Who else is in need of some serious football action? Roughly two months ago we were on the edge of our seats for the World Cup, and now the Champions League Knockout stages are around the corner! The Champion’s League competition is one of the most prestigious European football competitions where you get to see the best of the best. Before the rounds begin on February 14, we thought we would give you a quick recap of what you can expect from the knockout stages!

The knockout stages will consist of the 16 teams who placed in first or second position from the group stages. Teams from the same national association cannot face each other, as well as teams who played each other in the group stages. Beginning on February 14^th, Paris Saint-Germain will play Bayern Munich, and Milan will play Tottenham. This means that the action will start with a repeat of the 2020 final between PSG and Bayern! This match won’t be the only one you’ll want to mark down on your calendar. Liverpool will go against reigning champions Real Madrid on the 21^st, in a rematch of the 2022 final!

Total Clubs

In the Round of 16, teams from the same country cannot be drawn against one another, but that restriction in lifted beginning in the quarterfinal round. Here are the clubs you will see from each nation:

Round of 16 Ties

UEFA spreads out the Round of 16 matches over the course of a full month (February), with three weeks between the first and second leg. The team from each pairing that scores the most goals over the two legs gets to advance to the quarterfinal round. Here are the fixtures for the first and second legs that you’ll see:

First

Second

Quarterfinals, Semifinals, & Finals

After the Round of 16 winners are decided, there will be a draw held on Friday, March 17, 2023, to determine who will face each other in the rest of the knockout rounds through until the final. The quarterfinals and the semifinals will be played in a similar two-leg format, and the teams that score the most goals advance. Here are the dates for the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds below:

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

No matter what team you’re cheering for, you’re sure to be entertained with any match that you watch during the Champions League. We’re going to get to see star players go up against each other, and young talent featured on the field. Will Real Madrid take home the trophy again, or will Erling Haaland carry Manchester City to the win?  Let us know in the comments who you think we’ll see in the final! Then, head over to Soccercards.ca and stock up on merchandise to represent your favorite team. Whether you’re cheering for Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Porto, or Benfica, we’ve got items for everyone!