What’s with the New Champions League format?
Last season, there was a draw where teams were grouped into eight groups of four, each playing six matches in a home-and-away format. The new Champions League format, starting from the 2024/25 season, replaces this with a single 36-team league. Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, with half of the games at home and half away, and no team facing another from their own domestic league in this stage.
Today’s Top Games
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Who’s Playing Who in the Quarter Finals?
Talking points
Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
Aston Villa qualified in style, defeating Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate. They sealed the tie with a dominant second-leg victory by 3-0, their first quarter-final in the European Cup or Champions League since 1983. Paris Saint-Germain, however, qualified in much more dramatic style, defeating Liverpool by penalties after a 1-1 aggregate tie. PSG, having played so poorly in the group stage that they were in the 15th position, caught their timing at the right moment and now become a serious force.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Arsenal coasted through the quarter-finals after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate. Their first-leg victory by 7-1 all but wrapped up the tie early, and they coasted through a second-leg 2-2 draw with ease. Real Madrid enjoyed a far more hair-raising journey, scrapping through city neighbors Atletico Madrid through a 2-2 aggregate tie before keeping their nerve in a penalty shoot-out win. It was another episode in their dominance over Atletico, having eliminated them from the competition for the fifth time in 11 years.
Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich
Inter Milan qualified with a comprehensive aggregate victory against Feyenoord by 4-1. They showcased their attacking prowess in both matches, making their qualification easy. Bayer Leverkusen were overwhelmed by Bayern Munich with a 5-0 aggregate. Their clinical finishing in front of goal and defensive strength make them one of the favourites in the competition.
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund beat Lille in a nail-biting match, winning by a margin of 3-2 in aggregate. They kept their nerves intact during anxious moments but saw the tie through and moved through to the next round. Barcelona, on the other hand, had an easier passage, beating Benfica by a margin of 4-1 in aggregate. Their convincing victories in both ties reaffirmed their title credentials.
Aston Villa and Arsenal would play against each other in the semi-finals if both teams win their quarter-finals, with one English club guaranteed in the finals.
Talking points
Alavarez’s VAR Debate
Atletico Madrid’s loss in the Champions League against Real Madrid was tainted by a rare, disputed VAR decision. Julian Alvarez’s penalty kick that would have tied the shootout at 2-2 was negated after a review upheld a double touch infraction. Alvarez slipping and inadvertently striking the ball with two contacts was the play that left Atletico players, fans, and even coach Diego Simeone in dismay. While the rule explicitly prohibits a player from striking the ball with two contacts prior to another player, the rare instance of the infraction raised questions about the application of VAR in such moment-by-moment decisions.
Much to Atletico’s chagrin, Real Madrid took advantage, winning the match in a 4-2 shootout. It was another instance in which VAR was at the center in a big-match setting. The incident raises larger questions about the use of technology in football—is it ensuring that the laws are enforced, but at what cost in reducing the spontaneity of the sport? Atletico fans will certainly feel shortchanged, but as history tells us, the narrow margins in football dictate its most memorable occasions.
Sterling Dazzles PSV in Battle for Greater Role at Arsenal
Raheem Sterling was at his best in Arsenal’s Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven, with two assists in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw but sealed a dominant 9-3 aggregate victory. In his appearances this season, Sterling made history by becoming the first English player in history to have scored for four clubs in the competition, showing his class in the big time. His display is timely for Arsenal, whose attacking resources were running short through injury and whose hopes in Europe were in the balance.
Still, his future is far from guaranteed. A late arrival means he is likely to miss the first leg against Real Madrid, another setback in his quest for regular playing time. But with attacking players injured, former pros and experts believe this is his chance to prove himself in Mikel Arteta’s team. Sterling himself is optimistic, insisting he is ready to make his contribution whenever he is called, be it for a matter of minutes, or the whole game, as Arsenal pursue medals in the later stages of the competition.
Dortmund Come from Behind to Defeat Lille and Qualify for Quarterfinals of Champions League
Borussia Dortmund came from behind in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 victory against Lille, reaching the quarterfinals in the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate. In the early stages, Lille were in front after Jonathan David scored in the fifth minute, with the French club in the lead in the tie. Dortmund came back in the second half, with captain Emre Can converting from a penalty after Serhou Guirassy was fouled.
