Champions League: The number of points needed to qualify for the knockout stage

25.11.25 FT Champions League

Chelsea

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Barcelona

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Before the start of Matchday 5 in the Champions League tonight, we now have a clearer picture of how many points are needed to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

With this new format—and only last season as a reference—it’s tough to predict exactly how many points will guarantee qualification for the next round of the Champions League. Last year, 16 points were enough to finish in the Top 8, which meant a direct ticket to the round of 16. However, this season, it will take between 16 and 17 points to secure a place among the top eight sides.

Nine points will be needed to finish in the Top 24—which means a playoff spot for teams ranked 9th to 24th—compared to 11 points last season.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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