Score8 · Competition guide
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is Europe's top club competition, organised by UEFA. Clubs qualify through their domestic leagues, play in a single league phase, and the best advance to two-legged knockout rounds and a one-match final.
The competition
The competition began in 1955 as the European Champion Clubs' Cup and was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992. It brings together leading clubs from UEFA's member associations. Its matches are usually played on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in Europe, which means the early hours of Wednesday and Thursday in Malaysia.
How clubs qualify
- Most places go to clubs based on their finishing position in their domestic league.
- Stronger leagues, measured by UEFA's coefficient rankings, receive more direct places.
- Clubs from other leagues enter through qualifying rounds played in the summer.
- Additional places are reserved under UEFA's rules, for example for previous title holders.
The league phase
From the 2024–25 season, the group stage was replaced by a single league phase of 36 clubs:
| Stage | How it works |
|---|---|
| League phase | Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away, in one combined table |
| Positions 1–8 | Qualify directly for the round of 16 |
| Positions 9–24 | Enter a two-legged knockout play-off for the remaining round of 16 places |
| Positions 25–36 | Eliminated |
| Knockout rounds | Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals over two legs |
| Final | A single match at a venue chosen in advance |
Knockout ties
Two-legged ties are decided on aggregate score. If the aggregate is level after the second leg, extra time and, if needed, a penalty shoot-out follow. UEFA abolished the away goals rule in its club competitions from 2021–22. Learn how football results work
Matches, results and analysis
Follow Champions League nights through football fixtures and football results, and use the football analysis section to understand tactics such as pressing and possession. Check the kick-off time conversion table for Malaysia Time.