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.

After the playoff round draw of the new-look Champions League, here's how it impacts the round of 16, the format and the rest of the bracket.

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.