The 2024/25 Champions League quarterfinals are officially set, with UEFA drawing the remaining eight teams into the field early Friday morning.
The annual season-long competition pits Europe’s top leagues against each other. This season, 72 clubs across 50 different leagues qualified for the contest. From the UK to Ukraine, all teams have been vying for the continent’s top-dog status amidst a cutthroat atmosphere and a growing sense of parity in the sport.
Two qualifying rounds narrowed the initial teams down to the 16 contending in the tournament’s official group stage. Each played six group-stage matches from October through December to determine the eight clubs that advanced to Friday’s final draw.
The road to Champions League glory in Lisbon
All remaining clubs are now eyeing the May 24th final in Lisbon, Portugal, and Friday’s draw mapped each team’s path to that championship match. The 2024/25 quarterfinals will feature four former champions and four seeking a first-ever trophy, with both familiar fights and rarely tested toss-ups on deck.
Both the March quarterfinals and April semifinals employ a two-leg format, offering teams who…