New format, new rules: Here are the Champions League Rules
Everything you need to know about the new format of the Champions League
Champions League Rules
The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition.
Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access to the UEFA Europa League.
What happens if teams have the same number of points during the league phase?
If two or more teams are equal on points during the league phase, the following criteria are applied, in this order, to determine their rankings:
a. Superior goal difference in the league phase
b. Higher number of goals scored in the league phase
c. Higher number of away goals scored in the league phase
d. Higher number of wins in the league phase
e. Higher number of away wins in the league phase
If the teams are still tied after applying these criteria, they will be ranked equally in the table and be ordered alphabetically based on their abbreviated name.
How will teams be separated if they finish the league phase on the same number of points?
If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the league phase matches, the following criteria are applied, in this order, to determine their rankings:
a. Superior goal difference in the league phase
b. Higher number of goals scored in the league phase
c. Higher number of away goals scored in the league phase
d. Higher number of wins in the league phase
e. Higher number of away wins in the league phase
f. Higher number of points obtained collectively by league phase opponents
g. Superior collective goal difference of league phase opponents
h. Higher number of goals scored collectively by league phase opponents
i. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all league phase matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
j. Higher club coefficient