Official UEFA Champions League 24/25 Thread

[don]

actually adds in two extra group games and an extra 2 legged knock out tie for 16 teams so potentially four extra matches. How are these dates going to fit into calendar which was already full? The answer is that you will see matches in Jan./early Feb. and then r16 & qfs will all be squashed together in successive weeks in March and April. Ridiculous really-maybe this is to placate the clubs who wanted the superleague. League phase Matchday 1 17–19 September 2024 Matchday 2 1–2 October 2024 Matchday 3 22–23 October 2024 Matchday 4 5–6 November 2024 Matchday 5 26–27 November 2024 Matchday 6 10–11 December 2024 Matchday 7 21–22 January 2025 Matchday 8 29 January 2025 Knockout phase Knockout phase play-offs 11–12 February 2025 18–19 February 2025 Round of 16 4–5 March 2025 11–12 March 2025 Quarter-finals 8–9 April 2025 15–16 April 2025 Semi-finals 29–30 April 2025 6–7 May 2025 Final 31 May 2025 at Allianz Arena, Munich

 

[Rebel CNC]

actually adds in two extra group games and an extra 2 legged knock out tie for 16 teams so potentially four extra matches. How are these dates going to fit into calendar which was already full? The answer is that you will see matches in Jan./early Feb. and then r16 & qfs will all be squashed together in successive weeks in March and April. Ridiculous really-maybe this is to placate the clubs who wanted the superleague. League phase Matchday 1 17–19 September 2024 Matchday 2 1–2 October 2024 Matchday 3 22–23 October 2024 Matchday 4 5–6 November 2024 Matchday 5 26–27 November 2024 Matchday 6 10–11 December 2024 Matchday 7 21–22 January 2025 Matchday 8 29 January 2025 Knockout phase Knockout phase play-offs 11–12 February 2025 18–19 February 2025 Round of 16 4–5 March 2025 11–12 March 2025 Quarter-finals 8–9 April 2025 15–16 April 2025 Semi-finals 29–30 April 2025 6–7 May 2025 Final 31 May 2025 at Allianz Arena, Munich

It's absolutely moronic. As per Philby above, I completely misunderstood it, thinking there'd be just usual group stages and two extra games if you didn't top the group.

Essentially, all teams have two extra group games and unless you're top eight ream, will have another two matches squashed into busiest time of season.

Something has to give - either teams pull out of domestic cup or top clubs force reduction in number of teams in their domestic league top division. Maybe Chelsea onto something after all, building up their squad to the max!!

 

[Philby]

Predicted 36% likelihood of a PL winner.

 

[Philby]

Interesting to see an attempt to quantify which games are most worth watching

 

[Philby]

xTooMuchTimeOnYourHands.

xEnjoyCorrieM8

 

[Philby]

Watching the league cup tonight m8.

Cool. Forgot that Corrie is on Wednesday nights.

The new champions league format means there won't be a game with any meaning until the last 32.

Arguably the new format will result in more of the games being meaningful - as each time you move up a rung on the league table it has value in terms of your draw for the next round. Much fewer dead rubbers.

And I'll happily have a username bet (lol) with yourself and handy that Liverpool and Arsenal won't be winning it.

I'd also be pretty confident being on the good side of a 15/1-20/1 shot.

 

[Cloudy O'Ranieri]

HVDW

 

[Philby]

HVDW

??

 

[Philby]

Too chickenshit to take the bet. Jog on

Just too aware of probability to enter such a lopsided bet.

 

[Handy Run]

Dan walks into paddy powers and lays a Turkish lira on an evens bet saying he wants it at 25/1 and the payout to be in Euros at an exchange rate of 1:1