The UEFA Champions League's inaugural league phase concluded on January 29 with dozens of sides jockeying for their positions in the expanded knockout stages.In the new format for 2024/25, the 36-team ladder granted the top eight sides an automatic route to the Round of 16 as seeded teams.

The draw for the knockout playoff round of the new-look UEFA Champions League is upon us. Here's when it takes place and how it works.

Instead of going straight into the traditional round of 16, the competition will feature a knockout phase play-off. In this stage, the teams that finished ninth to 16th in the group phase will face off against those that placed 17th to 24th, with each tie played over two legs.