From this season, the Champions League will have a League phase instead of the traditional group stage. 36 clubs will participate, and the top eight teams will directly qualify for the 1/8 finals. The clubs ranked ninth to 24th will compete in a play-off to qualify for the 1/8 finals.
Each club will play eight matches in the League phase, and the final standings will be determined after these matches. Below I will discuss the schedule of the top 10 main favorites of the League phase according to 22Bet, and their chances of getting directly into the top eight.
Matches:
| 2024 |
| 19 Sep – Feyenoord (away) |
| 1 Oct – Milan (home) |
| 23 Oct – Brest (away) |
| 23 Oct – Brest (away) |
| 5 Nov – Liverpool (away) |
| 10 Dec – Inter Milan (home) |
| 2025 |
| 21 Jan – Atlético Madrid (away), |
| 29 Jan – Sparta Prague (home) |
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has conceded 15 goals in their last eight matches, casting doubt on the team’s prospects for the season. Under the management of Xavi Alonso, the team is facing significant challenges in transitioning from attack to defense, a vulnerability that opponents have regularly exploited.
If Leverkusen fails to tighten up defensively, they could find themselves in unpredictable shootouts against Feyenoord, Milan, and Red Bull Salzburg. These teams score many goals but also often concede. The outcome of these key matches will greatly influence whether the German club can finish in the top 16 and become a seeded team.
Matches against Brest and Sparta Prague seem to be the easiest for gaining points, while the clashes against European giants like Liverpool, Inter, and Atletico will serve as a true test of Leverkusen’s ability to balance their defensive game and compete for a spot in the top 8.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 18 Sep – Girona (home) |
| 1 Oct – Arsenal (away) |
| 22 Oct – PSV Eindhoven (home) |
| 5 Nov – Atlético Madrid (home) |
| 26 Nov – Bayern Munich (away) |
| 10 Dec – Red Bull Salzburg (away) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Manchester City (home) |
| 29 Jan – VfB Stuttgart (away) |
Paris Saint-Germain has had a strong start to the new Ligue 1 season, winning their first three matches with a total score of 13-2. The team’s 19-year-old newcomer from Portugal, João Neves, has already shown top-class performance in the midfield, which significantly increases the French club’s chances of a successful season.
PSG faces one of the most challenging schedules among all participating teams, making a top-eight finish a difficult task. Much will depend on the performances against Girona, PSV Eindhoven, Red Bull Salzburg, and VfB Stuttgart. If Luis Enrique’s team can handle the opponents’ pressing and exploit their defensive vulnerabilities in these matches, they will have a good chance of finishing near the top of the table.
In the other matches against Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, PSG’s ability to defend effectively in a medium or low block will be crucial, especially considering their defensive frailties during last season’s Champions League playoffs.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 18 Sep – Manchester City (away) |
| 1 Oct – Red Star Belgrade (home) |
| 23 Oct – Young Boys (away) |
| 6 Nov – Arsenal (home) |
| 26 Nov – RB Leipzig (home) |
| 10 Dec – Bayer Leverkusen (away) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Sparta Prague (away) |
| 29 Jan – Monaco (home) |
Inter are gradually getting into their optimal condition and will likely approach the Champions League matches in good shape.
In their fixtures against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Bayer Leverkusen, the Italians will likely rely on their solid defensive structure and dangerous counterattacks to trouble their opponents. It’s feasible that Inter will be able to secure 3-5 points in these challenging matches.
Monaco stands out among the other opponents, and the match against them will likely be decisive in the final round of the League phase.
Inter should comfortably avoid any point losses in their matches against Red Star Belgrade, Sparta Prague, and Young Boys, where they are expected to dominate.
Overall, in my opinion, Simone Inzaghi’s team has a great chance of directly qualifying for the Round of 16.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 19 Sep – RB Leipzig (home) |
| 2 Oct – Benfica (away) |
| 23 Oct – Lille (home) |
| 6 Nov – Paris Saint-Germain (away) |
| 26 Nov – Sparta Prague (away) |
| 11 Dec – Slovan Bratislava (home) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Bayer Leverkusen (home) |
| 29 Jan – Red Bull Salzburg (away) |
Atlético Madrid continues to transition to a more attacking style of play, but the results have been inconsistent so far. In previous seasons in the Champions League, Atlético mainly faced weaker opponents in the group stage, yet their instability led to early exits.
Last season, despite being favored to advance, Atlético were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund with an aggregate score of 2-5, a surprising outcome given the higher quality of their squad.
The level of difficulty in Atlético’s matches is lower compared to teams like Inter and PSG. Still, it’s currently difficult to predict how many points Diego Simeone’s team will accumulate and whether they can secure a top-eight finish. Much will depend on their ability to balance their newfound attacking approach with the defensive solidity that has long been their hallmark.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 19 Sep – Monaco (away) |
| 1 Oct – Young Boys (home) |
| 23 Oct – Bayern Munich (home) |
| 6 Nov – Red Star Belgrade (away) |
| 26 Nov – Brest (home) |
| 11 Dec – Borussia Dortmund (away) |
| 2025 |
| 21 Jan – Benfica (away) |
| 29 Jan – Atalanta (home) |
Barcelona have started the new season in spectacular fashion, winning all four of their La Liga matches. Hansi Flick has quickly implemented his tactical principles at his new club. It will be interesting to watch Barcelona’s match against Monaco on the first day of the Champions League season, especially considering that Barça suffered a 0-3 defeat to the French side in their last preseason encounter.
