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The Road to the UEFA Champions League Final Starts Here
The UEFA Champions League has a new look this season. After years of the same setup, we’ve finally seen some big changes. Rather than the usual 32 teams, we now have 36 competing. The typical group stage has been replaced by a fresh league system that offers more matches and bigger showdowns right from the start.
It was a fresh experience for soccer fans. No more predictable group stages: every match felt like a knockout round. We saw huge clashes from the start: Manchester City vs. Inter, Milan vs. Liverpool, Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich, and Liverpool vs. Real Madrid. These matchups usually happen later in the tournament, but the new format made the Champions League even more exciting.
Now, we have our final eight teams. But before we look ahead, let’s deeply dive into what went down to get here.
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How the New Format Worked
With 36 teams in the competition, the league phase turned unpredictable. Each team played eight matches instead of the usual six, and there were no fixed groups. Instead, teams were drawn against opponents from different pots, making every match crucial.
Once the league stage ended, the top 8 teams advanced directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9 to 24 had to go through an extra playoff round (home and away matches) to earn a spot in the Round of 16. Finally, the bottom 12 teams were eliminated immediately.
When the dust settled, the top 8 who secured direct qualification to the Round of 16 were: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, 16 other teams had to battle it out in the playoff round to join them.
The Playoffs: Madrid Eliminates City in a Classic
The most anticipated matchup of the playoffs was, without a doubt, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid. These two have built a fierce rivalry in recent years, and this tie didn’t disappoint.
City, the defending champions, were the favorites. But Real Madrid showed once again why they are Kings of Europe, winning the tie 6-3 on aggregate and knocking Pep Guardiola’s side out.
Besides Madrid, teams like PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern Munich also made it through the playoffs and clinched their spots in the Round of 16.
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The Round of 16: Drama, Penalties, and Rivalries
With 16 teams remaining, the action heated up even more. Here’s a look at some of the most thrilling matchups.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid: A Madrid derby in the Champions League is always a big deal. These teams had already faced off in two Champions League finals, and those memories were still vivid. In the first leg, Real Madrid took the win. But Atletico Madrid hit back in the second leg, leveling the tie. This meant only one thing: penalties. And just like in 2016, when Real Madrid beat Atleti in the final, they did it again here. Diego Simeone’s team fought hard, but in the end, Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid once again proved unstoppable in penalty shootouts.
Liverpool vs. PSG: On one side, Liverpool, leading the Premier League. On the other, PSG is ruling Ligue 1. Both teams had been dominant in their domestic leagues, but only one could move on. The first leg in Paris saw Liverpool grab a 1-0 win. But in the return leg at Anfield, PSG fought back with a 1-0 victory of their own. The match went to penalties, where Ousmane Dembélé shined and helped PSG edge past Liverpool. With Liverpool’s elimination, England’s best team was out, showing just how unpredictable this year’s tournament had become.
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The Final 8: Who’s Left?
After months of action, surprises, and heartbreaks, only eight teams remain in the race for the Champions League trophy: PSG, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan.
And the quarterfinal matchups are set:
- PSG vs. Aston Villa
- Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
- Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan
With a mix of European giants and unexpected contenders, these quarterfinals are shaping up to be legendary. Can Aston Villa continue their underdog story? Will Madrid add another chapter to their Champions League dominance? Can Barcelona return to the top?
April is here, and soccer fans in the U.S. know one thing: the best is yet to come.
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