Champions League knockout rounds: bracket, draws, dates, fixtures - ESPN

The knockout playoff round of the new-look UEFA Champions League begins on Feb. 11.

But how does this feed into the round-of-16 ties? When is the next draw? How does it all knit together? And why were those final league phase positions so important?

Here's how it all works.

Only the 16 teams that finished in positions nine to 24.

The clubs that finished in the top eight and went directly through to the round of 16.

Clubs finishing 25th to 36th had already been eliminated.

The teams placed ninth to 16th are seeded and will play at home in the second leg, and are listed second.

Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Club Brugge vs. Atalanta

Manchester City vs. Real Madrid

Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven

Feyenoord Rotterdam vs. AC Milan

Celtic vs. Bayern Munich

Sporting CP vs. Borussia Dortmund

AS Monaco vs. Benfica

Correct. Clubs from the same country can play each other from the knockout playoff round onward. That's why PSG have been drawn to play Ligue 1 rivals Brest.

It was also possible to draw one of the eight teams you'd already faced — including the most recent opponents from Matchday 8.

First legs: Feb. 11-12
Second legs: Feb. 18-19

Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.

The teams who finished inside the top eight still have four possible opponents in the round of 16.

For instance, Liverpool and Barcelona, who finished first and second in the league phase, are able to play any of 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th (PSG, Benfica, Monaco and Brest). This is because Liverpool and Barcelona could yet be drawn into either half of the bracket, but only into the specific paths for those fixtures.

Once the knockout playoff round is complete and two of those clubs have been knocked out, Liverpool and Barcelona would have