Champions League Schedule: champions league schedule and Every Team Qualified for the 2025–26 Round of 16
The champions league schedule shows the knockout phase taking shape after the first wave of playoff teams punched their tickets to the next round of the competition on Tuesday night. The stage is almost set for the Champions League round of 16 after dramatic playoff ties that produced red cards, wondrous goals, epic comebacks and unexpected results.
Champions League Schedule Overview
The competition’s format sent the top eight teams from the league phase straight into the last 16, while the clubs that finished ninth to 24th were forced to compete in respective two-legged ties to keep their Champions League hopes alive. The playoffs provided everything from red cards and wondrous goals to epic comebacks and unexpected results as the first wave of winners advanced.
How the playoffs played out
On Tuesday night the first wave of playoff teams completed the ties that decided which clubs would join the eight clubs already through. Some of the biggest clubs around, including cup holders Paris Saint-Germain and 15-time European champions Real Madrid, found themselves stuck in the knockout phase playoffs, suddenly two games away from a potential early exit from Europe’s premier club competition. Here’s all the teams that survived to join the eight already qualified clubs in the last 16.
Arsenal's perfect league phase
Arsenal led the way in the league phase, securing a perfect eight wins in eight games to finish top of the table with 24 points. The Gunners are now the first and only team to ever mount an unblemished league phase campaign in the competition’s new format.
Bayern, Liverpool and Spurs
Bayern Munich were right behind in second place after winning seven of their eight matches—their only loss came against Arsenal themselves back in November. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur finished third and fourth respectively; both clubs were seen as surprises of the top eight, delivering in Europe despite domestic struggles. Spurs, in particular, finished above the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG while they sit 16th in the domestic league table, a feat no one expected.
Automatic qualifiers with 16 points
The next four clubs in the league phase standings—Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP and Manchester City—all ended with 16 points, just enough to automatically advance to the round of 16. That group joins Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool and Tottenham among the eight clubs that secured direct passage from the league phase.
Bracket pools and technical notices
Guides such as "How to run a 2026 UEFA Champions League bracket pool: Play for a dream trip, create a picks contest" and pieces framed around the "UEFA Champions League bracket, knockout playoffs schedule and Tuesday results" reflect how fans and organizers are planning around the remaining dates and matchups. Fans navigating coverage and planning picks may also encounter technical notices and site messages; examples seen recently include headlines like "429 Too Many Requests" and "Your browser is not supported. " One site message explained that the site was built to take advantage of the latest technology to make it faster and easier to use and that, unfortunately, some browsers are not supported and should be updated for the best experience.
The champions league schedule will continue to tighten as the remaining knockout ties conclude and the last 16 line-up becomes final.
Closing: The first wave of playoff winners advanced on Tuesday night, Arsenal finished top with a perfect 24-point league phase, Bayern finished second with seven wins and one loss to Arsenal in November, Liverpool and Tottenham finished third and fourth, Spurs sit 16th domestically, and Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP and Manchester City all finished on 16 points to advance automatically.
