The Swiss-model league phase replaced the eight four-team groups of the old format from the 2024-25 season onwards. Thirty-six clubs play eight fixtures across eight matchdays in September, October, November, January (and one mid-week in December) — four at home, four away, against eight different opponents drawn from four seeding pots. There are no group standings; every match feeds a single combined table of 36 clubs. The top eight on matchday eight qualify directly for the round of sixteen and skip February's knockout play-off. Clubs finishing ninth through twenty-fourth enter a two-legged knockout play-off; the bottom twelve drop out of European competition for the season. Marquee away-day fixtures — Anfield, the Bernabéu, Allianz Arena, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — produce the strongest secondary-market demand of the league phase.
Format — how the league phase works
Each club is drawn from one of four seeding pots, based on UEFA club coefficient. Pot 1 holds the eight highest-ranked clubs plus the reigning champion; pots 2-4 are filled in coefficient order. A computerised draw pairs each club with two opponents from each pot — eight in total — with one home and one away fixture against each pot. Clubs cannot face teams from their own national association in the league phase. Standings use three points for a win, one for a draw, with head-to-head and goal difference resolving ties.
What's at stake
The top eight in the league phase earn direct qualification to the round of sixteen and the seeding advantage of a guaranteed second-leg home tie in every knockout round before the final. Ninth through twenty-fourth enter the knockout play-off in February. Twenty-fifth through thirty-sixth drop out of European competition entirely for the season — there's no consolation parachute into the Europa League under the new format.
Pricing trends
League-phase tickets typically list 30-50% lower than knockout-round equivalents at the same venue. Pot-1 versus pot-1 fixtures (e.g. Real Madrid hosting Liverpool, Bayern hosting Manchester City) carry the highest premium and sell out fastest — book within 24 hours of fixtures publishing in late August. Pot-3 and pot-4 visits to elite hosts ('marquee away-day' fixtures) are often where the value sits for travelling fans.