|
Knockout play-offs | 16–17 and 23–24 February 2027 |
Round of 16 | 9–10 and 16–17 March 2027 |
Quarter-finals | 6–7 and 13–14 April 2027 |
Semi-finals | 27–28 April and 4–5 May 2027 |
Final | Saturday 5 June 2027 |
The final is at the Metropolitano in Madrid.
Where things stand after Matchday 1
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern München lead the table on goal difference after both won their opening match by five goals. Barcelona, Manchester United, Como, Sporting CP, Stuttgart and Manchester City complete the early top eight.
Matchday 2 is on 13 and 14 October. Every fixture, kick-off time and broadcaster is in our Matchday 2 guide.
Common questions
How many matches does each team play in the league phase?
Eight: four at home and four away, each against a different club.
How many teams qualify from the league phase?
Twenty-four of the 36. The top eight go straight to the round of 16 and the next 16 go into the knockout play-offs.
Do eliminated teams drop into the Europa League?
No. Teams that finish from 25th to 36th are out of European football for the season.
How many English teams are in the Champions League this season?
Five: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United. Spain also has five: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Betis and Villarreal.
Why is it called the Swiss model?
The idea comes from Swiss-system chess tournaments, where players do not all face each other but are still ranked in a single table.
Where is the 2027 Champions League final?
At the Metropolitano in Madrid, on Saturday 5 June 2027.
Live scores and the current table are on our Champions League page.
Keep reading
PreviewChampions League Matchday 2: Fixtures, Times & TV Guide
All 18 Champions League fixtures on 13 and 14 October 2026, with kick-off times around the world and where to watch live in the UK, US, India, Nigeria, Canada and Australia.
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