2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Fitz* · 29-01-2026 08:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124190747#Comment_124190747

Tell that to the likes of Bodo/Glimt, Brugge, Olympiakos & Qarabag who are able to have a much better European football experience now. They're not just whipping points as the 4th seed in the group. They get to play teams their equal now, and as a result get to experience a win in the Champions League regularly. Even the likes of Benfica & Sporting are boosted by it too.

~Rebel~ · 29-01-2026 09:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124190747#Comment_124190747

It's always been quite 'luck of the draw' though, so I don't see a change there, but rather just a distinction in how the luck comes in… in the past one mid-ranked team would get drawn in an easier group than another mid-ranked team, and get through as a result. That still happens now, you get your list of 8 fixtures, and maybe get an easier or harder time than someone else of a similar level. Both systems allow for that 'unfairness', and the only way to rectify it is to have an actual league where every single team plays each other.

All in all, I quite like this current system… I like the one off games, as you get a nice range of different opponents (half the joy of European football). I'd prefer if they stuck to 6 games, but that's neither here nor there, as the number of games was going to increase anyway no matter which system they used to satisfy the financial demands of the big clubs.

In an ideal world, we'd have fewer teams in the competition, and fewer games, with all of them of a higher quality — better for the viewer, but that's not what the clubs and associations want, so we are where we are.

8-10 · 29-01-2026 09:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124190935#Comment_124190935

Benfica won the competition multiple times when it was a simpler format but I get the overall point. I'd also have views on Azerbaijan being part of UEFA in general as with Kazakhstan and Israel but that's a different conversation

The main issue is the extra games. Half the teams in the last 16 will have played 10 games just to get there. It's too many. Kairat have played 16 games in the competition this season. Qarabag have played 14 and still 2 more to go at least.

You can still have 6 games in the league phase and give those clubs more chances to win while also eliminating more teams.

Mushy · 30-01-2026 12:35PM

Newcastle get Qarabeg

Benfica get Real for a quick repeat

citytillidie · 30-01-2026 12:40PM

Knock-out Round Draw
Borussia Dortmund (GER) V Atalanta BC (ITA)
Olympiacos FC (GRE) V Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
Galatasaray A.Ş. (TUR) V Juventus (ITA)
Club Brugge KV (BEL) V Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Qarabağ FK (AZE) V Newcastle United FC (ENG)
AS Monaco (FRA) V Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
SL Benfica (POR) V Real Madrid C.F. (ESP)/
FK Bodø/Glimt (NOR) V FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

8-10 · 30-01-2026 12:55PM

Blue path looks better right now but where Barcelona, City and Arsenal end up could change that

jacool · 30-01-2026 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124192182#Comment_124192182

As @Fitz* said above "Tell that to the likes of …. Qarabag who are able to have a much better European football experience now. They're not just whipping points as the 4th seed in the group. They get to play teams their equal now"

I know Liverpool hockeyed them, but they did win away at Benfica!

eagle eye · 30-01-2026 01:39PM

Qarabag know how to score goals. They beat Benfica away and drew with Chelsea.

Dortmund v Atalanta should be a cracking game.

Are these games over two legs?

jacool · 30-01-2026 01:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124192225#Comment_124192225

Looks to me like there are these two paths for potential quarter-finals.

Barcelona definitely playing an English club, if they both survive their last 16 ties.

ronjo · 30-01-2026 02:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124190935#Comment_124190935

This is a good point.

Now everyone gets to play effectively against 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th seeds which does even it out a bit

8-10 · 30-01-2026 05:10PM

I still think the lack of actual jeopardy for big clubs means they don't have to try as hard

Real Madrid came to Anfield this season and last and played at most 80% of their ability. You just know if it's a knockout game they don't give up that easily. There's other examples too.

