The second season of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League comes to an end on Wednesday, January 28.
There’s still lots to play for the vast majority of the 36 teams involved, as we discuss the many positives of the new UCL league phase format.
The UCL League Phase: A Quick Reminder of the Format
First, a computer software assigns eight opponents to each of the 36 qualified sides. That is based on those clubs’ UEFA club coefficient ranking. Four of the fixtures take place at home, while the other four take place away.
The software takes into account everything from weather to geography when it creates the pairings and the schedule.
The teams are no longer divided into groups; they are instead listed in a single table. The sides that finish in the top eight within that table after eight rounds advance directly to the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, the teams finishing ninth through to 24th place make it to the play-off round that determines the remaining eight places in the last 16.
Finally, the sides finishing 25th through to 36th get eliminated from all European competitions for the season.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty: Three Key Factors To Consider, Predicted Lineups and Injuries
The Format Promises Excitement Until the End Of The League Phase
With one round to go in this season’s UCL league phase, the vast majority of teams still have a lot to play for.
Only first-place Arsenal, who are boasting a perfect record of seven wins from seven games, and second-place Bayern Munich have secured their progression through to the Round of 16.
On the negative side of things, only Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, as well as Villarreal, Slavia Prague, and Eintracht Frankfurt, have been mathematically eliminated from the competition.
That means that most of the 18 matches kicking off simultaneously on Wednesday evening have much meaning, with so many teams having it all to play for.
Only three points separate third-place Real Madrid from 15th placed Juventus. Meanwhile, only two points separate 32nd-place Ajax from Olympiacos in 24th, who occupy the final play-off spot
This incredible excitement at the end of the UCL league phase is what most critics of the Champions League reform did not see coming, when European football’s governing body announced it a few years in advance.
The old group stage system was far more predictable; one could easily forecast the teams that would advance from each section, while it is nearly impossible to foresee the top eight of the UCL league phase before a ball is kicked ahead of the season.
UCL League Phase Has Its Positives And Negatives
This format has many advantages, as we have seen. Of course, UEFA and FIFA are guilty of causing incredible match congestion with their changes to existing competitions and their addition of the UEFA Conference League.
That is a major issue that will have to be addressed sooner rather than later, but in terms of how exciting the last night of UCL league phase matches promises to be, it surely is a major success, just on that alone.
Of course, there can never be complete fairness in this system because not everyone can play everyone. Therefore, the UCL league phase table will never be fully objective, but at the same time, eight rounds of matches still give us a decent sample size.
Main Photo
Credit: Focus Images
Recording Date: 21.01.2026
