The preliminary round is played in the form of a mini-tournament with single-leg semi-finals and a single-leg final hosted by one of the participating clubs or its respective association. If the score is equal at the end of normal time, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played. If one of the teams scores more goals than the other during extra time, that team is declared the winner. If the score is still equal after extra time, the winner is determined by kicks from the penalty mark (see Paragraph 20.03 and Paragraph 20.04). The provisions of Paragraph 20.01 do not apply to the preliminary round.
All other qualifying matches are played in accordance with the cup (knockout) system, with each club playing each opponent twice, in home and away matches. The team that scores the greater aggregate of goals in the two matches qualifies for the next stage (second qualifying round, third qualifying round or play-offs, as applicable). Otherwise, Article 20 applies.
Clubs eliminated in the qualifying phase or play-offs are admitted to the UEFA Europa League or the UEFA Europa Conference League in progress as shown in the table below, which also indicates where clubs subsequently eliminated from the UEFA Europa League enter the UEFA Europa Conference League in progress.
UEFA Champions League (UCL) elimination stage |
UEFA Europa League (UEL) entry stage/elimination stage |
UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) entry stage |
---|---|---|
Preliminary round of UCL champions path |
2nd qualifying round of UECL champions path |
|
1st qualifying round of UCL champions path |
2nd qualifying round of UECL champions path |
|
2nd qualifying round of UCL champions path |
3rd qualifying round of UEL champions path |
Play-offs of UECL champions path |
3rd qualifying round of UCL champions path |
UEL play-offs |
UECL group stage |
Play-offs of UCL champions path |
UEL group stage |
|
2nd qualifying round of UCL league path |
3rd qualifying round of UEL main path |
Play-offs of UECL main path |
3rd qualifying round of UCL league path |
UEL group stage |
|
Play-offs of UCL league path |
UEL group stage |