The Brazilian winger expressed outrage after the match, condemning alleged racial remarks directed at him during the heated fixture. The flashpoint reportedly came when Vinícius alerted the referee to comments he claimed were made by Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni.

The situation escalated quickly, prompting officials to temporarily pause the game in line with UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, a move that immediately drew attention across the football world.

However, it was Vinícius’ post-match reaction that truly amplified the issue. Taking to social media, the forward detailed his frustration, insisting that incidents like this have become an unfortunate pattern in his career.

He said:

“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like to appear in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”

The 25-year-old also questioned the effectiveness of the anti-racism measures deployed during the match, describing the protocol as poorly handled.

For Vinícius and Real Madrid, attention now turns to UEFA, with many expecting the governing body to thoroughly investigate the allegations and take firm action if wrongdoing is established.

Once again, what should have been a night focused solely on football has been overshadowed by the persistent shadow of racism, a battle the Brazilian star continues to confront both on and off the pitch.

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The draw, held in Nyon, Switzerland, on January 30, 2026, confirmed several high-stakes matchups.

Full Playoff Fixtures:

• Real Madrid vs Benfica – a repeat of recent European encounters promises fireworks.
• Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco – a tricky all-French showdown.
• Newcastle United vs Qarabağ
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos
• Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund
• Juventus vs Galatasaray
• Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge
• Inter Milan vs Bodø/Glimt

These ties will be contested over two legs in February 2026, with the victors advancing to the Champions League Round of 16.

 

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With powerhouses like Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid involved, fans can expect intense battles, dramatic moments, and unforgettable nights as the road to the 2025/26 Champions League trophy continues.

 

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Benfica have confirmed the appointment of Jose Mourinho as their new head coach, marking a sensational return for the Portuguese tactician to the Estádio da Luz a quarter of a century after his first spell at the club.

The 62-year-old takes over from Bruno Lage, who was dismissed following Tuesday’s shock Champions League defeat to Qarabag.

Mourinho, who has been out of work since he departed from Fenerbahçe, ironically after a Champions League elimination at the hands of Benfica, has now signed a contract running until the end of the 2026/27 season. According to the club, there is also a clause that allows either party to terminate the agreement at the end of the current campaign.

🦅 Welcome, míster José Mourinho! pic.twitter.com/dpwSjDdNZB

— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) September 18, 2025

At his unveiling in Seixal, Mourinho pledged total commitment:

“My promise is I will live for Benfica, live for my mission. I’m the coach of one of the biggest clubs in the world… I’m not important, Benfica is important, Benfica fans are important. I’m here to serve. I feel a huge responsibility, but I feel more alive than ever. I want to win competitions… My desire is to fulfil my two-year contract successfully.”

The veteran coach is set to take charge of his first match this Saturday against AFS in Liga Portugal. Benfica currently sit fourth with 10 points, five adrift of leaders FC Porto, though they hold a game in hand.

Adding intrigue to Mourinho’s comeback, his first European outing with the Eagles will pit him against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge — the very club where he rose to global prominence two decades ago.

 

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Fans can now look forward to blockbuster clashes from the very first whistle, with the draw throwing up some heavyweight encounters across Europe.

Under UEFA’s new structure, each club will play eight matches against eight different opponents (four home, four away). The top eight finishers in the league phase qualify automatically for the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th face each other in a two-legged playoff, while clubs finishing 25th and below are eliminated.

• No teams from the same country can meet in the league stage.
• Each side can face a maximum of two clubs from the same domestic league.

Clubs were split into four seeded pots, based on UEFA coefficients. Automated draw software ensured variety and balance, assigning eight opponents to each team.

