The Champions League’s preliminary part was accomplished on Thursday and there was no scarcity of speaking factors.
Right here have been our takeaways from the draw.
New twist on an outdated traditional
UEFA kicked issues off with an announcement regarding this season’s last.
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The Puskás Aréna will host the showpiece on Might 30 subsequent yr however, crucially, can be at a significantly earlier begin than its beforehand established 21:00 CET slot.
European soccer’s governing physique stated it introduced kick-off ahead by three hours with a purpose to ‘improve the general matchday expertise’ for followers, groups and host cities.
The times of followers being stranded by logistical points brought on by finals that ran late into the night time, or early morning relying on the placement, can be a factor of the previous.
It is a new twist on an outdated traditional however ought to assist those that do make it to Budapest.
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📸 Justin Setterfield – 2023 Getty Pictures
No straightforward run for the holders
The fantastic thing about the Champions League’s new format is its elimination of predictability.
Regardless of how good a group or just lately they have been topped kings of Europe, all bets are actually off because the reigning holders Paris Saint-Germain are already discovering out.
Luis Enrique’s facet arguably have one of many hardest line-ups within the league part with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham all of their bracket.
Remaining opponents Atalanta, Newcastle and Athletic Membership aren’t any slouches, both.
Les Parisiens might discover the crown weighing a bit heavier in opposition to this line-up.
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📸 FRANCK FIFE – AFP or licensors
A severe case of the ex
Who does not love a very good reunion?
UEFA’s supercomputer is seemingly a fan with the draw throwing up a number of gamers arising in opposition to their former employers throughout the continental elite.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s early return to Liverpool with Actual Madrid, who even have a former Kop favorite in supervisor Xabi Alonso, is undoubtedly the primary spotlight.
The Premier League champions’ personal summer season signing can be heading again to Eintracht Frankfurt for a primary time as they put together to welcome Hugo Ekitiké.
However Kylian Mbappé’s renewed acquaintances with Monaco is one other intriguing subplot, as is Manchester Metropolis’s conflict with Napoli and new boy Kevin de Bruyne.
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Pep Guardiola’s facet may even meet Leroy Sané once more as he strains up for Galatasaray in opposition to them whereas Erling Haaland is about to welcome again Borussia Dortmund.
📸 Angel Martinez – 2025 Getty Pictures
Grudge matches galore
Familiarity does additionally breed contempt, as a few of this yr’s fixtures totally attest.
Wherever you look, there are grudge matches galore with a number of the Champions League’s bitterest rivalries down the years able to play out as soon as extra.
PSG are once more one of many primary protagonists, getting ready to conflict with Barcelona once more and going through off in opposition to Newcastle following 2023’s controversial late draw.
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Actual Madrid will tackle Manchester Metropolis for remarkably an eleventh time up to now five-and-a-half years whereas additionally turning their consideration to a rematch with Liverpool.
For these of a extra classic persuasion, Barça’s journey to Chelsea will evoke recollections of their shared encounters involving Ronaldinho, Iniesta and Fernando Torres.
Let battle resume!
📸 Jamie McDonald – 2009 Getty Pictures
Can minnows make huge waves once more?
Kairat Almaty are undoubtedly this yr’s shock package deal after sealing their first Champions League involvement by eliminating Celtic within the third play-off spherical.
Flying the flag for Kazakhstan, Rafael Urazbakhtin’s facet will face one of many longest ever journeys within the competitors after they journey 6,900km to tackle Sporting CP.
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Actual Madrid will make a equally mammoth 12-hour journey to Pavlodar Central Stadium for a status fixture the place Kairat can emulate a fellow UCL minnow.
Sheriff Tiraspol made related waves in opposition to the Champions League’s most profitable facet within the 2021/22 group part with a shock 2-1 win on the Bernabéu.
The Moldovans nonetheless exited the match earlier than the knockout stage however the Halyq komandasy may strike one other blow for the underdog in opposition to Los Blancos.
📸 Ian MacNicol – 2025 Getty Pictures
📸 FREDERIC DIDES – AFP or licensors