Liverpool have been dreadful this season all year and still won every single game against Seeds 1 and 2. That's not normal, there's no way these teams are playing at their best, methinks they just give these games a go at 80% and if they get something, fine, but if not there's enough games against lower opposition to still get through handily

Has any decent team been eliminated from the league phase yet?

jacool · 30-01-2026 05:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124192974#Comment_124192974

RB Leipzig failed to finish in the top 24 last season, when they would have been fancied to "progress".

Napoli are Italian champions, and they are out this season.

gormdubhgorm · 30-01-2026 05:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124193003#Comment_124193003

And Man City got knocked by Madrid last year. In the play off round. I think it is set up great because always the potential of teams getting caught in the play off round if big teams make a mess of the league phase.

~Rebel~ · 30-01-2026 05:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124193072#Comment_124193072

Like Madrid again this year. Now having a tie against the lads that beat them on Wednesday.

There was a reference above to Madrid playing at only 80% at Anfield and taking a loss - well that approach has cost them two years in a row, with tough extra knock out games just to make it to the last 16.

NIMAN · 31-01-2026 05:58PM

Madrid don't go to Anfield and play at 80%.

By that logic, none of the big teams ever play at 100%.

~Rebel~ · 31-01-2026 06:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124195363#Comment_124195363

I think that's the poster's point, that many of the big teams are not going all out in all their games in the league phase, because you can make back drop-offs later. Which is probably true enough for at least some of the games, particularly away.

Win your home games, and do alright in your easier away games and you're pretty nailed on for top 8. Both last year and this year, 5 wins and a draw was enough to secure a top 8 finish.

tom1ie · 31-01-2026 10:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124189678#Comment_124189678

Spurs also qualified with the least goals conceded and in fact have only conceded one goal so far.
Stark contrast to our PL form.

tom1ie · 31-01-2026 10:07PM

No I meant spurs vs club Brugge would be a nice R16 game or failing that spurs vs Galatasaray.

The play off matches are:

Juventus have been drawn to Galatasaray whilst Atletico Madrid will face Club Brugge over two legs on 16-18 and 23-25 February.

ronjo · 31-01-2026 10:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124196219#Comment_124196219

They conceded 7 and Arsenal conceded 4

tom1ie · 31-01-2026 10:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124196310#Comment_124196310

Sorry I meant to add at home!!!!
Also for some reason I’m not getting an alert if someone quotes me, anyone else the same?

eagle eye · 31-01-2026 11:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124196395#Comment_124196395

Yeah that's happening for me as well. My last notification was on the 28th.

~Rebel~ · 01-02-2026 12:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124196668#Comment_124196668

Same.

citytillidie · 11-02-2026 08:24PM

Knock-out Round 1st Legs
Tuesday 17th February
Galatasaray A.Ş. (TUR) V Juventus (ITA) - (17:45) - Live on Virgin Media Two / TNT Sports 1
AS Monaco (FRA) V Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) - (20:00) - Live on Virgin Media Two / TNT Sports 1
Borussia Dortmund (GER) V Atalanta BC (ITA) - (20:00) - Live on TNT Sports 3
SL Benfica (POR) V Real Madrid C.F. (ESP) - (20:00) - Live on Premier Sports Ireland / Amazon

Wednesday 18th February
Qarabağ FK (AZE) V Newcastle United FC (ENG) - (17:45) - Live on Virgin Media Two / TNT Sports 1
Club Brugge KV (BEL) V Atlético de Madrid (ESP) - (20:00) - Live on Virgin Media Two / TNT Sports 3
FK Bodø/Glimt (NOR) V FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) - (20:00) - Live on RTE Two / Premier Sports Ireland / TNT Sports 1
Olympiacos FC (GRE) V Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) - (20:00) - Live on TNT Sports 4

ShamoBuc · 17-02-2026 08:52PM

One of the games of the season so far - a real cracker.

Gala 5 v Juve 2 Gala taking the lead, Juve equalised a minute later and took the lead to ht. Juve red and 3 Gala goals in the second half, Osimhen not gettinf any of the 5 goals the only surprise. Great game.