At the end of the fifth matchday of the Champions League, Inter finds itself in second place behind only Liverpool. As of today, as we have reported in recent days, the chances are extremely high for the black and blue club to advance directly to the next round without having to go through the playoffs.

But how exactly do the draws for the round of 16 work once the playoffs are over? We can sum it up in a few lines.

At the end of the single round phase, the teams will be ranked according to their final standing in the overall standings. These placements establish four pairs of seeds, split as follows:

  • First pair: 1st and 2nd ranked;
  • Second pair: 3rd and 4th ranked;
  • Third pair: 5th and 6th ranked;
  • Fourth pair: 7th and 8th ranked.

The seeds will play a key role, as they will be tasked with facing the playoff winners. The pairings between the teams are based on a draw; here are the main steps to keep in mind:

  1. Each pair of seeds is placed at one of the two ends of the round of 16 draw. This system ensures that teams like the 1st and 2nd ranked, for example, can only face each other in a potential final.
  2. The teams that advance from the playoff round are paired with the seeds. Their position on the draw is determined by the draw made at the end of the playoff.
  3. In principle, the seeds will have the advantage of playing the return match at home, a factor that could prove decisive.

To better understand the system, let’s imagine that in the playoffs face the 9th and 24th ranked teams. The winning team of this match will be paired with one between the 7th and 8th rank, based on the position in the draw determined by the draw. Similarly, the winner of the match between the 10th and the 23rd will face one of the same teams 7th or 8th, according to what has been decided by the draw.

This structure, according to the UEFA, aims to ensure a competitive balance, rewarding teams with a better ranking, while maintaining the uncertainty and spectacle that make the Champions League the most captivating tournament in European football. The knockout phase promises high-tension clashes, with the advantage of the return match at home which could make a difference for the seeds.