All you need to know ahead of the UCL/UEL/UECL league phases

Trophy holders Real Madrid are the first Spanish club in action, welcoming VfB Stuttgart, who finished a distant 2nd in the 2023/24 Bundesliga behind Xabi Alonso’s invincible Bayer Leverkusen, to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have only been strengthened in the summer, with the marquee signing of Kylian Mbappe and the arrival of 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy Endrick. The duo join a squad already stacked with talent and as such Los Blancos will be one of the firm favourites to reach the final at the Allianz Arena.

On Wednesday, Girona make their Champions League debut with a tough opening match away against French giants Paris Saint Germain. Meanwhile, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will feature against Monaco and RB Leipzig respectively on Thursday.

A new ‘league phase’ format

The biggest difference about this season’s European competitions will be the stark contrast in format. The traditional group stages have been done away with, as UEFA has opted for a new 36 team ‘league phase’.

Ahead of the draw of the Champions and Europa League, the league was divided into four seeded pots based off of league standing and previous European performances, with each side drawn to play two opponents from each pot, resulting in eight fixtures against eight different opponents.

Due to the increase in matchdays, the league phase is set to run from September until the last week of January, with clubs set to have to balance the pressures of the domestic campaign with an increased European schedule.

For the Conference League, the 36 team league phase is similar, however, sides will play just six matches against six different opponents in contrast to the slightly higher workload of those in the Champions and Europa League.

A team’s league position will determine whether they progress through to the traditional knockout stage, with those who finish in positions 1st to 8th progressing automatically through to the round of 16, while those who finish between 9th and 24th have to play a two-legged play-off to reach the knockout stage.

 The sides who finish between 25th and 36th will be eliminated from all competitions, with no ‘dropdown’ into the Europa League or Conference League as had previously been the case.

Notable fixtures

Champions League

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, Matchday 3, October 22nd

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich, Matchday 3, October 23rd

PSG vs Atletico Madrid, Matchday 4, November 6th

Liverpool vs Real Madrid, Matchday 5, November 27th

Girona vs Liverpool, Matchday 6. December 10th

Girona vs Arsenal, Matchday 8, January 29th

A notable fixture for Real Madrid sees them welcome Borussia Dortmund in a repeat of the 2024 final in which Ancelotti’s side claimed a record 15th Champions League title.

Meanwhile, their standout fixture is arguably an away tie at Anfield against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who will be looking for revenge after recent final losses to Los Blancos in both 2018 and 2022.

Another reunion will take place on matchday three with Hansi Flick’s Barcelona set to welcome Bayern Munich, the side he managed to Champions League success in 2020. Flick will be hoping he can lead the Catalan club past the last eight for just the second time in ten years.

While both Girona and Atletico Madrid are faced with mouthwatering trips to Paris, for the former it will be their home encounters against Liverpool and Arsenal that they are most excited about.

As recently as the 2021/22 season, Girona were plying their trade in the Segunda Division before last season’s miraculous campaign catapulted them into Europe’s elite club competition. The 12,000 capacity Montilivi is the smallest Spanish stadium ever to host Champions League matches and is now set to welcome the Premier League’s elite.

Europa League and Conference League

Roma vs Athletic Club, UEL Matchday 1, September 26th

Real Betis vs F.C. Copenhagen, UECL Matchday 2, October 24th

Real Sociedad vs Ajax, UEL Matchday 5, November 28th

Fenerbahce vs Athletic Club, UEL Matchday 6, December 11th

Lazio vs Real Sociedad, UEL Matchday 7, January 23rd

Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic side can look forward to an appetising encounter against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico in their opening fixture, while in the new year, Real Sociedad will also pay pilgrimage to the eternal city for what is set to be an enthralling clash against Lazio.

Other intriguing encounters include an away trip to play Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce for Athletic while Imanol Alguacil’s team will welcome Dutch giants Ajax to the Reale Arena in what is set to be their standout home fixture.

In the Conference League, Real Betis’ toughest tie of the league phase may be against Danish side F.C Copenhagen, who last year in the Champions League beat Manchester United in a seven goal thriller.

Los Verdiblancos’ opponents later on in the competition could include the world’s most expensively assembled side Chelsea and Fiorentina who have been runners up in the two previous Conference League finals.

Mbappe aiming for his first European title and Real Madrid’s 16th

While Kylian Mbappe’s time at Paris Saint-Germain was associated with plentiful domestic success, the serial French champions often under-performed in Europe, failing to claim any European silverware despite the mega investment from their Qatari owners.

After his summer arrival at Real Madrid, Mbappe will be hoping that he can taste European glory with a club that is synonymous with Champions League trophies.

Ancelotti’s side will be hoping to defend the trophy after last season’s success, a record 15th for the Madrid giants and Ancelotti’s fifth after previously winning the trophy in 2003 and 2007 with AC Milan, as well as his 2014 and 2022 triumphs with the Spaniards.

Mbappe joins a star-studded and youthful Real Madrid front line, with Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Endrick all set to lead the line for Los Blancos in Europe, as a new galactico era commences in the Spanish capital.

Can Athletic lift the Europa League at San Mames?

An interesting narrative to this year’s Europa League is that Athletic Club, who ended their 40 major year trophy drought last season when they won the Copa del Rey, have the chance to lift the trophy at their iconic home, San Mames, with the venue set to host this year’s final.

The 24-time Copa del Rey winners have never won a European title despite their impressive domestic trophy haul. Athletic did reach the final in 2012, but a heavy 3-0 loss against Atletico Madrid ended their hopes of a maiden European success.

With the club enjoying an excellent period under former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde, the Basque club will be hoping they can reach the latter rounds of the competition and that the showpiece at San Mames can provide the extra incentive that Athletic need to push them over the line and win a second trophy in as many years.