This year’s 2024-25 Champions League season has been filled with shocks, excitement, drama, and most importantly goals. Gone are the traditional days of grouped games but here entering a new era is a league format with 36 teams playing eight different opponents has certainly shaken things up across Europe. If one thing is certain, it is to expect the unexpected in football.
All it takes is three points
To safely qualify for the Round of 16, finishing in the top eight is vital for all teams, and with four games played matchday five could play a key factor in the final destination on the road to the Allinaz Arena in Germany in May 2025.
Three points can either make your season in Europe or even in some cases dash hopes of progressing to the next stage.
In the current standings of the Champions League, English side Liverpool sit top of the table on 12 points after winning their opening four matches.
The Reds are no stranger to the Champions League as they have won the competition on six occasions, most recently in 2019. They face an almighty task when they host 15-time winners Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
Just three points separates teams in the top eight, with leaders Liverpool on 12, while Aston Villa, making a European return for the first time since 1982, hold the final automatic spot with nine points from four games.
Tuesday's Champions League matches
Nine games take place on Tuesday night including Arsenal’s trip to Portugal when they face Sporting Lisbon, who are second in the standings.
Barcelona faces high-flying French side Brest at the Spotify Camp Nou, which is surely going to be a Goliath-David-type encounter, particularly with just one point separating both teams.
Inter Milan play RB Leipzig at the San Siro, and the Italians will aim to continue their impressive form having won their last three games. They are one of five teams not to lose a single match so far.
Manchester City, who suffered a 4-0 home thumping in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend and are currently on a five-game losing streak, entertain Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens lost their previous Champions League match to Sporting Lisbon, they last won in October against Sparta Prague 5-0.
In the other matches, Bayern Munich takes on Paris Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena, in a repeat of the 2020 Champions League final. Swiss side Young Boys go up against Atalanta while Bayer Leverkusen plays RB Salzburg.
For the early kick-off matches, AC Milan travel to Slovakia to play Slovan Bratislava while Sparta Prague hosts Atletico Madrid.
Ones to Watch
Harry Kane - Bayern Munich
Kane’s season so far with Bayern Munich has been more than fantastic, it has just been loaded with goals everywhere both domestically and in Europe. The Englishman already has scored 14 goals in just 11 Bundesliga matches this season. In the Champions League, he is just as impressive with five goals in four games played. Four of his five goals came against Dinamo Zagreb on matchday one in September. The 31-year-old remains on the hunt for his first piece of silverware in his career.
Raphinha - Barcelona
Barcelona winger Raphinha has been one of the stand-out players this season in the Champions League. The Brazilian scored a hat-trick against Bayern Munich and even claimed the player of the match award for his dazzling performances on the pitch. His link-up play with teammates Lamine Yamal and veteran striker Robert Lewandoski has contributed greatly to that. As one of only four players with five goals in the Champions League, there is no stopping Raphinha on the pitch and maybe he could be the one to take his side beyond the league stage and far into Europe’s elite competition.
Mike Maignan - AC Milan
AC Milan’s Mike Maigan has been ever present in goal for the Rosseneri playing in each of the four games in the Champions League. The Frenchman has made 27 saves in the competition so far, which is four more than any other goalkeeper. Maignan claimed the Player of the Match award in matchday four in the 3-1 away victory against Real Madrid.
Phil Foden - Man City
Phil Foden has been the main man for Man City in Europe this season even when things have not quite gone their way in domestic competitions. Despite having a goal per 90 minutes of 0.89 in the Champions League, Foden still knows how to find the back of the net even if it is not on a regular scoring basis. The Englishman has four goal involvements for City (three goals and one assist) so far and he will be key when they play Feyenoord on Tuesday night.
How to watch the Champions League
Matchday five of the 2024-25 Champions League kicks off on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, with another round of football a day later on Wednesday, November 27.
Viewers from across the USA can tune in to the Champions League action on TV from 12:45 ET/09:45 PT on CBS/Paramount.
