the UEFA champions league league phase draw here UCL schedule for this season the draw for European soccer elite club competition has thrown up some classic matchups here's the UCL schedule for this season the champions league is back but not as you know it the 2024 25th season of European soccer elite club competition gets underway next month in a new format featuring more teams and more games between top sides the structure of the new 36 team swi model is designed to ensure greater competition and more matches between top teams after this weekend's fixtures Europe's top leagues will pause for a two-week International break before returning in late September as such the first round of UCL group stage fixtures will be played across Tuesday 17 Thursday 19 September the expanded format will see eight group stage fixtures for each team with the final round to be played on Wednesday 29 January here's the full schedule for the 2024 25th's group stage fixtures what is the Champions League knockout schedule once that first phase has been completed the top eight teams in the league will advance straight to the round of 16 sides finishing between 9th and 24th will compete in a playoff round with the eight Victors progressing to the next round the round of 16 fixtures will begin across the fall for the 5th of March 2025 with the second legs to be played on the 11th or the 12th of March here's the full schedule for The Knockout rounds of the the Champions League it is hoped that the new format as confusing as it may seem will help to create more group stage meetings between top teams while also offering smaller teams more opportunities to pick up points