The Draw in Full

Pot 1 Fixtures

• Paris Saint-Germain: Bayern (H), Barcelona (A), Atalanta (H), Leverkusen (A), Tottenham (H), Sporting (A), Newcastle (H), Athletic Bilbao (A)
• Real Madrid: Man City (H), Liverpool (A), Juventus (H), Benfica (A), Marseille (H), Olympiacos (A), Monaco (H), Kairat (A)
• Manchester City: Dortmund (H), Real Madrid (A), Leverkusen (H), Villarreal (A), Napoli (H), Bodø/Glimt (A), Galatasaray (H), Monaco (A)
• Bayern Munich: Chelsea (H), PSG (A), Club Brugge (H), Arsenal (A), Sporting (H), PSV (A), Union SG (H), Pafos (A)
• Liverpool: Inter (A), Frankfurt (A), PSV (H), Galatasaray (A), Marseille (H), Qarabağ (A), TBD… (fixture continuation missing in source draft)
• Inter Milan: Liverpool (H), Dortmund (A), Arsenal (H), Atlético (A), Slavia (H), Ajax (A), Kairat (H), Union SG (A)
• Chelsea: Barcelona (H), Bayern (A), Benfica (H), Atalanta (A), Ajax (H), Napoli (A), Pafos (H), Qarabağ (A)
• Barcelona: PSG (H), Chelsea (A), Frankfurt (H), Brugge (A), Olympiacos (H), Slavia (A), Copenhagen (H), Newcastle (A)
• Dortmund: Inter (H), Man City (A), Villarreal (H), Juventus (A), Bodø/Glimt (H), Spurs (A), Athletic Bilbao (H), Copenhagen (A)

Pot 2 Fixtures

• • Arsenal: Bayern (H), Inter (A), Atlético (H), Brugge (A), Olympiacos (H), Slavia (A), Kairat (H), Athletic Bilbao (A)
  • Bayer Leverkusen: PSG (H), Man City (A), Villarreal (H), Benfica (A), PSV (H), Olympiacos (A), Newcastle (H), Copenhagen (A)
  • Atlético Madrid: Inter (H), Liverpool (A), Frankfurt (H), Arsenal (A), Bodø/Glimt (H), PSV (A), Union SG (H), Galatasaray (A)
  • Benfica: Real Madrid (H), Chelsea (A), Leverkusen (H), Juventus (A), Napoli (H), Ajax (A), Qarabağ (H), Newcastle (A)
  • Atalanta: Chelsea (H), PSG (A), Brugge (H), Frankfurt (A), Slavia (H), Marseille (A), Athletic Bilbao (H)
  • Villarreal: Man City (H), Dortmund (A), Juventus (H), Leverkusen (A), Ajax (H), Spurs (A), Copenhagen (H), Pafos (A)
  • Juventus: Dortmund (H), Real Madrid (A), Benfica (H), Villarreal (A), Sporting (H), Bodø/Glimt (A), Pafos (H), Monaco (A)
  • Eintracht Frankfurt: Liverpool (H), Barcelona (A), Atalanta (H), Spurs (H), Napoli (A), Galatasaray (H), Qarabağ (A)
  • Club Brugge: Barcelona (H), Bayern (A), Arsenal (H), Atalanta (A), Marseille (H), Sporting (A), Monaco (H), Kairat (A)

 

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Pot 3 Fixtures

• • • Tottenham: Dortmund (H), PSG (A), Villarreal (H), Frankfurt (A), Slavia (H), Bodø/Glimt (A), Copenhagen (H), Monaco (A)
    • PSV: Bayern (H), Liverpool (A), Atlético (H), Leverkusen (A), Napoli (H), Olympiacos (A), Union SG (H), Newcastle (A)
    • Ajax: Inter (H), Chelsea (A), Benfica (H), Villarreal (A), Olympiacos (H), Marseille (A), Galatasaray (H), Qarabağ (A)
    • Napoli: Chelsea (H), Man City (A), Benfica (H), Villarreal (A), Olympiacos (H), Marseille (A), Galatasaray (H), Qarabağ (A)
    • Sporting: PSG (H), Bayern (A), Brugge (H), Juventus (A), Marseille (H), Napoli (A), Kairat (H), Athletic Bilbao (A)
    • Olympiacos: Real Madrid (H), Barcelona (A), Leverkusen (H), Arsenal (A), PSV (H), Ajax (A), Pafos (H), Kairat (A)
    • Slavia Prague: Barcelona (H), Inter (A), Arsenal (H), Atalanta (A), Bodø/Glimt (H), Spurs (A), Pafos (H)
    • Bodø/Glimt: Man City (H), Dortmund (A), Juventus (H), Athletic Bilbao (A), Spurs (H), Slavia (A), Monaco (H), Galatasaray (A)
    • Marseille: Liverpool (H), Real Madrid (A), Atalanta (H), Brugge (A), Ajax (H), Sporting (A), Newcastle (H), Union SG (A)

