Wed Feb 19 21:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Champions League Knockout Stage Draw Set for Friday

**Nyon, Switzerland** – The UEFA Champions League knockout stage is set to begin, with the highly anticipated draw for the Round of 16 taking place this Friday, February 21st, at 12 p.m. CET at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw, to be streamed live on UEFA.com, will determine the matchups for the thrilling final stages of the competition.

This year’s revamped format sees the top eight teams from the group stage – Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa – seeded as the top teams. They will face the eight playoff winners: Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Benfica, Feyenoord, and Club Brugge, in a two-legged tie. The seeding ensures that the higher-ranked group stage teams play against the lower-ranked playoff winners.

UEFA’s new system pre-determines potential matchups for the quarterfinals and semifinals based on the final group stage standings. The draw will divide the seeded teams into four pairings (1&2, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8), with each pair assigned a side of the draw. The seeded teams will host the second leg of their respective ties.

The Round of 16 matches will be played on March 4th/5th and March 11th/12th. Quarter-finals are scheduled for April 8th/9th and April 15th/16th, semifinals on April 29th/30th and May 6th/7th, leading to the final in Munich on May 31st. The knockout stage promises high-stakes clashes between Europe’s footballing elite, culminating in the crowning of the Champions League winner.

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