January 30, 2025

The first UEFA Champions League tournament with the new format has concluded, revealing the eight teams that have qualified directly for the Round of 16 and the 16 teams that will fight in the playoffs to secure their place in Munich 2025. Qualified Teams and Playoff Spots Liverpool finished as the overall leader of the competition, with Barcelona in second, Arsenal third, Inter Milan fourth, Atlético de Madrid fifth, Bayer Leverkusen sixth, and the surprises of the top eight, LOSC Lille and Aston Villa, in seventh and eighth, respectively.   As for the playoff spots, Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan secured their places, followed by PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, and Celtic. Lastly, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, and Club Brugge complete the 16 playoff teams. The teams eliminated from the competition due to goal difference include Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, Shakhtar, Bologna, Red Star, Sturm, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, and Young Boys. Possible Playoff Matchups Although teams await the draw to determine their rivals, speculation about potential matchups is already circulating. Monaco and Brest may face PSG or Benfica, with the winner facing either Liverpool or Barcelona in the next round. Sporting and Brugge could meet Atalanta or Dortmund in the playoffs, with potential Round of 16 matchups against Lille or Aston Villa. Celtic or Manchester City might go up against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, which could lead to one of the most exciting playoff matchups. Afterward, they could face Atlético de Madrid or Leverkusen in the Round of 16. Finally, Feyenoord or Juventus could meet AC Milan or PSV, with potential Round of 16 clashes against Arsenal or Inter Milan.

Another thrilling day of European football awaits, as the Europa League holds its final matchday with 18 simultaneous games and 28 teams still fighting for something. No Time to Rest Following the excitement of the Champions League, today it’s the UEFA Europa League’s turn to wrap up its league stage. Like its sister competition, this matchday will determine the eight teams that qualify directly and the 16 that will battle in the playoffs. Key Matches of the Day The action kicks off at 2:00 p.m. (Mexico City time), with Lazio looking to secure its top spot against a desperate Braga, which must win to have a chance at the playoffs. One of the standout clashes is Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Roma. The German side is on the verge of securing a top-eight finish but must confirm it against the Italian club, which needs to lock in a playoff spot. Other teams aiming for a direct ticket include Athletic Club against Viktoria Plzen, Manchester United taking on FCSB—who are also eyeing eighth place—Olympique Lyon vs. Ludogorets, Tottenham vs. Elfsborg, and Anderlecht, featuring “Chino” Huerta, facing Hoffenheim. Challenging these teams for a direct spot, Galatasaray will battle Ajax, Bodo/Glimt faces Nice, Olympiacos takes on Qarabag, and Rangers go head-to-head with Union Saint-Gilloise, both currently tied at 11 points. Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar will square off against Ferencváros. Clubs like Real Sociedad, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş will aim to secure their playoff spots against PAOK, Midtjylland, and Twente, respectively. The first two of those opponents are also in contention for a playoff berth. Lastly, Porto will fight for qualification against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The “Dragons” currently sit outside the playoff spots and must win to keep their Europa League hopes alive.