Pot 4 Fixtures

• • • Copenhagen: Dortmund (H), Barcelona (A), Leverkusen (H), Villarreal (A), Napoli (H), Spurs (A), Kairat (H), Qarabağ (A)
    • Monaco: Man City (H), Real Madrid (A), Juventus (H), Brugge (A), Spurs (H), Bodø/Glimt (A), Galatasaray (H), Pafos (A)
    • Galatasaray: Liverpool (H), Man City (A), Atlético (H), Frankfurt (A), Bodø/Glimt (H), Ajax (A), Union SG (H), Monaco (A)
    • Union Saint-Gilloise: Inter (H), Bayern (A), Atalanta (H), Atlético (A), Marseille (H), PSV (A), Newcastle (H), Galatasaray (A)
    • Qarabağ: Chelsea (H), Liverpool (A), Frankfurt (H), Benfica (A), Ajax (H), Napoli (A), Copenhagen (H), Athletic Bilbao (A)
    • Athletic Bilbao: PSG (H), Dortmund (A), Arsenal (H), Atalanta (A), Sporting (H), Slavia (A), Qarabağ (H), Newcastle (A)
    • Newcastle United: Barcelona (H), PSG (A), Benfica (H), Leverkusen (A), PSV (H), Marseille (A), Athletic Bilbao (H), Union SG (A)
    • Pafos: Bayern (H), Chelsea (A), Villarreal (H), Juventus (A), Slavia (H), Olympiacos (A), Monaco (H), Kairat (A)
    • Kairat: Real Madrid (H), Inter (A), Brugge (H), Arsenal (A), Olympiacos (H), Sporting (A), Pafos (H), Copenhagen (A)

 

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With the league phase complete, the top eight teams advanced automatically, while the remaining eight secured their spots through the newly introduced knockout phase play-offs.  

One of the biggest surprises from the play-offs was the elimination of three Serie A giants—Juventus, Atalanta, and AC Milan.

Meanwhile, defending champions Manchester City failed to progress after a dramatic exit at the hands of Real Madrid.

Teams in the Round of 16

• League Phase Top Eight (Seeded Teams)

– Arsenal (ENG)

– Aston Villa (ENG)

– Atlético Madrid (ESP)

– Barcelona (ESP)

– Inter Milan (ITA)

– Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

– Lille (FRA)

– Liverpool (ENG)

• Knockout Phase Play-Off Winners (Unseeded Teams)

– Borussia Dortmund (GER)

– Bayern Munich (GER)

– Benfica (POR)

– Club Brugge (BEL)

– Feyenoord (NED)

– Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

– PSV Eindhoven (NED)

– Real Madrid (ESP)

• Round of 16 Fixtures

– Aston Villa vs Club Brugge

– Lille vs Borussia Dortmund

– Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid

– Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen

– Inter Milan vs Feyenoord

– PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal

– Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain

– Barcelona vs Benfica

The confirmed round of 16 draw ✅#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/zogc10nzdr

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2025

• Match Schedule

– First-leg matches: March 4 & 5, 2025

– Second-leg matches: March 11 & 12, 2025

The countdown begins as Europe’s finest teams prepare for thrilling encounters, with a spot in the quarter-finals on the line.

The road to Munich is set.#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/M2ChMOgR8u

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2025

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Draw Confirmed.

With the tournament expanded to 36 teams, the traditional group stage was replaced by a single-league “Swiss model” format. The inaugural league phase concluded on Wednesday, with 24 teams advancing to the knockout phase.

However, the path to the Round of 16 is not the same for all qualifiers:

– The top 8 teams automatically progressed to the last 16.
– The remaining 16 teams (9th-24th place) entered the knockout play-off round, where they will compete for the final 8 spots in the last 16.