The match against Bayern Munich will also be highly anticipated, as both teams currently play in a proactive attacking style. This encounter has the potential to be one of the most thrilling fixtures of the tournament’s early stages.
Overall, Barcelona has a favorable schedule and opponents with whom they can certainly accumulate the necessary points to secure direct qualification to the round of 16.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 19 Sep – Milan (away) |
| 1 Oct – Bologna (home) |
| 23 Oct – RB Leipzig (away) |
| 5 Nov – Bayer Leverkusen (home) |
| 27 Nov – Real Madrid (home) |
| 11 Dec – Girona (away) |
| 2025 |
| 21 Jan – Lille (home) |
| 29 Jan – PSV Eindhoven (away) |
Liverpool enters the season with several favorable matchups. Bologna and Girona have started this season in a weakened state compared to last year, making it unlikely that they will offer serious resistance to Liverpool. Milan is currently playing very inconsistently, raising questions about Paulo Fonseca’s future and casting doubt on their ability to challenge Liverpool.
However, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen could pose difficulties for Liverpool, even though both teams have disorganized defenses that the Reds could take advantage of. It will be interesting to see the pressing battles between Liverpool and their German opponents.
The match against Real Madrid will likely serve as a litmus test for Liverpool, revealing just how prepared they are to compete with Europe’s elite in the race for the Champions League trophy.
Should Liverpool struggle to gather points, Arne Slot’s team will have a good opportunity to improve their tournament position in their final two group-stage matches against Lille and PSV Eindhoven.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 19 Sep – Dinamo Zagreb (home) |
| 1 Oct – Aston Villa (away) |
| 23 Oct – Barcelona (away) |
| 6 Nov – Benfica (home) |
| 26 Nov – Paris Saint-Germain (home) |
| 10 Dec – Shakhtar Donetsk (away) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Feyenoord (away) |
| 29 Jan – Slovan Bratislava (home) |
Bayern Munich is expected to face tough away matches against Barcelona and Aston Villa. Considering the team’s ongoing issues with transitioning from attack to defense, Vincent Kompany’s team might also drop points in their home game against PSG.
However, Bayern Munich should secure victories in the remaining matches thanks to their superior squad depth and quality.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 19 Sep – Atalanta (away) |
| 1 Oct – Paris Saint-Germain (home) |
| 22 Oct – Shakhtar Donetsk (home) |
| 6 Nov – Inter Milan (away) |
| 26 Nov – Sporting CP (away) |
| 11 Dec – Monaco (home) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Dinamo Zagreb (home) |
| 29 Jan – Girona (away) |
In the previous season, Arsenal struggled to balance their commitments between the Premier League and the Champions League. This imbalance led to some disappointing results, such as the 1-2 group stage loss to RC Lens and their elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds.
If Mikel Arteta continues with limited squad rotation like last season, his team could face problems securing points as early as October, especially with the increased intensity of Premier League fixtures.
Away matches against Inter Milan and Sporting CP might pose serious challenges for the Londoners, and it’s possible they could also drop points in their final away game against Girona.
Nonetheless, in the rest of their matches, particularly at home, Arsenal is likely to secure maximum points and finish in the top eight.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 17 Sep – VfB Stuttgart (home) |
| 2 Oct – Lille (away) |
| 22 Oct – Borussia Dortmund (home) |
| 5 Nov – Milan (home) |
| 27 Nov – Liverpool (away) |
| 10 Dec – Atalanta (away) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Red Bull Salzburg (home) |
| 29 Jan – Brest (away) |
Real Madrid is steadily improving their attacking cohesion, and by October-November, they could transform into a formidable attacking force that will be extremely difficult to stop.
The away match against Liverpool stands out as the only tough challenge for the reigning tournament champions.
Overall, Real Madrid is expected to comfortably finish in the top eight and advance smoothly to the next stage of the tournament.
Matches
| 2024 |
| 17 Sep – Inter Milan (home) |
| 2 Oct – Slovan Bratislav (away) |
| 23 Oct – Sparta Prague (home) |
| 5 Nov – Sporting CP (away) |
| 26 Nov – Feyenoord (home) |
| 10 Dec – Juventus (away) |
| 2025 |
| 22 Jan – Paris Saint-Germain (away) |
| 29 Jan – Club Brugge (home) |
Manchester City enters the season as the main favorite to win the Champions League, so the club should definitely finish in the top eight.
With five out of eight matches against teams from non-top leagues, City should be able to secure their place at the top of the table well before the final rounds, potentially by the 2nd or 3rd matchday.
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