Champions League League Phase Betting
Since 2024-25 the Champions League opens with a single 36-team league phase instead of the old groups. Here is how it works, the qualification markets it opens up, and what the change means when you bet.
How the league phase works
All 36 clubs sit in one combined table and each plays eight matches — four at home, four away — against eight different opponents. The table then splits three ways: the top eight go straight to the round of 16; clubs finishing 9th to 24th enter a two-legged knockout play-off for the remaining eight round-of-16 places; 25th and below are eliminated. It replaced the eight groups of four that ran for two decades, so the picture is built across one league table rather than mini-groups.
Qualification betting and what changed
The new shape opens up qualification markets: to finish top eight (a direct route to the round of 16, dodging the play-off), to finish top 24 (to survive at all), and to reach the round of 16. With one table and eight games, a single result swings a club's position more than it did in a four-team group, so these markets move fast. Pair them with the Champions League outright odds and handicap betting on the mismatches, and see the Champions League guide for the full markets.
Frequently asked questions
How many teams are in the Champions League league phase?
Thirty-six, all in a single combined table. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away.
How do you qualify from the league phase?
The top eight go straight to the round of 16, clubs 9th to 24th enter a two-legged knockout play-off for the last eight spots, and 25th and below are eliminated.