Knockout Play-Off Format

– 16 teams will take part in the draw.
– It will be seeded, meaning:
– Teams that finished 9th to 16th will face teams that finished 17th to 24th.
– Higher-seeded teams (9th-16th) will play the second leg at home.
– No Europa League drop-down: Teams finishing 25th-36th are eliminated outright.

Fixture Pairing Format

For clarity, matchups will be based on finishing positions:
– 9th & 10th will face 23rd & 24th
– 11th & 12th will face 21st & 22nd
– 13th & 14th will face 19th & 20th
– 15th & 16th will face 17th & 18th

The knockout play-off ties will be played across two legs on:

– February 11/12 & February 18/19, 2025

After these matches, the 8 winners will join the 8 automatically qualified teams in the Round of 16, where a separate draw will determine the final matchups.

With the new format, anticipation is high as Europe’s elite prepare for a thrilling knockout stage! 🔥⚽

Clubs involved in Champions League knockout play-off round

Clubs eliminated from the Champions League after league phase

• Dinamo Zagreb
• VfB Stuttgart
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Bologna
• Crvena zvezda
• Sturm Graz
• Sparta Prague
• RB Leipzig
• Girona
• RB Salzburg
• Slovan Bratislava
• Young Boys

When is the draw for the UEFA Champions League playoffs?

Following the completion of the league phase, two crucial draws will take place to shape the knockout rounds of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.

The first draw, scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, will determine the specific matchups for the knockout playoff round. For instance, a team finishing 13th will learn whether they will face the team finishing 19th or 20th.

The seeded teams (9th-16th) will enjoy the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the play-off ties, which are set to take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19.

The second draw will then finalize the round of 16 matchups, mapping out each team’s potential route to the final. With so much at stake, the coming weeks promise high-stakes action and fierce competition in Europe’s biggest club tournament.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on How does the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off draw work?.

The first round of matches in the revamped 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is officially in the books, with eight teams securing automatic qualification to the round of 16.

The opening phase of the competition delivered drama, shock upsets, and breathtaking performances, setting the stage for an intense knockout battle among Europe’s elite.

With the stakes higher than ever, fans can expect even more unforgettable moments, thrilling comebacks, and unexpected twists as the road to the final unfolds.

Teams who have secured automatic qualifying for the round of 16.

(1) Liverpool
(2) Barcelona
(3) Arsenal
(4) Inter Milan
(5) Atletico Madrid
(6) Bayer Leverkusen
(7) Lille
(8) Aston Villa

Clubs that qualified for the Champions League playoffs.

(1) Atalanta
(2) Borussia Dortmund
(3) Real Madrid
(4) Bayern Munich
(5) AC Milan
(6) PSV
(7) PSG
(8) Benfica
(9) Monaco
(10) Stade Brestios
(11) Feyenoord
(12) Juventus
(13) Celtic
(14) Manchester City
(15) Sporting Lisbon
(16) Club Brugge

When is the draw for the UEFA Champions League playoffs?

Following the completion of the league phase, two crucial draws will take place to shape the knockout rounds of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.

The first draw, scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, will determine the specific matchups for the knockout playoff round. For instance, a team finishing 13th will learn whether they will face the team finishing 19th or 20th.

The seeded teams (9th-16th) will enjoy the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the play-off ties, which are set to take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19.

The second draw will then finalize the round of 16 matchups, mapping out each team’s potential route to the final. With so much at stake, the coming weeks promise high-stakes action and fierce competition in Europe’s biggest club tournament.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Teams that have qualified for UEFA Champions League knockout, playoff stages.

The draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has officially taken place, generating excitement for the competition’s revamped format.

This new version of the tournament, initially slated to debut in China in 2021, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has now been set for the summer of 2025.

While the competition promises to be a global celebration of football, its format has sparked controversy, with some prominent clubs missing from the lineup and some qualifiers being seen as unusual.

The competition will feature 32 teams, with European clubs receiving the largest share of spots, securing 12 places. South America will contribute six teams, and there will be four teams each from Asia, Africa, and North America, with a single representative from Oceania.

