The UEFA Champions League comprises three qualifying rounds, a play-off round, a group stage and four knockout rounds.
Qualifying phase
Qualifying-phase matches are played according to the cup (knockout) system, with each club playing each opponent twice, in home and away matches. The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches qualifies for the next stage (second qualifying round, third qualifying round, fourth qualifying round or UEFA Champions League group stage, as applicable). The clubs defeated in the first and second qualifying rounds are eliminated from the competition. The clubs defeated in the third qualifying round are entitled to play in the fourth qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League in progress. The clubs defeated in the fourth qualifying round are entitled to play in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in progress. Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.
Group stage
Once the play-offs have been completed, the 32 remaining clubs are drawn into eight groups of four. Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn into the same group. Each club plays one home and one away match against each other club in its group. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a defeat. If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings (in descending order):
a) Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;
b) Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;
c) Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question;
d) Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question;
e) If, after having applied criteria a) to d), two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria a) to d) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria f) to h) apply;
f) Superior goal difference from all group matches played;
g) Higher number of goals scored from all group matches played;
h) Higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons.
The eight group-winners and eight runners-up of the group stage qualify for the round of 16. The clubs that finish this stage in third position in their group move into the round of 32 of the current UEFA Europa League. The clubs that finish this stage in fourth position in their group are eliminated. The four best third-ranked teams are seeded for the UEFA Europa League round of 32. This ranking is determined in accordance with the following criteria (in descending order):
a) Higher number of points obtained in the group matches
b) Superior goal difference
c) Higher number of goals scored
d) Higher number of away goals scored
e) Higher number of wins
f) Higher number of away wins
g) Higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons.
Round of 16
The round of 16 pairings are determined by means of a draw. The round of 16 is played under the knockout system, on a home-and-away basis (two legs). The UEFA administration ensures that the following principles are respected.
a) Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.
b) The winners and runners-up of the same group cannot be drawn against each other.
c) The group-winners cannot be drawn against each other.
d) The runners-up cannot be drawn against each other.
e) The runners-up must play the first leg at home.
The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches qualifies for the quarter-finals.
Quarter-finals
The eight winners of the round of 16 contest the quarter-finals. The quarter-final pairings are determined by means of a draw. The quarter-finals are played under the knockout system, on a home-and-away basis (two legs). The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches qualifies for the semi-finals.
Semi-finals
The four winners of the quarter-finals contest the semi-finals. The semi-final pairings are determined by means of a draw. The semi-finals are played under the knockout system, on a home-and-away basis (two legs). The team which scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches qualifies for the final.
Final
The final is played as one single match at a neutral venue. If the result stands as a draw at the end of normal playing time, extra time of two periods of 15 minutes is played. If one of the teams scores more goals than the other during extra time, that team is declared the winner. If the two teams are still equal after extra time, the winner is determined by kicks from the penalty mark
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