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Champions League knockout phase play-offs explained: How UEFA's new system works

The end of the 36-team Champions League League Phase is fast approaching, which means the play-offs are around the corner.

Last season was the first year of the new format of UEFA's premier competition, which saw the group phase scrapped.

The Champions League trophy at San Siro.

The Champions League has been revamped, leading to a change for the knockoutsCredit: Getty

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Instead, every team competes in one big league table, which is split into three distinct sections.

The top eight automatically qualify for the round of 16, while the teams from the 9th-24th places must take part in a two-legged play-off.

The rest are out, and they don't go into the Europa League anymore with their time in Europe for the season over.

In terms of the play-offs, it's looking as if a few Premier League teams are going to be involved.

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As it stands, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool are in the play-off spots but all could still miss out on the play-offs or make the top eight.

Arsenal sit at the top and are all but guaranteed a bye to the next round, needing just one more point, while Manchester City are also looking good.

So, it's likely at least one of the English clubs will be in the play-offs, and there are a variety of other clubs waiting.

This is how the Champions League knockout phase currently looks

This is how the Champions League knockout phase currently looksCredit: UEFA

How do the knockout phase play-offs work?

The teams that finish from ninth to 24th must be whittled down from 16 to eight to complete in the next round.

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This is done via a two-legged play-off, with the sides finishing from 9th-16th seeded for the draw.

This means they will be at home for the second leg.

There is a draw to determine who plays who with the eight winners from the play-offs progress to the last 16.

Those games are scheduled to take place on February 17, 18, 24 and 25.

The new Champions League format means more teams have things still to play for with two matchweeks left

The new Champions League format means more teams have things still to play for with two matchweeks leftCredit: Getty

Champions League play-off draw: Date and how it works

The Champions League knockout play-off draw is due to take place on Friday, January 30.

It is two days after matchweek eight of the Champions League league phase, and it will be held at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

The 16 clubs are paired into groups, with four seeded pairs in positions 9 and 10 through to 15 and 16 and four unseeded (positions 17 and 18 through to 23 and 24).

This results in clubs 9 and 10 taking on 23 or 24 and so on.