Notably, European clubs are allowed to have multiple teams in the same group, meaning some groups will feature two European sides.

Clubs qualify through various criteria, including winning continental championships in the past four years or being highly ranked within their respective confederations.

There are also restrictions in place, limiting a maximum of two clubs from each country and reserving one spot for the host nation, which will be Inter Miami in this edition.

As the competition approaches, fans are eager to see how the tournament will unfold and whether the final champion will come from the traditionally dominant European or South American teams, or if an underdog from another continent can rise to the occasion.

🚨 🌍🏆 The Official poster for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. pic.twitter.com/YBnnToARKm

— Football Fans Tribe 🇳🇬 ⚽ (@FansTribeHQ) December 5, 2024

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

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The draw for the league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League was held in Monaco on Thursday afternoon, August 29th, 2024, revealing the matchups for Europe’s top football clubs in the newly expanded competition.

Real Madrid, the defending champions after their victory over Borussia Dortmund in last season’s final, will face even more challengers this year, as the tournament has grown from 32 to 36 teams.

Representing England are Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa, who will compete alongside powerhouses like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Milan—all of whom are strong contenders to make deep runs in the tournament.

Check below to see who each team will face in this new format, designed to deliver more thrilling matchups earlier in the competition.

Pot 1 teams

• Real Madrid: Borussia Dortmund (H), Liverpool (A), Milan (H), Atalanta (A), Salzburg (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), Brest (A)

• Manchester City: Inter (H), PSG (A), Club Brugge (H), Juventus (A), Feyenoord (H), Sporting CP (A), Sparta Prague (H), Slovan Bratislava (A)

• Bayern Munich: Paris Saint-Germain (H), Barcelona (A), Benfica (H), Shakhtar Donetsk (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Feyenoord (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A)

• Paris Saint-Germain: Manchester City (H), Bayern Munich (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Arsenal (A), PSV Eindhoven (H), Salzburg (A), Girona (H), Stuttgart (A)

• Liverpool: Real Madrid (H), RB Leipzig (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Bologna (H), Girona (A)

• Inter: RB Leipzig (H), Manchester City (A), Arsenal (H), Bayer Leverkusen (A), Red Star Belgrade (H), Young Boys (A), Monaco (H), Sparta Prague (A)

• Borussia Dortmund: Barcelona (H), Real Madrid (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Club Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Sturm Graz (H), Bologna (A)

• RB Leipzig: Liverpool (H), Inter (A), Juventus (H), Atletico Madrid (A), Sporting CP (H), Celtic (A), Aston Villa (H), Sturm Graz (A)

• Barcelona: Bayern Munich (H), Borussia Dortmund (A), Atalanta (H), Benfica (A), Young Boys (H), Red Star Belgrade (A), Brest (H), Monaco (A)

Pot 2 teams

• Bayer Leverkusen: Inter (H), Liverpool (A), Milan (H), Atletico Madrid (A), Salzburg (H), Feyenoord (A), Sparta Prague (H), Brest (A)

• Atletico Madrid: RB Leipzig (H), Paris Saint-Germain (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), Benfica (A), Lille (H), Salzburg (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Sparta Prague (A)

• Atalanta: Real Madrid (H), Barcelona (A), Arsenal (H), Shakhtar Donetsk (A), Celtic (H), Young Boys (A), Sturm Graz (H), Stuttgart (A)

• Juventus: Manchester City (H), RB Leipzig (A), Benfica (H), Club Brugge (A), PSV Eindhoven (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), Aston Villa (A)

• Benfica: Barcelona (H), Bayern Munich (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Juventus (A), Feyenoord (H), Red Star Belgrade (A), Bologna (H), Monaco (A)

• Arsenal: Paris Saint-Germain (H), Inter (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Atalanta (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Sporting CP (A), Monaco (H), Girona (A)

• Club Brugge: Borussia Dortmund (H), Manchester City (A), Juventus (H), Milan (A), Sporting CP (H), Celtic (A), Aston Villa (H), Sturm Graz (A)

