Teams placed ninth through twenty-four were compelled to participate in a play-off stage, where games were played over the previous two weeks, in order to secure the eight unseeded teams in the round of 16.
After a 4-2 victory over Celtic on the penultimate matchday of last month, Unai Emery's team finished in the top eight and advanced to the round of 16 as a seeded side.
Under the new league phase structure, the top eight teams avoided a two-leg play-off match and went straight to the round of 16.
After a 3-0 first-leg victory against Sporting, last year's finalists Dortmund were virtually guaranteed to advance to the round of 16 and did so with a stalemate in the second leg.
Villa's opponent, either Dortmund or Club Brugge, will be determined by the draw in the round of 16 on Friday, February 21.
