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

Ligue des Champions

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.