The UEFA Champions league, Europe’s biggest club competition has now begun and clubs are vying for the trophy, while others are hoping to get as far as possible in the competition. With the new format that was introduced last season involving 36 teams, 29 teams qualify for the competition based on where they finished in their domestic league, while 7 other teams join the competition through a play-off rounds, making it a total of 36 teams.
The competition can now be argued to be worthy of its name: Champions "league" because it involves a league phase where 8 teams can qualify automatically to the knock-out rounds, others qualify through a play-off rounds, then others leave the competition if they fail to either be part of the top eight or play-off spots. After that, the round of 16 begins in a two-legged tie until only two teams are left in the final. The winner of the final wins the competition.
The beauty of this new arrangement is that it opens the door to more drama
and unpredictability. Unlike the old group system, where a big club could
dominate a small pool of opponents and qualify with games to spare, consistency
now carries far more weight. Eight matches against a wide spread of teams means
even the favourites are vulnerable to slip-ups. A bad run of results could
easily push a supposed giant down into the play-offs, where the pressure is
unforgiving and mistakes are punished. It is here that surprises are most
likely to happen, because two-legged ties give underdogs the perfect platform
to frustrate stronger sides away from home before seizing their chance in front
of their own fans.
This season could also produce some unusual
names in the top eight. If a mid-table side from one of the top leagues puts
together a strong start and holds its form, it could finish among the elite and
enjoy the benefit of skipping the play-offs altogether. That alone makes the
competition more balanced, because smaller clubs no longer come in just to make
up the numbers they can realistically aspire to a deeper run if they find
rhythm. Injuries, squad depth, and fatigue will also play huge roles, since the
increased number of fixtures places heavier demands on players. Teams with
thinner squads may struggle to keep pace, while those with deep benches will
rotate and try to survive the long road. This will inevitably create
opportunities for less fancied sides to pounce when bigger clubs are stretched.
The list of contenders is as familiar as ever.
Paris Saint-Germain come in as defending champions, but their history of
inconsistency in big matches means they cannot be written in as favourites
without question. Real Madrid and Barcelona will always be part of the conversation,
yet Barcelona’s ongoing financial struggles could limit their ability to
compete with the very best. Bayern Munich remain a steady presence, with
experience and leadership from players like Manuel Neuer, but even they are not
invincible in this demanding format. Alongside these giants stand the potential
dark horses: teams like Atalanta, Eintracht Frankfurt, Villarreal, or even
Newcastle, who, if they begin well and maintain momentum, could cause real
shocks. Meanwhile, smaller clubs from leagues that rarely produce
quarter-finalists such as Bodø/Glimt, Pafos, or Kairat Almaty should not be
overlooked. They may not reach the latter stages, but they can disrupt the
balance of the league phase by taking unexpected points off favourites.
What makes this season especially entertaining
is the absence of comfort zones. Every match in the league phase could be
decisive, and the play-offs promise high-pressure football where reputations
mean little. Coaches will be forced to make tactical gambles, either by
rotating heavily to manage the demands of domestic football or by going all out
early in hopes of securing a top-eight finish. For the fans, this means an
extended period of meaningful games, not just the knockout rounds. The road to
Budapest, where the final will be held on 30 May 2026, is guaranteed to be
long, tense, and full of twists.
In truth, the Champions League has never
looked more like a league than it does now, and that is what makes it
fascinating. The unpredictability of results, the constant risk of failure even
for the strongest sides, and the genuine opportunities available to ambitious
underdogs all combine to create a competition that promises not only
entertainment but also history. We may well witness a new finalist, or at least
a reshaping of what we thought the Champions League always was. For football
lovers, this season is one that cannot be missed.
The 2025/2026 Champions league season began with a lot of entertainment, as expected. Teams like Chelsea returned to the competition having not participated for the past 2 seasons but had to face the serial German champions, Bayern Munich. Chelsea fans were hoping were hoping for a repeat of the 2012 Champions league finals but Bayern were too strong and experienced for the young Chelsea team. Bayern won 3-1. Other teams like Quarabag, an Azerbaijan club came from behind to get their first victory in the history of the Champions league against Benfica that were leading 2-0, only for Quarabag to come from behind to win 2-3. This victory earned the Benfica coach, Bruno Lage a sack and led to the appointment of the experienced and highly decorated Jose Mourinho.
Other results included PSV lost to Union Saint-Gilloise; Athletic Bilbao lost of Arsenal 0-2; Juventus ended up in a stale mate against Dortmund 4-4; Tottenham beat Villareal 1-0; Real Madrid beat Maseille 2-1; Olympiacos drew Pafos 0-0; Slavia Praha drew 2-2 against Bodo/Glimt; PSG thrashed Atalanta 4-0; Ajax lost to Inter 0-2; Liverpool beat Athletico Madrid 3-2; Copenhagen drew 2-2 with Leverkusen; Club Brugge beats Monaco 4-1; Frankfurt beat Galatasaray 5-1; Sporting beat Kairat 4-1; Newcastle lost to Barcelona 1-2; Mancity beat Napoli 2-0.
For now, the race to qualify for the knock-out rounds is on. We think we know who will qualify but we never really know with this new format of the champions league. One thing is promised and that is entertainment and surprises.
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