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By Jonathan Lewis | 3rd Mar 2025
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season has been one of the most exciting and thrilling editions of the tournament throughout its whole existence. With new debuting teams, a new format where teams now must play 8 matches, and, of course, the addition of 4 more teams to the competition, which welcomes more teams from a great variety of European leagues.
However, the UEFA Champions League hasn’t changed drastically in some aspects. The knockout rounds are the same as we know them, or at least very similar. The all-new playoff round brings great excitement, with some of the best teams in the world battling it out in the early stages of the competition, players showcasing their true ability and fans enjoying the action by watching the game or adding that extra fun through Trustly betting sites.
With the playoff round just around the corner, let’s review the best moments of the UEFA Champions League so far.
Taking Over Madrid and the Top 8
Probably one of the biggest surprises of the year, Lille have gone through an excellent moment of form and have managed to pave their way into the top 8, being one of the biggest surprises of the 2024/25 Champions League campaign.
But if there’s a notable highlight from Lille’s league phase it must be their wins against Real and Atletico Madrid. Taking over the Spanish capital isn’t easy, doing it against two of the biggest teams in Spain is a much more difficult task. But Lille didn’t break under pressure and managed to claim a 1-0 win at home against Real and a comeback against Atletico de Madrid at the Metropolitano.
With the knockout round close, the French side wait for their opponent after doing a great league phase which was closed with a 6-1 win against Feyenoord, thus proving how capable they are of getting to the late rounds of the competition.
An Almost Perfect Group Stage
What a season it’s been for Liverpool. Arne Slot arrived at Anfield with the difficult task of maintaining the level Jurgen Klopp had reached, but the former Feyenoord manager has surpassed expectations, even with the huge amount of pressure the Dutchman had, being top of the Premier League and finishing top of the UEFA Champions League, a very big achievement for a manager who is just making his debut managing in the top 5 leagues.
If it wasn’t for a defeat against PSV at Eindhoven in the last match of the league phase, where Liverpool had already qualified in the top 8, the Reds would have managed to win all 8 matches, something which could look easy if it wasn’t for the fact they had to face the likes of current Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Winning 7 of 8 isn’t easy, nor is it doing so against top teams like the already mentioned Real Madrid and the likes of AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, or Lille, three teams that have done excellently in the Champions League this season.
With a great team and an even better manager, can Liverpool win the Champions League this season?
Barely Making it Through
Manchester City’s season is one to forget. A surprising defeat streak alongside allegations of a possible relegation once the season is over, it’s not been an easy year for Pep Guardiola’s side, and the Champions League has been no exception.
City barely made it through to the playoffs, beating Club Brugge in the last match of the league phase after being out for a great part of the competition. Winning only 2 games isn’t normal, especially if you’re one of the best teams in the world in terms of prestige and quality.
Haaland hasn’t found his form, Rodri’s injury seems like the breaking point from a Manchester City side that hinted at a possible downfall, and, of course, Pep Guardiola is short of ideas, not being able to turn things around when matches get complicated, examples being the match against PSG.
However, Manchester City have gone through, and they now can knock current winners Real Madrid out on the first time of asking. But will they be able to find form and beat the Champions League giants?
A Playoff to Remember
The league phase is done, it’s now time for the best teams in the world to battle for a place in the round of 16. Lille, Liverpool, Barça, Atletico, Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Inter wait for their opponent whilst the remaining 16 teams battle it out.
Who will go through to the next round?