• Shakhtar Donetsk: Bayern Munich (H), Borussia Dortmund (A), Atalanta (H), Arsenal (A), Young Boys (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Brest (H), Bologna (A)

• Milan: Liverpool (H), Real Madrid (A), Club Brugge (H), Bayer Leverkusen (A), Red Star Belgrade (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Girona (H), Slovan Bratislava (A)

Pot 3 teams

• Feyenoord: Bayern Munich (H), Manchester City (A), Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica (A), Salzburg (H), Lille (A), Sparta Prague (H), Girona (A)

• Sporting CP: Manchester City (H), RB Leipzig (A), Arsenal (H), Club Brugge (A), Lille (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Bologna (H), Sturm Graz (A)

• PSV Eindhoven: Liverpool (H), Paris Saint-Germain (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Juventus (A), Sporting CP (H), Red Star Belgrade (A), Girona (H), Brest (A)

• Dinamo Zagreb: Borussia Dortmund (H), Bayern Munich (A), Milan (H), Arsenal (A), Celtic (H), Salzburg (A), Monaco (H), Slovan Bratislava (A)

• Salzburg: Paris Saint-Germain (H), Real Madrid (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Bayer Leverkusen (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Feyenoord (A), Brest (H), Sparta Prague (A)

• Lille: Real Madrid (H), Liverpool (A), Juventus (H), Atletico Madrid (A), Feyenoord (H), Sporting CP (A), Sturm Graz (H), Bologna (A)

• Red Star Belgrade: Barcelona (H), Inter (A), Benfica (H), Milan (A), PSV Eindhoven (H), Young Boys (A), Stuttgart (H), Monaco (A)

• Young Boys: Inter (H), Barcelona (A), Atalanta (H), Shakhtar Donetsk (A), Red Star Belgrade (H), Celtic (A), Aston Villa (H), Stuttgart (A)

• Celtic: RB Leipzig (H), Borussia Dortmund (A), Club Brugge (H), Atalanta (A), Young Boys (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Aston Villa (A)

Pot 4 teams

• Slovan Bratislava: Manchester City (H), Bayern Munich (A), Milan (H), Atletico Madrid (A), Dinamo Zagreb (H), Celtic (A), Stuttgart (H), Girona (A)

• Monaco: Barcelona (H), Inter (A), Benfica (H, Arsenal (A), Red Star Belgrade (H), Dinamo Zagreb (A), Aston Villa (H), Bologna (A)

• Sparta Prague: Inter (H), Manchester City (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Bayer Leverkusen (A), Salzburg (H), Feyenoord (A), Brest (H), Stuttgart (A)

• Aston Villa: Bayern Munich (H), RB Leipzig (A), Juventus (H), Club Brugge (A), Celtic (H), Young Boys (A), Bologna (H), Monaco (A)

• Bologna: Borussia Dortmund (H), Liverpool (A), Shakhtar Donetsk (H), Benfica (A), Lille (H), Sporting CP (A), Monaco (H), Aston Villa (A)

• Girona: Liverpool (H), Paris Saint-Germain (A), Arsenal (H), Milan (A), Feyenoord (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Slovan Bratislava (H), Sturm Graz (A)

• Stuttgart: Paris Saint-Germain (H), Real Madrid (A), Atalanta (H), Juventus (A), Young Boys (H), Red Star Belgrade (A), Sparta Prague (H), Slovan Bratislava (A)

• Sturm Graz: RB Leipzig (H), Borussia Dortmund (A), Club Brugge (H), Atalanta (A), Sporting CP (H), Lille (A), Girona (H), Brest (A)

• Brest: Real Madrid (H), Barcelona (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), Shakhtar Donetsk (A), PSV Eindhoven (H), Salzburg (A), Sturm Graz (H), Sparta Prague (A)

When does the 2024/25 Champions League begin?

The dates for each fixture will not be confirmed until Saturday, but UEFA has revealed when each matchday will take place. Whereas the previous format saw the group stage wrapped up by Christmas, the new Swiss model will take the league phase to the end of January.

The sides who finished from ninth to 24th will compete in the knockout round playoffs in February for places in the last 16, where the clubs ranked from first to eighth will be waiting.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Champions League 2024/25 draw revealed with in new format.

