Insider tips for reaching the knockout phase of the 2024–25 Champions League

Ahead of the new league phase of the 2024-25 Champions League, all eyes are on the world's biggest clubs, but there are a few underdogs who could surprise the world and secure a place in the knockout stages.

The updated Champions League format split the 36 qualified teams into four pots, so that a comprehensive ranking of all participating clubs was created before the league stage draw. The best teams, based on last season's performances, ended up in Pot 1, while the next level clubs had to settle for Pot 2, and so on.

On paper, the top 18 clubs in the competition are superior to the bottom 18, so the favourites to progress beyond the league stage are those in Pots 1 and 2, such as Real Madrid, Manchester City and Arsenal.

However, favourable draws and the current winning streak give several teams in Pots 3 and 4 a good chance of securing their ticket to the Round of 16.

PSV Eindhoven – Pot 3

PSV is one of the last 18 teams that can make it to the knockout stages. The reigning Dutch champions started their title defence with five consecutive wins and scored a total of 20 goals in their first games.

The competition PSV will face in the league stage will be tougher than in domestic matches, but the club proved last year that it can rise to the challenge against talent from the Premier League, Ligue 1 and La Liga. In the 2023–24 Champions League season, PSV finished second in its group, which included Arsenal, Sevilla and Lens, having lost just one game in its six matches.

A year later, Peter Bosz's side will once again face teams from Europe's top five leagues that they can beat, including Girona without Savinho and Artem Dovbyk, a struggling Brest and Crvena zvezda.

Of course, Liverpool, PSG and Juventus will be tougher opponents, but as long as PSV beats the teams that should then a draw against one of the top clubs could be the positive result needed to advance to the knockout rounds.

Celtic – Pot 3

In recent years, Celtic have had the unfortunate pleasure of facing some of the best teams in the world in the Champions League group stages, including Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig. The Scottish giants have not made it to the knockout stages of the UCL for over a decade, but Brendan Rodgers' side can finally end their losing streak in Europe after a decent draw for the 2024–25 league stages.

Celtic have managed to avoid many of the most dangerous teams in Pots 1 and 2 and instead have to face Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Club Brugge and Atalanta. Even if the club stumbles against their four most difficult opponents, Celtic can make up the points against Young Boys, Dinamo Zagreb, SK Slovan Bratislava and Aston Villa.

The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have yet to concede a goal in their first five league games and even recorded victories against Manchester City and Chelsea last season. If Callum McGregor continues to pull the strings in midfield and Kasper Schmeichel continues to be behind his solid back line, Celtic can definitely progress to the last 16.

Aston Villa – Pot 4

Aston Villa have secured their return to European football after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season. With four-time Europa League winner Unai Emery at the helm, Aston Villa are ready to make a statement in their first Champions League game since 1982.

The club may have ended their 2023–24 Premier League campaign underwhelmingly, but they have bounced back this season, only dropping points to Arsenal in a game that could have gone either way.

Unlike the other teams in Pot 4, Aston Villa play in arguably the most competitive league in the world and the weekly Premier League games are the only preparation the team needs to succeed in the UCL, especially against the 'easier' teams in their pot, such as Young Boys, Bologna and Monaco.

Aston Villa may have lost to Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, but Emery's men have a real chance as long as Emiliano Martínez, who just won the Golden Glove at the 2024 Copa América, is between the posts.