The UEFA Champions League has undergone its most dramatic transformation in decades, and the 2025/26 edition enters its second year under the new format. With 36 clubs competing in a single-league phase and a revolutionary knockout-round playoff, the competition has never been more exciting — or more complicated.
The League Phase
Instead of the traditional group stage, 36 clubs now compete in a single league phase where each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents — four at home, four away. The draw determines opponents based on coefficient seedings, ensuring the best teams avoid each other in the early stages.
The top eight teams after the league phase advance automatically to the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th through 24th enter a two-legged knockout round playoff.
The Knockout Round Playoffs
Teams finishing 9th–24th compete in knockout round playoffs, with home-and-away legs determining the final eight spots in the round of 16. This additional stage has proven enormously popular with fans and broadcasters alike.
What This Means for Betting
The expanded format creates significantly more betting opportunities. With 8 games per team in the league phase, there's more data to work with for form analysis. The knockout round playoffs also create intriguing two-legged matchups that reward careful handicap betting.
Our team of experts will be covering every significant Champions League fixture with detailed analysis and predictions throughout the 2026 knockout stages.