UEFA has released the new club coefficient standings for the 2024/25 season, with Manchester City retaining their place at number one.

Coefficients are used to determine seedings in draws for UEFA’s club competitions, with points earned based on a weighted algorithm linked to continental performances.

Results over the last four seasons, along with the home association’s coefficient at that time, are used to calculate club rankings. For the 2024–25 season, rankings are determined based on performances from the 2020–21 campaign onwards.

Manchester City will sit at the top of the standings for a second straight year, while Real Madrid has moved up to second place after winning their 15th Champions League. Bayern Munich and Liverpool are third and fourth, respectively, while Roma, who have enjoyed deep European runs this decade, are surprisingly in fifth.

Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Inter complete the top ten. Manchester United come in at 14th.

There are some unusual, yet deserved, rankings beyond that. The 2023 Conference League winners, West Ham United, are 16th, with Atletico Madrid (17th), Barcelona (18th), and Arsenal (19th) directly following them.

Italian giants Napoli (21st), AC Milan (22nd), and Juventus (23rd) all sit outside the top 20 following mixed results in Europe. Scottish side Rangers are a little further back at 28th, still benefiting from points accumulated from their memorable run to the 2021/22 Europa League final.

One of the most surprising placements is that of Tottenham Hotspur, who come in at 45th after missing out on European football last season and not advancing to the latter rounds of competitions recently.

They are sandwiched between new Conference League holders Olympiacos (44th) and Kobenhavn (46th).

UEFA club rankings for 2024/25 season – top 20

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Manchester United have confirmed that youngster Alvaro Fernandez has joined Benfica on a permanent deal following a loan spell with the Portuguese giants.

The left-back, who joined United from Real Madrid’s academy in 2020, never made a first-team appearance for the Red Devils. Last season, the 21-year-old was on loan at Benfica, who had an option to make the move permanent. United have now confirmed that Fernandez has signed for the Lisbon outfit.

The Spain under-21 international had a successful loan spell at Championship side Preston North End during the 2022-23 season and then spent the first half of this season with Granada, making 14 appearances. He then joined Benfica, where he played 16 matches and scored one goal. Despite injuries to Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw at left-back, Fernandez was not called upon by United.

According to the Metro, Fernandez—who was Preston’s Young Player of the Year in 2023—has joined Benfica for approximately £5.1 million ($6.45 million) and signed a five-year contract until the summer of 2029.

Following his departure, a club statement read: “Everyone at United would like to wish Alvaro all the best of luck in the future and will be keeping an eye on his progress.” It remains to be seen whether United will look to bolster their full-back options in the summer transfer window, which officially reopens on June 14, after offloading Fernandez.

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With their thrilling draw against Roma, Bayer Leverkusen managed to break Benfica’s 59-year record for the longest unbeaten streak in European football.

Thursday’s thrilling 2-2 draw between Leverkusen and Roma at home in the Europa League semi-finals preserved their ambitions of winning the triple crown. As a result, Xabi Alonso’s team broke Benfica’s long-standing record and extended their unbeaten streak to 49 games.

Bayer Leverkusen have the longest unbeaten run in European football history 🤩

Xabi Alonso's side scored two late goals against Roma to take their unbeaten run to 49 matches and reach the #UEL final 😅

They've broken Benfica's record which stood for 59 years 😮 pic.twitter.com/BXj6WwaUPM

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 9, 2024

After Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title last month, the focus shifted to capturing a treble. They will now meet Atalanta in the Europa League final, as well as FC Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final. They are so close to sporting immortality, and after pulling off another remarkable late comeback, few would bet against them accomplishing this feat.

Josip Stanisic’s 97th-minute equaliser, following Gianluca Mancini’s own goal and two Leandro Paredes penalties, was Leverkusen’s 17th stoppage time goal of the season, as the Germans won the tie 4-2 on aggregate.

On May 22, Leverkusen and Serie A team Atalanta will square off in the Europa League final in Dublin. Only three days later, in an attempt to win a treble, Alonso’s squad faces Kaiserslautern in their domestic cup final.

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