The turn around was made by Maximilian Beier in minute number 65, striking in after Guirassy played him through, his fourth assist in the competition. Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved from David and Hakon Haraldsson as Lille attempted the equalizer. Dortmund, having reached quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive year, now face Barcelona in quarterfinals, with Guirassy poised to play a central role after equalling Mohamed Salah’s record for most African player goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign.
Harry Kane is now Champion League Record Breaker as Bayern Munich Qualify for Quarterfinals against Leverkusen
Harry Kane became record holder for most English goals in a single Champions League campaign with his 10th in a 2-0 win for Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen, winning the tie with a 5-0 aggregate win. Kane scored in the 52nd minute after capitalising on a defensive error by finding the net from close range. Alphonso Davies doubled the lead in the 71st minute, converting a cross from Kane. Leverkusen, with playmaker Florian Wirtz absent, were unable to create chances and were unable to stage a comeback. The win took Bayern through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the 35th time and set up a second round tie against Inter Milan. Kane, in his first year in Germany, is now the strong favourite for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Top Scorers 2023-24 Recap
Kylian Mbappe’s Stellar Season
Kylian Mbappe shined brightly for Paris Saint-Germain, netting 8 goals. With the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar, Mbappe took the reins and dominated the scoring charts.
The new format means that instead of the familiar round-robin groups, teams now face a broader range of opponents.
After each team is drawn from their pot, the software will allocate their eight opponents, ensuring a balanced mix of opponents from different pots. This process avoids any logistical issues, such as having too many away games in quick succession.
The culmination of this phase is also different. The top eight teams automatically qualify for the knockout stages, akin to finishing first in the traditional group format.
Teams finishing between ninth and 24th place will enter a play-off round. This round will determine which eight teams advance to join the top eight in the last 16.
Teams finishing in the bottom 12 (25th to 36th place) will be eliminated from all European competitions.
When Are the 2024/25 Champions League League-Stage Matches?
January 29, 2025howcased a diverse array of top talents leaving their mark on Europe’s grandest stage.
September 17-19, 2024
October 1-2, 2024
October 22-23, 2024
November 5-6, 2024
November 26-27, 2024
December 10-11, 2024
January 21-22, 2025
When Are the 2024/25 Champions League Knockout Stages?
Final: May 31, 2025
Knockout Round Play-Offs: February 11-12 and February 18-19, 2025
Round of 16: March 4-5 and March 11-12, 2025
Quarter-Finals: April 8-9 and April 15-16, 2025
Semi-Finals: April 29-30 and May 6-7, 2025
Where Is the 2025 Champions League Final Being Held?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31, 2025.
| Club | Opponents |
| Manchester City | Inter Milan (H), PSG (A), Club Brugge (H), Juventus (A), Feyenoord (H), Sporting (A), Sparta Prague (H), Slovan Bratislava (A) |
| Arsenal | PSG (H), Inter Milan (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Atalanta (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Sporting (A), Monaco (H), Girona (A) |
| Liverpool | Real Madrid (H), RB Leipzig (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), AC Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV (A), Bologna (H), Girona (A) |
| Aston Villa | Bayern Munich (H), RB Leipzig (A), Juventus (H), Club Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Young Boys (A), Bologna (H), Monaco (A) |
Matches and Kick Off times
| Matchday 1 | Fixture |
| Tuesday 17 September | Young Boys vs Aston Villa |
| Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven | |
| AC Milan vs Liverpool | |
| Bayern München vs GNK Dinamo | |
| Real Madrid vs Stuttgart | |
| Sporting CP vs LOSC Lille | |
| Wednesday 18 September | Sparta Praha vs Salzburg |
| Bologna vs Shakhtar Donetsk | |
| Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava | |
| Club Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund | |
| Manchester City vs Inter | |
| Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona | |
| Thursday 19 September | Feyenoord vs Bayer Leverkusen |
| Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica | |
| Monaco vs Barcelona | |
| Atalanta vs Arsenal | |
| Atlético de Madrid vs Leipzig | |
| Brest vs Sturm Graz |
This article was updated on Thursday, 13th March, 2025.
Expert in sports content and a lover of football. I’ve written various content, tips, and reviews of various betting platforms. Also, I’m a Chelsea fan who watches and follows many European leagues and equally follows Nigerian & South Africa leagues.
